2006 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 673 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 73.9% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (74.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.1% in the 90-120k group versus 15.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 114 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.5% | 84 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.8% | 59 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.8% | 46 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 29 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.0% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 83 |
| 2 | Washers | 43 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 39 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 37 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 32 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 31 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 32.8% | 221 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.2% | 176 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 170 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 101 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 82 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.7% | 45 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 46 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 280 | 25.4% |
| 60-90k | 249 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 73 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 152 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 140 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 145 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 128 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 108 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 City Cabriolet
Before buying a 2006 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (8.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolets pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 673 2006 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.5%).
Does the 2006 City Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 673 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.