Smart Smart Pulse Softip(Rhd) MOT pass rate & common failures
397 MOT tests on the Smart Smart Pulse Softip(Rhd) (2001–2003) give it a 70.5% pass rate. That is 2.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.5%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.6% of all tests — 6.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.5% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 30.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Smart Pulse Softip(Rhd) model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 66 | 57.6% | 42.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 321 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.6% | 82 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.9% | 55 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.1% | 40 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.8% | 35 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 31 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 25 |
| 7 | Tyres | 5.3% | 21 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 44 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 41 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 38 |
| 4 | Washers | 31 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 21 |
| 6 | Wipers | 17 |
| 7 | Coil spring | 16 |
| 8 | Side repeaters | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.0% | 123 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.0% | 119 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.4% | 97 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.2% | 80 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 79 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 45 |
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 | 126 | 25.4% |
| 60-90k | 168 | 32.7% |
| 90-120k | 78 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 116 | 30.2% |
| 2022 | 92 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 85 | 34.1% |
| 2024 | 57 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 47 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a Smart Smart Pulse Softip(Rhd)
- Lighting & signalling (20.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.9% 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.
- Brakes (10.1% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Smart Pulse Softip(Rhd)?
70.5% of the 397 Smart Smart Pulse Softip(Rhd) MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.5% fail rate, across model years 2001–2003.
What does the Smart Smart Pulse Softip(Rhd) most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests, then suspension (13.9%).
How much does mileage affect Smart Pulse Softip(Rhd) MOT results?
Fail rates run at 25.4% for cars in the 30-60k band and 29.5% for 90-120k, a 4.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 397 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.