Used car guide

2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse MHD Auto Unclassified: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse MHD Auto Unclassifieds, from 272 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 272 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

272MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
4,300typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse MHD Auto Unclassifieds than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.3× usual
    Smart Fortwo Pulse MHD Auto Unclassified
    12.9% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

By area

The share of 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse MHD Auto Unclassified MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    29% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    18% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    12% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    5% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2013177Brakes 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse MHD Auto Unclassifieds registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score