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Smart (mcc) City Coupe Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart (mcc) City Coupe car check

Is the Smart (mcc) City Coupe reliable? We analysed 282,294 real MOT tests across 17,380 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 282,294 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.5%
Typical Mileage
49,203mi
Annual Mileage
3,273mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

The Smart (mcc) City Coupe is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp not working, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart (mcc) City Coupe.

Smart (mcc) City Coupe Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Smart (mcc) City Coupe. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Smart (mcc) City Coupe MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Smart (mcc) City Coupe to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

76.4%
2013
79.8%
2012
81.6%
2011
74.7%
2010
75.9%
2009
76.3%
2008
72.2%
2007
72.4%
2006
72.3%
2005
72.1%
2004
71.9%
2003
70.5%
2002
70.4%
2001
69.8%
2000
68.6%
1999
69.5%
1998

Smart (mcc) City Coupe Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Smart (mcc) City Coupe fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp not working 9,153
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,215
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 5,697
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 5,268
Headlamp aim too low 5,252
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 4,693
position lamp(s) not working 4,149
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 3,533
coil spring broken 3,357
Headlamp aim too high 2,878

Smart (mcc) City Coupe Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Smart (mcc) City Coupe owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,621 mi/yr
Typical
3,273 mi/yr
Average
4,301 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,719 mi/yr

Smart (mcc) City Coupe MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart (mcc) City Coupe year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 55 76.4% 22,858 36,320 52,446
2012 749 79.8% 26,316 39,042 57,687
2011 756 81.6% 28,568 42,484 60,325
2010 1,658 74.7% 28,291 42,940 62,579
2009 2,565 75.9% 26,764 44,599 64,372
2008 2,371 76.3% 26,679 43,749 65,104
2007 14,151 72.2% 28,776 45,426 64,149
2006 18,198 72.4% 26,494 43,063 62,352
2005 16,842 72.3% 29,325 47,148 67,053
2004 42,723 72.1% 29,982 46,856 65,680
2003 73,099 71.9% 30,314 47,556 66,883
2002 61,517 70.5% 32,016 49,367 69,036
2001 25,335 70.4% 34,964 51,272 70,901
2000 14,814 69.8% 47,464 70,485 97,725
1999 6,720 68.6% 56,130 81,190 108,777
1998 502 69.5% 70,023 90,631 112,399

How Long Does a Smart (mcc) City Coupe Last?

Based on 17,380 Smart (mcc) City Coupe vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.9 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Smart (mcc) City Coupe Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Smart (mcc) City Coupe MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
49,203 mi
75th Percentile
69,534 mi
95th Percentile
106,525 mi
Max Recorded
987,415 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart (mcc) City Coupe

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2011

81.6% MOT pass rate from 756 tests

Year to avoid
1999

68.6% MOT pass rate from 6,720 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart (mcc) City Coupe is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.6% across 756 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Smart (mcc) City Coupe Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Smart (mcc) City Coupe THIS CAR 71.5% 282,294 49,203 mi 27 yrs
Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe 75.2% 440,585 45,098 mi 24 yrs
Smart (mcc) Forfour 78.9% 256,394 38,541 mi 22 yrs
Smart (mcc) Fortwo 85% 187,875 28,034 mi 13 yrs
Mercedes-benz V 77.2% 145,330 82,938 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe (75.2% pass rate) and the Smart (mcc) Forfour (78.9% pass rate), the Smart (mcc) City Coupe trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart (mcc) City Coupe?

The Smart (mcc) City Coupe has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.5% across 282,294 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Smart (mcc) City Coupe are stop lamp not working (9,153 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (8,215), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (5,697). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Smart (mcc) City Coupe owner drives around 3,273 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Smart (mcc) City Coupe models stay on UK roads for around 27 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Smart (mcc) City Coupe — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart (mcc) City Coupe reliable?
Based on 282,294 MOT tests, the Smart (mcc) City Coupe has a 71.5% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Smart (mcc) City Coupe?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp not working, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Smart (mcc) City Coupe do per year?
The typical Smart (mcc) City Coupe does around 3,273 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart (mcc) City Coupe last?
Most Smart (mcc) City Coupe models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 17,380 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart (mcc) City Coupe?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Smart (mcc) City Coupe?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart (mcc) City Coupe is 2011 with a 81.6% pass rate across 756 tests.