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Pass Your MOT

2001 Smart (mcc) Smart MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Smart models manufactured in 2001, based on 32 real MOT test results.

50.0%
Pass Rate
50.0%
Fail Rate
32
Total Tests
65,442
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

2001 Smart (mcc) Smart MOT Analysis

The 2001 Smart (mcc) Smart has an MOT pass rate of 50.0% based on 32 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 65,442 miles on the odometer. With a 50.0% failure rate, the 2001 Smart is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2001 Smart (mcc) Smart is Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, responsible for 12.5% of failures. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs range from £5–50. Steering is the second most common issue at 6.3%. Suspension follows at 6.3%.

⚠ Based on limited data (32 tests)

Top failures specific to 2001 models only. The overall Smart page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment12.5%4
2Steering6.3%2
3Suspension6.3%2
4Noise, Emissions And Leaks3.1%1
5Non-component Advisories3.1%1
6Visibility3.1%1
7Brakes3.1%1
8Identification Of The Vehicle3.1%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 65,442 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Lamps & Electrical1.91% per 10K miSteering0.96% per 10K miSuspension0.96% per 10K miNoise, emissions and leaks0.48% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.48% per 10K miVisibility0.48% per 10K miBrakes0.48% per 10K miIdentification of the vehicle0.48% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Lamps & Electrical1.9112.5%4
Steering0.966.3%2
Suspension0.966.3%2
Noise, emissions and leaks0.483.1%1
Non-component advisories0.483.1%1
Visibility0.483.1%1
Brakes0.483.1%1
Identification of the vehicle0.483.1%1

Mileage Statistics

65,442
Mean
80,220
Median
62,543
25th Percentile
92,781
75th Percentile
7.64% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 2001 Smart (mcc) Smart has an MOT pass rate of 50.0% based on 32 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 65,442 miles on the odometer. With a 50.0% failure rate, the 2001 Smart is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 2001 Smart (mcc) Smart, be prepared for above-average maintenance costs. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test. At 65,442 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 12.5% of failures

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 12.5% of MOT failures on 2001 Smart (mcc) Smart models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.

Steering — 6.3% of failures

Steering issues account for 6.3% of MOT failures on 2001 Smart (mcc) Smart models. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.

Suspension — 6.3% of failures

Suspension issues account for 6.3% of MOT failures on 2001 Smart (mcc) Smart models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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