Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) MOT pass rate & common failures
The Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) appears in 2,235 MOT tests spanning model years 2003–2005, and 79.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 7.0pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests against 7.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and individual direction indicators — stop lamp alone was recorded 76 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.3% in the 0-30k band and 16.8% in the 150k+ band, a 5.5-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Roadster Coupe 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 | 512 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 1,340 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 383 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 321 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.1% | 159 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 155 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 88 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.7% | 60 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 52 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 44 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 76 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 74 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 71 |
| 4 | Wipers | 68 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 67 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 64 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 56 |
| 8 | Horn | 55 |
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 | 36.2% | 809 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.3% | 656 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.7% | 395 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 357 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.9% | 267 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 154 |
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 | 103 | 22.3% |
| 30-60k | 423 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 744 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 595 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 264 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 95 | 16.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 524 | 21.6% |
| 2022 | 498 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 449 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 392 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 372 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd)
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.1% 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 (6.9% 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.
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 Coupe 80 (Rhd)?
79.3% of the 2,235 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.7% fail rate, across model years 2003–2005.
What does the Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, then suspension (7.1%).
How much does mileage affect Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) MOT results?
Fail rates run at 22.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 16.8% for 150k+, a 5.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,235 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.