Smart City Pulse 50 Auto MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 62 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 25.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Smart City Pulse 50 Auto MOT Reliability Overview
The Smart City Pulse 50 Auto is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 62 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% and a failure rate of 25.8%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Smart City Pulse 50 Auto earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Smart City Pulse 50 Auto presents for MOT with approximately 65,295 miles on the clock. The 2003 manufacture year performs best with a 73.8% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Smart City Pulse 50 Auto is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 24.2% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions at 17.7%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 17.7%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 45.1% | 28 |
| 2 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 25.8% | 16 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.4% | 12 |
| 4 | Driver's View Of The Road | 12.9% | 8 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.3% | 7 |
| 6 | Brakes | 6.5% | 4 |
| 7 | Body, Structure And General Items | 4.8% | 3 |
| 8 | Registration Plates And Vin | 3.2% | 2 |
| 9 | Visibility | 1.6% | 1 |
| 10 | Items Not Tested | 1.6% | 1 |
| 11 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.6% | 1 |
| 12 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.6% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 65,295 miFor 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.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 6.92 | 45.1% | 28 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 3.95 | 25.8% | 16 |
| Suspension | 2.96 | 19.4% | 12 |
| Visibility | 2.23 | 14.5% | 9 |
| Tyres | 1.73 | 11.3% | 7 |
| Brakes | 0.99 | 6.5% | 4 |
| Body & Structure | 0.74 | 4.8% | 3 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.49 | 3.2% | 2 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.25 | 1.6% | 1 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.25 | 1.6% | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 0.25 | 1.6% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Smart City Pulse 50 Auto has 65,295 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Smart City Pulse 50 Auto has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.95% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Smart City Pulse 50 Auto MOT Data
The Smart City Pulse 50 Auto is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 62 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% and a failure rate of 25.8%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Smart City Pulse 50 Auto owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and exhaust, fuel and emissions for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific City Pulse 50 Auto is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 24.2% of MOT failures on the Smart City Pulse 50 Auto. 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.
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 17.7% of failures
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 17.7% of MOT failures on the Smart City Pulse 50 Auto. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.
Suspension — 17.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 17.7% of MOT failures on the Smart City Pulse 50 Auto. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart City Pulse 50 Auto?
Based on 62 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Smart City Pulse 50 Auto has an overall pass rate of 74.2% (25.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Smart City Pulse 50 Auto?
The top 3 reasons a Smart City Pulse 50 Auto fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (24.2%), 2. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (17.7%), 3. Suspension (17.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Smart City Pulse 50 Auto reliable?
With a 25.8% MOT failure rate, the City Pulse 50 Auto is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Smart City Pulse 50 Auto?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (24.2%); Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (17.7%); Suspension (17.7%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.