2002 Smart City — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Smart City passed 72.2% of its 752 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests against 11.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and stop lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 80 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 City fails 30.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 29.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.4 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 133 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 83 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.2% | 62 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 62 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.7% | 58 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.5% | 41 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 80 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 58 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 50 |
| 4 | Washers | 46 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 37 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 33 |
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 | 26.5% | 199 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.1% | 181 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.7% | 163 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.5% | 139 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 114 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.4% | 56 |
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 | 30.8% |
| 30-60k | 254 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 288 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 143 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 188 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 184 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 156 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 121 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 103 | 33.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 City
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.0% 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 (8.2% 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 2002 Smart Citys pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 752 2002 Smart City MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Smart City?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by suspension (11.0%).
Does the 2002 City get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 752 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.