2007 Smart City Passion 61 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Smart City Passion 61 passed 73.7% of its 749 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 26.9%, so the 2007 City Passion 61 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.4% of all tests — 8.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 99 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.6% versus 17.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.5% in 2021 to 25.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.4% | 160 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 96 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.0% | 60 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.9% | 44 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 34 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.0% | 30 |
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 | 99 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 60 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 56 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 50 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 50 |
| 6 | Washers | 49 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.7% | 215 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.6% | 184 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.2% | 166 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 93 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.2% | 91 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.3% | 70 |
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 | 41 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 283 | 24.0% |
| 60-90k | 301 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 98 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 179 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 170 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 153 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 135 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 112 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 City Passion 61
On a 2007 City Passion 61, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (8.0% 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 2007 Smart City Passion 61s pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 749 2007 Smart City Passion 61 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Smart City Passion 61?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.4% of tests, followed by suspension (12.8%).
Does the 2007 City Passion 61 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 749 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.