Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) MOT pass rate & common failures
The Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) appears in 6,147 MOT tests spanning model years 2003–2008, and 78.1% of them passed. That is 5.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.2% of all tests — 7.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and individual direction indicators — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 242 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.0% versus 14.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.9% in 2021 to 21.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Roadster 80 (Rhd) model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1,012 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 3,159 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 1,489 | 79.0% | 21.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 428 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 57 | 79.0% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 936 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.9% | 488 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 476 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 233 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.0% | 182 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.5% | 154 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 151 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 150 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 242 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 229 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 217 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 214 |
| 5 | Wipers | 209 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 187 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 185 |
| 8 | Horn | 175 |
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 | 36.6% | 2,248 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.4% | 1,746 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.1% | 1,113 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 886 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.3% | 817 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.5% | 400 |
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 | 326 | 14.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,406 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,195 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,585 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 447 | 25.5% |
| 150k+ | 160 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,466 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 1,343 | 20.9% |
| 2023 | 1,240 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 1,102 | 22.0% |
| 2025 | 996 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd)
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (7.7% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd)?
78.1% of the 6,147 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.9% fail rate, across model years 2003–2008.
What does the Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, then brakes (7.9%).
How much does mileage affect Roadster 80 (Rhd) MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.0% for 150k+, a 15.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,147 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.