Smart City Pulse 61 MOT pass rate & common failures

Across 4 model years and 617 tests, the Smart City Pulse 61 passes its MOT 75.0% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 2.7pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.

Pass rate

617

MOT tests analysed

25.0%

Fail rate

better than

vs all cars of similar age

2003–2006

Model years covered

What the MOT record shows

One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.2% of tests against 8.4% for the next-worst category.

At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 76 times.

A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.4% versus 20.8%.

Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.

How it compares

Fail rate for the Smart City Pulse 61 against all cars of a similar age.

By model year

Every City Pulse 61 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.

Smart City Pulse 61 MOT results by model year
Year	Tests	Pass rate	Fail rate	Most common failure
2003	213	75.1%	24.9%	Lighting & signalling
2004	336	72.9%	27.1%	Lighting & signalling
2005	65	84.6%	15.4%	Lighting & signalling

Most common failures (all years)

Most common MOT failure areas — Smart City Pulse 61
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	23.2%	143
2	Suspension	8.4%	52
3	Emissions & environmental	7.1%	44
4	Visibility	7.0%	43
5	Brakes	6.5%	40
6	Body, structure & corrosion	5.7%	35
7	Tyres	3.9%	24
8	Steering	1.8%	11

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category, across all model years.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — Smart City Pulse 61
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Headlamp aim	76
2	Headlamp	62
3	Catalyst emissions	43
4	Washers	34
5	Stop lamp	32
6	Position lamp	27
7	Flexible brake hoses	26
8	Fuel cap/sealing device	19

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — Smart City Pulse 61
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Brakes	34.0%	210
2	Suspension	29.5%	182
3	Tyres	19.8%	122
4	Lighting & signalling	13.9%	86
5	Emissions & environmental	11.7%	72
6	Other defects	7.8%	48

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — Smart City Pulse 61
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
30-60k	197	20.8%
60-90k	281	26.0%
90-120k	88	28.4%

Failure rate by age

How the City Pulse 61's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — Smart City Pulse 61
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	174	25.3%
2022	142	22.5%
2023	120	25.8%
2024	102	27.5%
2025	79	24.1%

What to check before buying a Smart City Pulse 61

Lighting & signalling (23.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Suspension (8.4% 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 (7.1% 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

What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart City Pulse 61?

75.0% of the 617 Smart City Pulse 61 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.0% fail rate, across model years 2003–2006.

What does the Smart City Pulse 61 most often fail its MOT on?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.2% of tests, then suspension (8.4%).

How much does mileage affect City Pulse 61 MOT results?

Fail rates run at 20.8% for cars in the 30-60k band and 28.4% for 90-120k, a 7.6-point difference.

Methodology & source. Based on 617 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.