2002 Smart City Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
4,895 MOT tests on the 2002 Smart City Coupe are in this dataset, and 73.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 27.5%, so the 2002 City Coupe sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.7% of all tests — 10.3 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 515 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.7% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.7% | 1,014 |
| 2 | Visibility | 10.4% | 511 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 469 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 370 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.4% | 362 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 255 |
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 | 515 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 462 |
| 3 | Washers | 389 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 378 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 350 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 254 |
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 | 30.6% | 1,498 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.4% | 1,290 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.0% | 1,075 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 770 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 730 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 523 |
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 | 242 | 18.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,688 | 26.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,951 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 790 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 188 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,383 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 1,140 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 964 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 765 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 643 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 City Coupe
On a 2002 City Coupe, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (10.4% 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.
- Suspension (9.6% 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.
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 2002 Smart City Coupes pass their MOT?
73.3% of the 4,895 2002 Smart City Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Smart City Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by visibility (10.4%).
Does the 2002 City Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,895 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.