Smart City Passion 61 MOT pass rate & common failures
4,245 MOT tests on the Smart City Passion 61 (2002–2007) give it a 74.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 522 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.5% versus 18.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.1% in 2021 to 25.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every City Passion 61 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 427 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 1,077 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 948 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 1,043 | 73.3% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 749 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 837 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.7% | 452 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.9% | 378 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.4% | 271 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 239 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 185 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.1% | 173 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.5% | 108 |
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 | 522 |
| 2 | Washers | 296 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 266 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 261 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 238 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 200 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 177 |
| 8 | Wipers | 164 |
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 | 30.1% | 1,278 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.9% | 1,059 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.8% | 1,010 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 549 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 526 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.3% | 438 |
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 | 255 | 18.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,406 | 24.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,785 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 632 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 96 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,075 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 985 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 840 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 731 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 614 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a Smart City Passion 61
- 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 (10.7% 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 (8.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart City Passion 61?
74.0% of the 4,245 Smart City Passion 61 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.1% fail rate, across model years 2002–2007.
What does the Smart City Passion 61 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, then suspension (10.7%).
How much does mileage affect City Passion 61 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.5% for 150k+, a 14.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,245 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.