Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet reliable?

Based on MOT data from 672 vehicles, the 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (59.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.1% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (45.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Smart (mcc) Cabriolet (2003)

672 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.5% first-time pass rate

2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet

CarHunch analysed 672 real MOT records for the 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2003 Smart Cabriolet's 73.5% first-time pass rate falls notably short of the UK average of 80%, signalling below-average reliability for its age. More concerning, one in three of these vehicles (33.2%) have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, making this a significant buyer consideration.

At 48,239 miles median mileage, these Smarts are relatively low-mileage for 20-year-old cars, yet they're still averaging 4.76 failures and 16 advisories per test, suggesting inherent durability issues rather than age-related wear alone. Before committing to purchase, have a pre-buy inspection focus on the electrical and suspension systems, where Smart Cabrios commonly fail.

The 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

73.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

33.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.76

Over 16.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

48k

Middle half: 36k–62k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 672 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 672 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 59.7%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Tyre wear 52.1%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 37.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 35.3%

Offside Stop lamp not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Wipers & washers 27%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Exhaust & emissions 22.9%

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 672 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet

Based on MOT data from 672 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	669	73.5%	4.74

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,400 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 49.5%

1,188

Black 33.5%

803

Blue 4.2%

100

White 3.9%

Red 3.7%

Grey 1.6%

Yellow 1.1%

Pink 0.7%

Green 0.6%

Cream 0.5%

Multi-colour 0.5%

Orange 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

48,239

typical

36,241

low mileage

61,908

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles fall between 36,241 and 61,908 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 36,241 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 36,241–61,908 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolets sit.

⚠ Over 83,575 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 19% of 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolets are still active.

Numbers are declining — 98 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (19% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.76

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart (mcc) Cabriolet: All Cabriolet years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2002 2004 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on