2009 Smart City Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 789 MOT tests, the 2009 Smart City Coupe recorded a 76.7% pass rate. That is 2.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.2%) and suspension (11.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and service brake performance — coil spring alone was recorded 52 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.2% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.7% 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 | 13.2% | 104 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 89 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.7% | 61 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 38 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.8% | 38 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 52 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 40 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 39 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 31 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 31 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.7% | 203 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.2% | 199 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.0% | 142 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.8% | 54 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 51 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 41 |
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 | 84 | 23.8% |
| 30-60k | 281 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 312 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 96 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 685 | 22.8% |
| Diesel | 104 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 174 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 159 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 158 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 141 | 22.0% |
| 2025 | 157 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 City Coupe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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.
- Brakes (7.7% 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.
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 2009 Smart City Coupes pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 789 2009 Smart City Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Smart City Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by suspension (11.3%).
Does the 2009 City Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 789 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.