2008 Smart City Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Smart City Coupe passed 78.6% of its 623 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 5.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.4% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 34 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.0% versus 15.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 90 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 57 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 44 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 33 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.2% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 26 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 34 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 30 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 27 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 25 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 21 |
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 | 28.9% | 180 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.7% | 160 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.5% | 115 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 64 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 49 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 26 |
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 | 45 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 258 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 201 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 100 | 24.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 128 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 128 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 136 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 114 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 117 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 City Coupe
On a 2008 City Coupe, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (7.1% 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 2008 Smart City Coupes pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 623 2008 Smart City Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Smart City Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by brakes (9.2%).
Does the 2008 City Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 24.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 623 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.