2013 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd Auto Unclassified — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,052 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd Auto Unclassified, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility. Its pass rate of 84.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (80.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.6% in the 90-120k group versus 10.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 95 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.8% | 61 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.4% | 46 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.2% | 34 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 33 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 23 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 44 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 29 |
| 4 | Wipers | 28 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 26 |
| 6 | Washers | 23 |
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 | 22.5% | 237 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.2% | 234 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 56 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 51 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 49 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 33 |
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 | 289 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 491 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 215 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 53 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 210 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 210 | 14.8% |
| 2023 | 212 | 15.1% |
| 2024 | 211 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 209 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Unclassified
Before buying a 2013 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd Auto Unclassified, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 9.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% 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.
- Visibility (4.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Pulse Mhd Auto Unclassifieds pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 1,052 2013 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd Auto Unclassified MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd Auto Unclassified?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by brakes (5.8%).
Does the 2013 Unclassified get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,052 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.