2007 Smart City Passion 61 Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 736 MOT tests analysed for the 2007 Smart City Passion 61 Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 73.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.6% in the 90-120k group versus 17.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 157 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 94 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.0% | 59 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.8% | 43 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 33 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.1% | 30 |
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 | 98 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 60 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 55 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 50 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 49 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | Suspension | 29.1% | 214 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.7% | 182 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.4% | 165 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 93 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.4% | 91 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.4% | 69 |
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 | 41 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 272 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 300 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 98 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 176 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 168 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 151 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 132 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 109 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 City Passion 61 Auto
Before buying a 2007 Smart City Passion 61 Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 21.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (21.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (8.0% 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 2007 Smart City Passion 61 Autos pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 736 2007 Smart City Passion 61 Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Smart City Passion 61 Auto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.3% of tests, followed by suspension (12.8%).
Does the 2007 City Passion 61 Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 736 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.