Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 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 2005 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 2005 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 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

45% 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 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet reliable?

Based on MOT data from 200 vehicles, the 2005 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 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (66.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (45.2% 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 2005 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.

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Smart (mcc) Cabriolet (2005)

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

2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet

CarHunch analysed 200 real MOT records for the 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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

This 2005 Smart Cabriolet has a 73.5% first-time pass rate—well below the UK average of 80%—and that's a genuine concern: nearly half of these vehicles (45%) have recorded dangerous defects during MOT testing, which puts them firmly in high-risk territory for a buyer. The reliability picture is consistently weak across the small petrol-only fleet tested.

At under 47,000 miles on average, these Cabriolets show relatively modest mileage for their age, yet they're still racking up an average of 5 failures and 20 advisories per test, suggesting mechanical fragility rather than simple wear. If you're considering one, budget heavily for repairs—factor in a pre-purchase inspection by a Smart specialist and expect recurring issues with suspension, brakes, and electrics typical of this generation.

We have limited data for the 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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)

45%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

Over 17.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

45k

Middle half: 36k–59k

For context

These stats describe 200 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 200 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 66.2%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · …

Tyre wear 59%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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 43.1%

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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 27.2%

Nearside Stop lamp not working · Offside Stop lamp not working

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

Wipers & washers 26.1%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 200 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet

Based on MOT data from 200 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45% 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%)	199	73.4%	5

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 2005 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.

44,994

typical

36,399

low mileage

58,567

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles fall between 36,399 and 58,567 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 36,399 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.

✓ 36,399–58,567 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolets sit.

⚠ Over 79,065 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 37% of 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolets are still active.

Numbers are declining — 62 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (37% 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

17.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

Avg failures per vehicle

20.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2001 2002 2003 2004 2006

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

See how the 2005 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on