2003 Smart City Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Smart City Coupe passed 72.6% of its 7,087 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.9% of tests against 10.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 920 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.7% versus 22.5%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 1,485 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 723 |
| 3 | Visibility | 10.0% | 705 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 616 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.2% | 579 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 394 |
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 | 920 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 730 |
| 3 | Washers | 557 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 517 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 462 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 303 |
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 | 32.8% | 2,323 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.6% | 1,815 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.6% | 1,601 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 1,043 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 960 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.1% | 785 |
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 | 405 | 22.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,345 | 26.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,903 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,101 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 205 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 74 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,913 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 1,662 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 1,437 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 1,155 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 920 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2003 City Coupe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 (10.0% 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
How many 2003 Smart City Coupes pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 7,087 2003 Smart City Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Smart City Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.9% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2003 City Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,087 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.