2009 · 15 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2009 Smart City Coupe MOT pass rate and common faults

110 MOT tests in 2024. 65.5% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

112Well above average
Passed first time65.5%
Failed or needed repairs34.6%
Typical mileage at test65,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 110 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.5%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.6%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.6%
  4. Position lamp: not working3.6%
  5. Headlamp aim: too low2.7%
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.7%
  7. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.7%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.7%
  9. Stop lamp: not working1.8%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
    2 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics27.3%
  2. Suspension11.8%
  3. Brakes9.1%
  4. Tyres7.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.5%
  6. Body & chassis3.6%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.7%
  8. Wheels0.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.5%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure15.5%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.5%
  4. Service brake performance: excessively binding6.4%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: service brake performance: excessively binding. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2007 City CoupeAll City Coupe years

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Smart City Coupe?

In 2024, 65.5% of 2009 Smart City Coupe cars passed their MOT first time, across 110 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Smart City Coupe?

The most common failure reasons were service brake performance: excessively binding; coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Smart City Coupe reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 112, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).