Smart (Mcc) City Coupe
From 7,341 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer City Coupes fare better: 2010 models pass at 69.4% vs 66.6% for 2002.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 552 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 552 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 285 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 273 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 234 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 232 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 210 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 199 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 175 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 145 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 136 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 21.3% of City Coupe failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £78.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 74.5% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2008 | 75.7% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap |
| 2007 | 67.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
6 earlier years
| 2006 | 63.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 67.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 68.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2003 | 67.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2002 | 66.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2001 | 66.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
Typical mileage
Half of all City Coupes tested had between 52,799 and 87,460 miles on the clock.
At 69,307 median miles, the City Coupe has 0.047 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Smart (Mcc) models
Common questions
What is the Smart (Mcc) City Coupe MOT pass rate?
The Smart (Mcc) City Coupe has a 67.5% MOT pass rate based on 7,341 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Smart (Mcc) City Coupe?
The most common MOT failure on the Smart (Mcc) City Coupe is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 552 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What is the typical mileage of a Smart (Mcc) City Coupe at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Smart (Mcc) City Coupe is 69,307 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 52,799 and 87,460 miles.
Buying a used City Coupe?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 67.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £78 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.