City car · 2000–2018 cars
Smart Fortwo Cabriolet reliability
The Smart Fortwo Cabriolet fails 33.5% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 14,865 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Smart Fortwo Cabriolet before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 33.5%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 1% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 14,865
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 4,800
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet ages
Each point is the share of Smart Fortwo Cabriolets of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Smart Fortwo Cabriolet | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 25.6% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 29.9% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 30.9% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 32.6% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 33.8% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 36.7% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 38.2% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 39.6% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 39.8% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 36.7% | 43.4% |
By year
The best and worst Smart Fortwo Cabriolet years
2012 cars come out best and 2008 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Fortwo Cabriolet | 1,255 | 23.4% | 13% fewer fails | 48,291 |
| 2011 Fortwo Cabriolet | 2,255 | 28.2% | 5% fewer fails | 53,290 |
| 2010 Fortwo Cabriolet | 2,593 | 33.9% | 2% more fails | 60,758 |
| 2009 Fortwo Cabriolet | 3,047 | 33.4% | 3% fewer fails | 60,641 |
| 2008 Fortwo Cabriolet | 2,962 | 37.2% | 3% more fails | 62,357 |
| 2007 | 830 | 35.1% | 5% fewer fails | 64,711 |
| 2006 | 616 | 43.8% | 17% more fails | 62,896 |
| 2005 | 689 | 39.2% | 2% more fails | 64,678 |
| 2004 | 390 | 35.9% | 7% fewer fails | 69,827 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Smart Fortwo Cabriolet
Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 43% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics15.4%8% above avg
- Suspension10.9%8% below avg
- Brakes9.5%20% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.4%3% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.3%43% above avg
- Tyres5.3%9% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure3.3%27% below avg
- Steering0.7%67% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.6%44% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken 4.87% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Position lamp not working 3.09% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Stop lamp not working 2.79% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Dipped beam headlamp not working 2.76% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 5
Service brake excessively binding 2.6% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
- 6
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.93% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 7
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 1.9% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 8
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.81% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Smart Fortwo Cabriolet's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy11.34%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.5%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking9.19%
- Brake pads wearing thin4.31%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive3.94%
- Brake disc pitted or scored3.66%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Smart Fortwo Cabriolet
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Dipped beam headlamp not working
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Smart Fortwo Cabriolet covers about 4,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol91.2%
- Diesel8.7%
- Electric0.1%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, White, Red, Blue
Average engine size: 0.9 litres.
Compare
How the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Abarth 500 | 29.9% | about average for its age |
| Smart Fortwo Cabriolet | 33.5% | about average for its age |
| Volkswagen Lupo | 39.8% | about average for its age |
| Daihatsu Sirion | 37.8% | about average for its age |
| Smart City Coupe | 41.1% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Amica | 43% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chrysler Ypsilon | 36.3% | 29% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every city car ranked in the city car reliability index, or all Smart models.
Questions
Smart Fortwo Cabriolet questions, answered
Is the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet reliable?
On MOT results, the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet is about average: it fails 33.5% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 8 of 43 city car models in our index.
What fails most on a Smart Fortwo Cabriolet MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet are coil spring fractured or broken (4.87% of tests), position lamp not working (3.09% of tests), stop lamp not working (2.79% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 15.4% of its tests.
Which Smart Fortwo Cabriolet year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2012 cars do best (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2008 cars do worst (3% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Smart Fortwo Cabriolet do a year?
A typical Smart Fortwo Cabriolet covers about 4,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Smart Fortwo Cabriolet before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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