2011 Smart Fortwo Pulse — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Smart Fortwo Pulse passed 76.6% of its 304 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (23.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.8%) and brakes (9.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and headlamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.8% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 36 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 29 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.9% | 24 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.6% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 23 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 16 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 16 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 15 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.6% | 84 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 62 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 42 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.9% | 30 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.2% | 25 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 17 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 83 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 140 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 66 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 255 | 25.5% |
| Petrol | 49 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 62 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 67 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 51 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 60 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Fortwo Pulse
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (7.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2011 Smart Fortwo Pulses pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 304 2011 Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Smart Fortwo Pulse?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by brakes (9.5%).
Does the 2011 Fortwo Pulse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 30-60k band to 28.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 304 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.