2003 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) passed 76.5% of its 1,012 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests against 9.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 49 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.8% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.2% in 2021 to 20.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 167 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.1% | 92 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 83 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 46 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 33 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 29 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 49 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 47 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 45 |
| 4 | Wipers | 43 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 43 |
| 6 | Horn | 36 |
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 | 38.6% | 391 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.9% | 333 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.5% | 208 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 165 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 154 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 70 |
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 | 35 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 110 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 386 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 306 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 116 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 57 | 36.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 245 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 231 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 206 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 171 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 159 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Roadster 80 (Rhd)
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.1% 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 (8.2% 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
How many 2003 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd)s pass their MOT?
76.5% of the 1,012 2003 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by brakes (9.1%).
Does the 2003 Roadster 80 (Rhd) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 36.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,012 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.