2011 Smart Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 380 MOT tests, the 2011 Smart Cabriolet recorded an 83.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 23.2% of the time, so this is 6.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and suspension (6.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2011 Cabriolet fails 16.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 17.1% at 60-90k, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 35 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.6% | 25 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.5% | 21 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 7 |
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 | 23 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 15 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 11 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.9% | 87 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 77 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.7% | 33 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 16 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 15 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.0% | 15 |
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 | 50 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 172 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 123 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 330 | 15.4% |
| Diesel | 50 | 26.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 79 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 80 | 16.3% |
| 2024 | 73 | 15.1% |
| 2025 | 78 | 19.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Cabriolet
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.6% 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.
- Tyres (5.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2011 Smart Cabriolets pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 380 2011 Smart Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Smart Cabriolet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by suspension (6.6%).
Does the 2011 Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 17.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 380 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.