2005 Smart City — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 908 MOT tests, the 2005 Smart City recorded a 74.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 2.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.0% of all tests — 7.2 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 104 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 City fails 27.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 29.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 154 |
| 2 | Visibility | 9.8% | 89 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 85 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.6% | 69 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 64 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.2% | 38 |
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 | 104 |
| 2 | Washers | 71 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 67 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 51 |
| 5 | Wipers | 43 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 39 |
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 | 34.3% | 311 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.6% | 260 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 223 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 124 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 114 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 100 |
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 | 44 | 27.3% |
| 30-60k | 359 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 357 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 127 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 228 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 217 | 25.4% |
| 2023 | 179 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 157 | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 127 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 City
On a 2005 City, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (9.8% 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.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
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 Citys pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 908 2005 Smart City MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart City?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by visibility (9.8%).
Does the 2005 City get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.3% in the 0-30k band to 29.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 908 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.