CarVerify

Free Car Check

VX53 RHJ

2003 Smart (mcc) City Coupe

Red Petrol 698cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires26 Jan 2026
Tests30 (19 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate63.3%

Mileage

73,391 mi
Last recorded73,391 miles
Recorded on27 Jan 2025
Typical for 2003 Smart (mcc) City Coupe47,556 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Smart (mcc)
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationVX53 RHJ
MakeSmart (mcc)
ModelCity Coupe
Year2003
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine698cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

19 pass 11 fail
Pass 27 Jan 2025 73,391 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge and perished (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both rear (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 17 Jan 2025 73,391 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp bulb in wrong (4.2.3 (c))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge and perished (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both rear (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 12 Jan 2024 71,898 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair (1.2.1 (c))

Fail 11 Jan 2024 71,897 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 5 Dec 2023 71,894 miles

Nearside Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle low effort (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 8 Dec 2022 70,575 miles

Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

both seat beat twisted

Fail 8 Dec 2022 70,575 miles

Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

both seat beat twisted

Fail 24 Nov 2022 70,547 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Emissions not tested Due to hole in exhaust (8.2.1.2 (d))

Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Rear Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Nov 2021 67,668 miles
Fail 22 Nov 2021 67,648 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 23 Nov 2020 64,847 miles

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 16 Jul 2019 59,500 miles

Electrical wiring inadequately secured n/s/f fuse box (4.11 (a) (i))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases rear silencer (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

transmission has a minor seepage of oil

Fail 13 Jul 2019 59,500 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Seat belt not functioning as intended seat belt twisted (7.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Electrical wiring inadequately secured n/s/f fuse box (4.11 (a) (i))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases rear silencer (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

o/s/f wiper blade smearing the windscreen

transmission has a minor seepage of oil

Pass 20 Aug 2018 57,775 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 2 Aug 2017 55,170 miles
Pass 23 Jan 2017
Fail 23 Jan 2017

Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault (3.4.1c)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 29 Aug 2015 51,245 miles

Offside Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 30 Aug 2014 47,969 miles

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

both front seat belts twisted

Fail 29 Aug 2014 47,969 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer deteriorated (7.2.4c)

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

both front seat belts twisted

Pass 29 Aug 2013 45,130 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2013 45,130 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Pass 16 Jan 2013 43,459 miles
Pass 16 Jan 2012 37,877 miles
Pass 25 Jan 2011 32,554 miles
Pass 6 Oct 2009 26,768 miles
Fail 5 Oct 2009 26,768 miles

Offside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 19 Sep 2008 20,935 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2007 16,292 miles
Pass 13 Sep 2006 10,771 miles

How Reliable is the Smart (mcc) City Coupe?

Based on 282,294 MOT tests across 17,380 vehicles.

71.5%
Pass Rate
3,273
Miles/Year
27
Year Lifespan
17,380
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

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
Full Smart (mcc) City Coupe reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

VX53 RHJ is a 2003 Smart (mcc) City Coupe in Red with a 698cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.3%.

Across all 2003 Smart (mcc) City Coupe models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.9% with a typical mileage of 47,556 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Smart (mcc) City Coupe fails its MOT is stop lamp not working, accounting for 9,153 recorded failures. If you're considering buying VX53 RHJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Smart (mcc) City Coupe typically stays on UK roads for around 27 years. At 23 years old, this Smart (mcc) City Coupe is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of VX53 RHJ?

You can check the full history of VX53 RHJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VX53 RHJ registered?

VX53 RHJ is a 2003 Smart (mcc) City Coupe, first registered on 31 October 2003.

Is VX53 RHJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for VX53 RHJ shows 30 tests with a 63.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VX53 RHJ have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on VX53 RHJ. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.