Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet
From 6,612 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Fortwo Cabriolets fare better: 2012 models pass at 80.6% vs 69.6% for 2008.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, caused 222 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.
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 222 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 197 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 169 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 168 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 153 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 137 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 109 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 100 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 94 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 94 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 15.4% of Fortwo Cabriolet failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 45.4% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £109.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 80.6% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 77.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2010 | 73.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 73.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
5 earlier years
| 2008 | 69.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2007 | 73% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2006 | 64.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 67.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2004 | 70.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Fortwo Cabriolets tested had between 51,275 and 86,164 miles on the clock.
At 73,396 median miles, the Fortwo Cabriolet has 0.037 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Smart (Mcc) models
Common questions
What is the Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet MOT pass rate?
The Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet has a 73.2% MOT pass rate based on 6,612 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet?
The most common MOT failure on the Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet is a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which caused 222 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What is the typical mileage of a Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet is 73,396 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 51,275 and 86,164 miles.
Buying a used Fortwo 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 73.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £109 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.