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

Free Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet car check

Is the Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet reliable? We analysed 41,914 real MOT tests across 2,495 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 41,914 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.0%
Typical Mileage
48,062mi
Annual Mileage
3,241mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
26yrs

The Smart (mcc) City 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 windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet.

Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet Number Plates

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

Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

73.8%
2012
79.3%
2011
76%
2010
74.1%
2009
78.1%
2008
71.4%
2007
73.1%
2006
72.9%
2005
72.2%
2004
71.7%
2003
71.8%
2002
69.2%
2001
69.8%
2000
70.7%
1999

Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Stop lamp not working 1,262
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1,250
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 770
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 746
Headlamp aim too low 706
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 697
coil spring broken 575
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 522
position lamp(s) not working 507
Headlamp aim too high 426

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

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

Low usage
1,621 mi/yr
Typical
3,241 mi/yr
Average
4,233 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,655 mi/yr

Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 61 73.8% 23,311 31,617 47,911
2011 145 79.3% 34,315 47,848 62,369
2010 129 76.0% 28,598 41,446 63,397
2009 158 74.1% 30,878 48,420 65,499
2008 256 78.1% 25,486 41,458 62,314
2007 751 71.4% 28,145 44,101 58,288
2006 3,478 73.1% 28,190 44,388 64,866
2005 5,460 72.9% 29,386 44,912 64,060
2004 8,595 72.2% 30,862 48,548 67,605
2003 9,833 71.7% 30,942 47,258 66,309
2002 9,016 71.8% 31,117 47,923 67,510
2001 2,539 69.2% 35,986 53,077 74,924
2000 1,284 69.8% 49,104 69,534 100,507
1999 123 70.7% 54,869 78,224 99,501

How Long Does a Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet Last?

Based on 2,495 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.2 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
26 years

Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet Mileage Distribution

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

Median
48,062 mi
75th Percentile
67,665 mi
95th Percentile
99,668 mi
Max Recorded
905,756 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet

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

Best year
2011

79.3% MOT pass rate from 145 tests

Year to avoid
2001

69.2% MOT pass rate from 2,539 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.3% across 145 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.2% — 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) City 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) City Cabriolet THIS CAR 72.0% 41,914 48,062 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
Piaggio Porter 68.2% 18,238 34,633 mi 25 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) City Cabriolet sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet?

The Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.0% across 41,914 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet are stop lamp not working (1,262 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1,250), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (770). 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) City Cabriolet owner drives around 3,241 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) City 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) City Cabriolet — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet reliable?
Based on 41,914 MOT tests, the Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet has a 72.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp not working, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet do per year?
The typical Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet does around 3,241 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet last?
Most Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet models stay on UK roads for around 26 years based on our analysis of 2,495 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart (mcc) City 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) City Cabriolet?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet is 2011 with a 79.3% pass rate across 145 tests.