2008 Smart Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Smart Cabriolet passed 75.3% of its 437 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 Cabriolet comes out 1.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests against 9.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — coil spring alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 Cabriolet fails 26.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 26.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.8% in 2021 to 22.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 69 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 41 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 32 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 27 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 17 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 16 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 15 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 15 |
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 | 30.9% | 135 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.2% | 97 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.9% | 52 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 41 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 26 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.0% | 22 |
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 | 41 | 26.8% |
| 30-60k | 154 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 177 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 52 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 87 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 87 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 86 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 84 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Cabriolet
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
- Brakes (7.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2008 Smart Cabriolets pass their MOT?
75.3% of the 437 2008 Smart Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Smart Cabriolet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2008 Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.8% in the 0-30k band to 26.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 437 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.