2005 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) passed 79.0% of its 1,489 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 6.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests against 8.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and individual direction indicators — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 66 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.1% once past 120-150k — 2.6× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.2% in 2021 to 19.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 200 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.5% | 126 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 113 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 47 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.0% | 44 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 33 |
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 | 66 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 47 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 46 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 46 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 42 |
| 6 | Horn | 41 |
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 | 37.7% | 562 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.9% | 431 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.3% | 258 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 201 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 195 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.8% | 86 |
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 | 70 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 412 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 530 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 327 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 111 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 353 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 325 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 295 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 277 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 239 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Roadster 80 (Rhd)
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.5% 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.
- Brakes (7.6% 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.
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 2005 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd)s pass their MOT?
79.0% of the 1,489 2005 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart Roadster 80 (Rhd)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by suspension (8.5%).
Does the 2005 Roadster 80 (Rhd) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,489 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.