2003 Smart City Passion 61 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 427 MOT tests, the 2003 Smart City Passion 61 recorded a 75.2% pass rate. That is 2.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.6% of all tests — 7.5 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 55 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 City Passion 61 fails 28.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 24.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 71 |
| 2 | Visibility | 9.1% | 39 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 35 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.1% | 26 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 16 |
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 | 55 |
| 2 | Washers | 28 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 23 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 6 | Wipers | 17 |
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 | 34.4% | 147 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.6% | 105 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.6% | 88 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 52 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 52 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.0% | 34 |
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 | 138 | 28.3% |
| 60-90k | 164 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 82 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 104 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 82 | 20.7% |
| 2024 | 67 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 60 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2003 City Passion 61
On a 2003 City Passion 61, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (9.1% 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.
- Suspension (8.2% 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.
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 2003 Smart City Passion 61s pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 427 2003 Smart City Passion 61 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Smart City Passion 61?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by visibility (9.1%).
Does the 2003 City Passion 61 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.3% in the 30-60k band to 24.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 427 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.