2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet MOT pass rate and common faults

822 MOT tests in 2024. 62.4% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

110Well above average
Passed first time62.4%
Failed or needed repairs37.6%
Typical mileage at test65,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 822 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.2%
  2. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.5%
  3. Stop lamp: not working4.4%
  4. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam3.9%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.4%
  6. Fuel cap/sealing device: ineffective2.6%
  7. Position lamp: not working2.6%
  8. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.3%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics24.6%
  2. Suspension14.5%
  3. Brakes14.2%
  4. Emissions & leaks6.8%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.8%
  6. Tyres6.7%
  7. Body & chassis5.1%
  8. Number plates & VIN0.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.9%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure14.5%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm12.7%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.7%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened5.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet?

In 2024, 62.4% of 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet cars passed their MOT first time, across 822 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; service brake performance: excessively binding; stop lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 110, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).