2009 Smart Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
391 MOT tests on the 2009 Smart Cabriolet are in this dataset, and 79.3% of them passed. That is 4.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.3%) and suspension (10.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp and service brake performance — coil spring alone was recorded 25 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 6.3% versus 19.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 52 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.7% | 42 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 36 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 13 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 10 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 22 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 17 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 14 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
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 | 27.1% | 106 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.8% | 89 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.1% | 63 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 25 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 22 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 16 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 174 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 150 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 32 | 6.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 327 | 19.9% |
| Diesel | 64 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 77 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 80 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 78 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 74 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Cabriolet
On a 2009 Cabriolet, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.7% 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 (9.2% 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 2009 Smart Cabriolets pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 391 2009 Smart Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Smart Cabriolet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by suspension (10.7%).
Does the 2009 Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 30-60k band to 6.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 391 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.