2002 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 743 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 72.1% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 132 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 82 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.3% | 62 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 62 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.7% | 57 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.5% | 41 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 80 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 58 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 50 |
| 4 | Washers | 46 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 37 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 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 | 26.1% | 194 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.2% | 180 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.4% | 159 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.9% | 133 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 111 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.1% | 53 |
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 | 39 | 30.8% |
| 30-60k | 253 | 25.3% |
| 60-90k | 286 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 139 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 184 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 182 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 155 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 119 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 103 | 33.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 City Cabriolet
Before buying a 2002 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.0% 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 (8.3% 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 2002 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolets pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 743 2002 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (11.0%).
Does the 2002 City Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 743 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.