Smart City MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 14 model years and 4,972 tests, the Smart City passes its MOT 73.3% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail at 27.4%, so the City sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests against 10.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 498 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the City fails 21.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 23.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every City model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 72 | 68.1% | 31.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2001 | 134 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 752 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 895 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 1,099 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 908 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 679 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 173 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 77 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 45 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 44 | 77.3% | 22.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 62 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 866 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.0% | 498 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.7% | 432 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 387 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.3% | 365 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.0% | 247 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 229 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.3% | 114 |
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 | 498 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 440 |
| 3 | Washers | 324 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 293 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 267 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 191 |
| 7 | Wipers | 179 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 176 |
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 | 30.9% | 1,539 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.3% | 1,208 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.3% | 1,207 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 674 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.8% | 638 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.3% | 362 |
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 | 273 | 21.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,812 | 24.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,996 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 709 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 112 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,913 | 26.7% |
| Diesel | 55 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,308 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 1,134 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 990 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 824 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 716 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a Smart City
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.0% 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 (8.7% 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?
73.3% of the 4,972 Smart City MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.7% fail rate, across model years 1999–2012.
What does the Smart City most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, then suspension (10.0%).
How much does mileage affect City MOT results?
Fail rates run at 21.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 23.7% for 150k+, a 2.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,972 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.