Smart City common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Smart City, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 12,728 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.
Pick the year
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
What usually goes wrong with a Smart City?
We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Smart City in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.
Common Smart City MOT failures to check
Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.
Washers
up to 2.7× usualStands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Rough price £15–£60 our estimateAt the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.
Fuel cap
up to 13.5× usualStands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007.
Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimateAt the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.
Side repeaters
up to 3× usualStands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)
up to 2.8× usualStands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.
Track rod ends
up to 1.9× usualStands out on cars registered in 2006 and 2007.
Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.
Smart City MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Smart City did best (57% passed first time, 1 point above all 2006 cars) and the 2007 did worst (57%, 0 points above all 2007 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
| Year | Pass first time | All cars that year | MOT tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 74% | 64% +10 | 151 (small sample) |
| 2011 | 72% | 62% +10 | 138 (small sample) |
| 2010 | 64% | 60% +4 | 247 (small sample) |
| 2009 | 65% | 59% +6 | 372 (small sample) |
| 2008 | 61% | 57% +4 | 286 (small sample) |
| 2007 | 57% | 57% +0 | 1,377 |
| 2006 | 57% | 56% +1 | 1,686 |
| 2005 | 57% | 57% +0 | 1,112 |
| 2004 | 62% | 57% +5 | 2,009 |
| 2003 | 57% | 57% +0 | 2,776 |
| 2002 | 58% | 58% +0 | 1,864 |
| 2001 | 61% | 60% +1 | 524 |
| 2000 | 62% | 61% +1 | 186 (small sample) |
Questions to ask the seller before buying a Smart City
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the washers? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Smart City as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the fuel cap? (Flagged at MOT 13.5× as often on the Smart City as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the Smart City as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Smart City?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score