2011 Smart City Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 290 MOT tests, the 2011 Smart City Coupe recorded an 81.7% pass rate. That is 4.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.0% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 18 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 30-60k band and 26.3% in the 90-120k band, a 9.7-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.8% in 2021 to 12.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 29 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.5% | 16 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 12 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.1% | 12 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.1% | 12 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 7 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 11 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 8 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 7 |
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 | 25.2% | 73 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.8% | 69 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.5% | 39 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.6% | 22 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 17 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 15 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 132 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 92 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 38 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 233 | 16.7% |
| Diesel | 57 | 24.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 61 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 60 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 59 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 49 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 City Coupe
On a 2011 City Coupe, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2011 Smart City Coupes pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 290 2011 Smart City Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Smart City Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by suspension (5.5%).
Does the 2011 City Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 30-60k band to 26.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 290 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.