2005 Smart City Passion 61 — MOT failures & pass rate
948 MOT tests on the 2005 Smart City Passion 61 are in this dataset, and 74.3% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 City Passion 61 comes out 1.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.3% of all tests — 8.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 106 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.7% once past 90-120k — 2.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 25.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 183 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.7% | 101 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.6% | 82 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.3% | 60 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 57 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 48 |
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 | 106 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 63 |
| 3 | Washers | 60 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 58 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 49 |
| 6 | Wipers | 48 |
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 | 32.6% | 309 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.0% | 256 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.1% | 228 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 140 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 137 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.4% | 80 |
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 | 39 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 275 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 445 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 148 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 240 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 215 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 182 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 165 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 146 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 City Passion 61
On a 2005 City Passion 61, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% 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 (8.6% 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
How many 2005 Smart City Passion 61s pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 948 2005 Smart City Passion 61 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart City Passion 61?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by suspension (10.7%).
Does the 2005 City Passion 61 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 948 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.