2002 Smart Mcc City Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,890 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Smart Mcc City Coupe, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension. Its pass rate of 73.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.7% in the 120-150k group versus 18.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.7% | 1,013 |
| 2 | Visibility | 10.4% | 511 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 469 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 370 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.4% | 362 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 255 |
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 | 515 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 462 |
| 3 | Washers | 389 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 377 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 350 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 254 |
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 | 30.5% | 1,493 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.3% | 1,287 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.0% | 1,074 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 770 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 730 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 523 |
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 | 242 | 18.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,683 | 26.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,951 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 790 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 188 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,383 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 1,139 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 963 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 763 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 642 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 City Coupe
Before buying a 2002 Smart Mcc City Coupe, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (20.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (10.4% 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 (9.6% 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 2002 Smart Mcc City Coupes pass their MOT?
73.3% of the 4,890 2002 Smart Mcc City Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Smart Mcc City Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by visibility (10.4%).
Does the 2002 City Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,890 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.