2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse passed 80.9% of its 267 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 2.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.1% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 21 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.7% versus 19.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 27 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.4% | 17 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 15 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.9% | 13 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.1% | 11 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 11 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 11 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 9 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 6 |
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 | 24.3% | 65 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 53 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 18 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.4% | 17 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 14 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.4% | 9 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 47 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 104 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 85 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 168 | 15.5% |
| Petrol | 99 | 25.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 53 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 49 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 62 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 47 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Fortwo Pulse
On a 2012 Fortwo Pulse, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (5.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulses pass their MOT?
80.9% of the 267 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by brakes (6.4%).
Does the 2012 Fortwo Pulse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 267 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.