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Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto car check

Is the Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto reliable? We analysed 1,628 real MOT tests across 107 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,628 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
73.4%
Typical Mileage
54,261mi
Annual Mileage
3,962mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
19yrs

The Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto.

Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

74.5%
2008
70.5%
2007

Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 43
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 24
position lamp(s) not working 21
Stop lamp not working 19
coil spring broken 17
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 15

Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,013 mi/yr
Typical
3,962 mi/yr
Average
5,116 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,845 mi/yr

Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 1,044 74.5% 34,104 52,759 75,009
2007 498 70.5% 38,458 56,419 78,340

Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
54,261 mi
75th Percentile
77,346 mi
95th Percentile
113,698 mi
Max Recorded
966,432 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto

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

Best year
2008

74.5% MOT pass rate from 1,044 tests

Year to avoid
2007

70.5% MOT pass rate from 498 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.5% across 1,044 tests. The 2007 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.5% — 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 71 Auto 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 71 Auto THIS CAR 73.4% 1,628 54,261 mi 19 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
Ford Lincoln 72.2% 1,753 115,289 mi 35 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 71 Auto trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto?

The Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.4% across 1,628 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (43 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (24), and position lamp(s) not working (21). 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 71 Auto owner drives around 3,962 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 71 Auto models stay on UK roads for around 19 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 71 Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto reliable?
Based on 1,628 MOT tests, the Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto has a 73.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto do per year?
The typical Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto does around 3,962 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto last?
Most Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto models stay on UK roads for around 19 years based on our analysis of 107 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto?
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 71 Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 Auto is 2008 with a 74.5% pass rate across 1,044 tests.