Smart City Coupe MOT pass rate & common failures
The Smart City Coupe appears in 31,648 MOT tests spanning model years 1998–2018, and 73.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.5% of all tests — 9.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,525 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.8% in the 0-30k band and 30.1% in the 150k+ band, a 10.4-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every City Coupe model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 210 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 493 | 75.5% | 24.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 1,299 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 4,895 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 7,087 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 5,087 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 2,772 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 3,933 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 3,277 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 623 | 78.6% | 21.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 789 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 537 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 290 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 296 | 83.5% | 16.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 43 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 6,181 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.3% | 3,247 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.8% | 2,793 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.5% | 2,372 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 2,100 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 1,477 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.4% | 1,398 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.0% | 643 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,525 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 2,269 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 2,104 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,100 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,963 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,388 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 1,368 |
| 8 | Wipers | 1,169 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 30.7% | 9,709 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.3% | 8,004 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.8% | 7,203 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 4,016 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.9% | 3,757 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.4% | 3,595 |
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 | 1,995 | 19.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,172 | 25.3% |
| 60-90k | 12,632 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,511 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 882 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 269 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 31,216 | 26.4% |
| Diesel | 414 | 24.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,066 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 7,204 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 6,436 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 5,356 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 4,586 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a Smart City Coupe
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (8.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart City Coupe?
73.6% of the 31,648 Smart City Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.4% fail rate, across model years 1998–2018.
What does the Smart City Coupe most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, then suspension (10.3%).
How much does mileage affect City Coupe MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.1% for 150k+, a 10.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,648 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.