2013 Smart Fortwo Pulse — MOT failures & pass rate
544 MOT tests on the 2013 Smart Fortwo Pulse are in this dataset, and 84.4% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (20.1% fail rate), the 2013 Fortwo Pulse comes out 4.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and brakes (7.2%) 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 22 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Fortwo Pulse fails 14.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 50 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.2% | 39 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.4% | 24 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.5% | 19 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 18 |
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 | 22 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 16 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 15 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 15 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 14 |
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 | 22.6% | 123 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.8% | 102 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 32 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.5% | 19 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 19 |
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 | 106 | 14.1% |
| 30-60k | 281 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 123 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 31 | 12.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 282 | 14.9% |
| Petrol | 262 | 16.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 119 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 107 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 111 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 106 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Fortwo Pulse
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% 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.
- Tyres (4.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2013 Smart Fortwo Pulses pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 544 2013 Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo Pulse?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by brakes (7.2%).
Does the 2013 Fortwo Pulse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.1% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 544 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.