Smart (Mcc) Cabriolet
From 1,500 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 71 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 71 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 44 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 36 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 35 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 33 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 30 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 28 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 27 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 27 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 25 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 44.9% of failures are serious: 37.4% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 7.6% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £96.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 83.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 2009 | 70.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2008 | 68.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2006 | 76.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions test unable to be completed |
4 earlier years
| 2005 | 71.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2004 | 65.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2003 | 69.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2002 | 68.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cabriolets tested had between 51,092 and 80,593 miles on the clock.
At 66,896 median miles, the Cabriolet has 0.042 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Smart (Mcc) models
Common questions
What is the Smart (Mcc) Cabriolet MOT pass rate?
The Smart (Mcc) Cabriolet has a 71.9% MOT pass rate based on 1,500 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Smart (Mcc) Cabriolet?
The most common MOT failure on the Smart (Mcc) Cabriolet is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 71 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What is the typical mileage of a Smart (Mcc) Cabriolet at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Smart (Mcc) Cabriolet is 66,896 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 51,092 and 80,593 miles.
Buying a used Cabriolet?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 71.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £96 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.