2006 Smart City Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Smart City Coupe passed 73.2% of its 3,933 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 27.3%, so the 2006 City Coupe sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.7% of all tests — 7.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 445 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.7% versus 17.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 773 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 478 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.9% | 311 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.4% | 293 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.7% | 184 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 178 |
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 | 445 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 305 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 240 |
| 4 | Washers | 227 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 216 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 168 |
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 | 28.5% | 1,121 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.3% | 1,036 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.4% | 922 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.4% | 526 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 417 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 365 |
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 | 348 | 17.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,552 | 26.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,481 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 418 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 80 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 900 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 840 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 837 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 709 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 647 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 City Coupe
On a 2006 City Coupe, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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 (7.9% 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 2006 Smart City Coupes pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 3,933 2006 Smart City Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Smart City Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 2006 City Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 0-30k band to 28.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,933 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.