The picture
Fortwo Cabriolet: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 5,408 MOT tests, the Fortwo Cabriolet returns 71.6% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a broken or weak spring. A binding brake and a corroded brake pipe round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 62,752, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
294 occurrences · 5.4% of tests
- 02
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
153 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 03
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
136 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 04
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
121 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 05
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
109 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 06
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
109 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 07
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
107 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 08
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
107 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
95 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 10
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
89 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£128–£365
If every one of this Fortwo Cabriolet's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a Fortwo Cabriolet?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Fortwo Cabriolet and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.