Used car guide

2000 Smart City: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Smart City first registered in 2000: we looked at the 180 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 180 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

180MOTs of 2000 cars, done in 2023–2025
63%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 61%)
2,800typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for headlights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2000 Smart City?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2000 Smart City than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Headlights2.2× usual
    Smart City
    16.7% All 2000 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.8%, against 3.3% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Common 2000 Smart City MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2000 Smart City MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    39% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    36% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    23% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    23% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    16% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2000 Smart City

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2000 Smart City as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Smart City?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Smart City compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2012136Brakes 34%
2011116Brakes 27%
2010243Brakes 33%
2009358Suspension 30%
2008284Brakes 37%
20071,377Suspension 40%
20061,686Suspension 38%
20051,109Suspension 39%
20042,009Lights and electrics 36%
20032,776Lights and electrics 38%
20021,861Lights and electrics 39%
2001516Brakes 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Smart City cars first registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score