Pass rate, every year
78.5% Around average
1,494 tests across 9 model years, 2005–2013.
−2.5 pts vs the national average
Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics
Best year to buy
2009 84.7%
The strongest of the 9 years on record. See the 2009 page →
Worst year to buy
2007 70.2%
14.5 points below the 2009 peak. See the 2007 page →
The Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT pass rate is 78.5%, −2.5 percentage points below the UK average. That is 1,494 DVSA MOT tests recorded between 2005 and 2013. This page lists the most common Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT failures by category, names the best and worst model years, and finishes with a pre-MOT checklist you can run at home.
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Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average
The Smart Fortwo Pulse passed on its first attempt in 73.6%, and its overall record sits −2.5 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Smart Fortwo Pulse in the 2023–2025 data: 1,494 tests across 9 model years (2005–2013). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.
| Measure | This model |
|---|---|
| Tests analysed | 1,494 |
| Overall pass rate | 78.5% |
| Passed on first attempt | 73.6% |
| Average mileage at test | 70,683 mi |
| Model years covered | 2005–2013 (9 years) |
| Versus UK national average | −2.5 pts below |
Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.
Most Common Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT Problems by Failure Category
Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Smart Fortwo Pulse, the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.
| Inspection section | Share of failures |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 36% |
| Suspension | 20% |
| Brakes | 14% |
| Visibility | 13% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 12% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 2% |
| Tyres | 2% |
| Steering | 1% |
Shares are over the Smart Fortwo Pulse's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Around 36% of the recorded Smart Fortwo Pulse failures fall in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Position lamp not working" (2.0%), "Headlamp not working on dipped beam" (2.0%), "Stop lamp not working" (1.8%) among the Smart Fortwo Pulse's lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment faults.
Suspension
Around 20% of the recorded Smart Fortwo Pulse failures fall in the Suspension section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Coil spring fractured or broken" (3.0%), "Ball joint excessively worn" (1.0%), "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (0.7%) among the Smart Fortwo Pulse's suspension faults.
Brakes
Around 14% of the recorded Smart Fortwo Pulse failures fall in the Brakes section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Service brake performance excessively binding" (2.1%), "Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded" (1.3%), "Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault" (0.3%) among the Smart Fortwo Pulse's brakes faults.
Top Recorded Smart Fortwo Pulse DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions
The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Smart Fortwo Pulse, each with how many of the model's 1,494 tests it was noted on.
- "Coil spring fractured or broken" (Major) — noted on about 45 Smart Fortwo Pulse tests, 3.0% of the model's MOT record.
- "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 33 Smart Fortwo Pulse tests, 2.2% of the model's MOT record.
- "Service brake performance excessively binding" (Major) — noted on about 31 Smart Fortwo Pulse tests, 2.1% of the model's MOT record.
- "Position lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 30 Smart Fortwo Pulse tests, 2.0% of the model's MOT record.
- "Headlamp not working on dipped beam" (Rectified) — noted on about 30 Smart Fortwo Pulse tests, 2.0% of the model's MOT record.
- "Stop lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 27 Smart Fortwo Pulse tests, 1.8% of the model's MOT record.
Best and Worst Smart Fortwo Pulse Model Years by Pass Rate
The strongest Smart Fortwo Pulse model year on record is 2009 (84.7% across 85 tests), and the weakest is 2007 (70.2%). The gap between them is 14.5 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Fortwo Pulse | 314 | 84.7% |
| 2012 Fortwo Pulse | 156 | 79.5% |
| 2011 Fortwo Pulse | 174 | 73.0% |
| 2010 Fortwo Pulse | 301 | 78.7% |
| 2009 Fortwo Pulse | 85 | 84.7% |
| 2008 Fortwo Pulse | 139 | 81.3% |
| 2007 Fortwo Pulse | 114 | 70.2% |
| 2006 Fortwo Pulse | 92 | 72.8% |
| 2005 Fortwo Pulse | 119 | 73.1% |
Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.
Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Smart Fortwo Pulse Owners
These checks follow this Smart Fortwo Pulse's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Smart Fortwo Pulse.
-
the coil springs — “coil spring fractured or broken”
Look up inside each wheel arch with a torch, all the way round the spring. A snapped spring usually breaks at the very bottom coil, where a quick glance will not reach.
-
the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”
Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.
-
the lights — “position lamp not working”
Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.
Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Smart Fortwo Pulse. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions: Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT & Reliability
What is the Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT pass rate?
78.5% of the 1,494 recorded Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT tests ended in a pass, −2.5 percentage points below the national average. 73.6% of those passed on the first attempt.
Which Smart Fortwo Pulse model years pass the MOT most often?
2013 is the strongest Smart Fortwo Pulse year on record at 84.7%, while 2007 is the weakest at 70.2%. The year-by-year table below lists every model year with at least 50 recorded tests.
What are the most common Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT failures?
The most recorded Smart Fortwo Pulse failures are "Coil spring fractured or broken" and "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" — together around 5% of tests, mostly in the Suspension section.