At a Glance
The Smart City City Coupe has 30 identified problems that occur more often than the UK average, with Stop lamp not working being the most reported. Bodywork is the most common MOT failure category. Based on 265K MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on this model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we calculate MOT pass rates and problems →
Below: the full MOT-data picture for the Smart City City Coupe — MOT pass rate vs the UK average, common problems vs UK fleet patterns, the most likely MOT failures by frequency, fault occurrence by mileage band, and pass/fail trends. All numbers drawn from DVSA records.
Smart City City Coupe MOT Pass Rate
Across 265K MOT tests from DVSA data, the Smart City City Coupe (1998–2007) has a fail rate of 37.9%.
UK average fail rate (2006–2007): 36.6%
Common Smart City City Coupe Problems
Owner-submitted reports plus patterns we've identified across 559 million UK MOT tests. Each MOT-derived item below — whether tagged as a Problem, Wear & Tear or Consumable — shows up noticeably more often on this generation than across the UK fleet, which is why it's here. Owner reports are pinned to the top by default; use the sort and filter pills below to view a specific tier or change the order.
Stop lamp not working
24,196
occurrences
Tyre condition
11,910
occurrences
Coil spring broken or corroded
11,051
occurrences
Headlamp defect (aim check required on retest)
8,943
occurrences
Catalytic converter efficiency low
8,090
occurrences
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Smart City City Coupe owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Smart City City Coupe owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
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Problems by mileage
Common problems, MOT failures and advisories on the Smart City City Coupe, grouped by the mileage they typically appear at.
466 distinct problems · 418,933 total occurrences in current filter
Filter by fuel and engine size to narrow down to your car.
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Advisory items are MOT tester observations. Frequency can be influenced by driving style and usage patterns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Smart City City Coupe problems?
Based on DVSA MOT data for the Smart City City Coupe (1998–2007), we have identified 30 common problems. The most frequently reported is "Stop lamp not working". Bodywork is the most common MOT failure category.
How reliable is the Smart City City Coupe?
This generation has 265K MOT tests on record with a 37.9% fail rate. A fault is flagged as a "Common Problem" only when it occurs significantly more often on this model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence.
What commonly fails the MOT on a Smart City City Coupe?
There are 174 distinct MOT failure types recorded for the City Coupe (1998–2007), grouped by the mileage these failures typically occur. See the Common MOT Failures section on this page.
Can I report a problem with my Smart City City Coupe?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Smart City owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.
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