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Smart (mcc) Cabriolet Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart (mcc) Cabriolet car check

Is the Smart (mcc) Cabriolet reliable? We analysed 38,203 real MOT tests across 2,410 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 38,203 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.7%
Typical Mileage
48,412mi
Annual Mileage
3,323mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
26yrs

The Smart (mcc) Cabriolet is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp not working, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and headlamp not working on dipped beam. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart (mcc) Cabriolet.

Smart (mcc) Cabriolet Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Smart (mcc) Cabriolet. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Smart (mcc) Cabriolet MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Smart (mcc) Cabriolet to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

80.9%
2012
80.1%
2011
77.7%
2010
76.6%
2009
76.5%
2008
75.9%
2007
72.7%
2006
71.7%
2005
72.8%
2004
71.8%
2003
71.3%
2002
70.8%
2001
68.6%
2000
67.2%
1999

Smart (mcc) Cabriolet Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Smart (mcc) Cabriolet fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp not working 1,073
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1,072
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 667
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 650
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 640
Headlamp aim too low 584
coil spring broken 465
position lamp(s) not working 424
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 415
Headlamp aim too high 374

Smart (mcc) Cabriolet Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Smart (mcc) Cabriolet owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,646 mi/yr
Typical
3,323 mi/yr
Average
4,268 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,809 mi/yr

Smart (mcc) Cabriolet MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart (mcc) Cabriolet year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 624 80.9% 27,666 44,934 64,864
2011 1,002 80.1% 25,200 41,173 60,813
2010 941 77.7% 25,961 40,505 59,133
2009 1,298 76.6% 30,947 44,862 64,095
2008 1,368 76.5% 26,506 45,026 64,758
2007 1,171 75.9% 26,823 45,287 67,566
2006 2,245 72.7% 26,963 42,205 60,363
2005 3,565 71.7% 30,094 46,375 65,125
2004 5,237 72.8% 31,278 48,984 67,997
2003 11,387 71.8% 31,776 49,183 68,578
2002 6,537 71.3% 33,369 50,707 69,282
2001 1,818 70.8% 32,952 49,192 65,896
2000 818 68.6% 53,355 73,202 103,256
1999 61 67.2% 77,054 99,322 118,013

How Long Does a Smart (mcc) Cabriolet Last?

Based on 2,410 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.5 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
26 years

Smart (mcc) Cabriolet Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Smart (mcc) Cabriolet MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
48,412 mi
75th Percentile
67,746 mi
95th Percentile
100,570 mi
Max Recorded
903,377 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart (mcc) Cabriolet

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2012

80.9% MOT pass rate from 624 tests

Year to avoid
1999

67.2% MOT pass rate from 61 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart (mcc) Cabriolet is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.9% across 624 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Smart (mcc) Cabriolet Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Smart (mcc) Cabriolet THIS CAR 72.7% 38,203 48,412 mi 26 yrs
Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe 75.2% 440,585 45,098 mi 24 yrs
Smart (mcc) City Coupe 71.5% 282,294 49,203 mi 27 yrs
Smart (mcc) Forfour 78.9% 256,394 38,541 mi 22 yrs
Ford Transit Custom 320LIMITD Eblue 83.3% 22,732 51,919 mi — yrs

Compared to the Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe (75.2% pass rate) and the Smart (mcc) City Coupe (71.5% pass rate), the Smart (mcc) Cabriolet sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

The Smart (mcc) Cabriolet has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.7% across 38,203 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Smart (mcc) Cabriolet are stop lamp not working (1,073 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1,072), and headlamp not working on dipped beam (667). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Smart (mcc) Cabriolet owner drives around 3,323 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Smart (mcc) Cabriolet models stay on UK roads for around 26 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Smart (mcc) Cabriolet — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart (mcc) Cabriolet reliable?
Based on 38,203 MOT tests, the Smart (mcc) Cabriolet has a 72.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp not working, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and headlamp not working on dipped beam. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Smart (mcc) Cabriolet do per year?
The typical Smart (mcc) Cabriolet does around 3,323 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart (mcc) Cabriolet last?
Most Smart (mcc) Cabriolet models stay on UK roads for around 26 years based on our analysis of 2,410 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart (mcc) Cabriolet is 2012 with a 80.9% pass rate across 624 tests.