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Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a car check

Is the Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a reliable? We analysed 1,743 real MOT tests across 107 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,743 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.9%
Typical Mileage
52,002mi
Annual Mileage
3,378mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp not working, headlamp aim too low and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a.

Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

70.6%
2007
72.7%
2006
73.8%
2005
73.9%
2004

Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp not working 38
Headlamp aim too low 38
position lamp(s) not working 24
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 23
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 22
coil spring broken 20
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 19
coil spring incomplete 17

Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,665 mi/yr
Typical
3,378 mi/yr
Average
4,819 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,202 mi/yr

Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 238 70.6% 32,666 51,410 67,678
2006 337 72.7% 30,003 49,646 75,066
2005 826 73.8% 32,772 49,856 73,110
2004 291 73.9% 36,338 59,571 76,459

Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
52,002 mi
75th Percentile
73,238 mi
95th Percentile
105,782 mi
Max Recorded
245,714 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2004

73.9% MOT pass rate from 291 tests

Year to avoid
2007

70.6% MOT pass rate from 238 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.9% across 291 tests. The 2007 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a THIS CAR 72.9% 1,743 52,002 mi 22 yrs
Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) 74% 44,118 54,896 mi 23 yrs
Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto 79.4% 44,035 38,367 mi 18 yrs
Smart City Passion 61 Auto 73% 27,463 48,099 mi 23 yrs
Porsche 911 Carrera S-a 95.2% 1,949 17,842 mi 14 yrs

Compared to the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) (74.0% pass rate) and the Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto (79.4% pass rate), the Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a?

The Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.9% across 1,743 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a are stop lamp not working (38 recorded failures), headlamp aim too low (38), and position lamp(s) not working (24). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a owner drives around 3,378 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a models stay on UK roads for around 22 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a reliable?
Based on 1,743 MOT tests, the Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a has a 72.9% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp not working, headlamp aim too low, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a do per year?
The typical Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a does around 3,378 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a last?
Most Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 107 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart Fortwo Pulse 61 S-a is 2004 with a 73.9% pass rate across 291 tests.