2005 Smart City Passion 61 Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 939 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Smart City Passion 61 Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 74.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.7% in the 90-120k group versus 12.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 179 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.3% | 97 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.4% | 79 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.4% | 60 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 56 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 45 |
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 | 106 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 63 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 57 |
| 4 | Washers | 56 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 49 |
| 6 | Wipers | 48 |
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 | 32.9% | 309 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.3% | 256 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.1% | 226 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 140 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 137 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.5% | 80 |
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 | 39 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 269 | 23.1% |
| 60-90k | 442 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 148 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 237 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 211 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 180 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 165 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 146 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 City Passion 61 Auto
Before buying a 2005 Smart City Passion 61 Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 19.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.3% 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.
- Visibility (8.4% 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.
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 2005 Smart City Passion 61 Autos pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 939 2005 Smart City Passion 61 Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart City Passion 61 Auto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by suspension (10.3%).
Does the 2005 City Passion 61 Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 939 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.