2003 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) passed 80.7% of its 512 recorded MOT tests. That is 8.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.1% of all tests — 6.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, rigid brake pipes and ball joint — wipers alone was recorded 20 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) fails 17.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 19.1% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 72 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.6% | 39 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 34 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 24 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 15 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.5% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 20 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 19 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 18 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 17 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 15 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 15 |
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 | 40.0% | 205 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.1% | 144 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.1% | 108 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 90 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 69 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 31 |
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 | 34 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 60 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 190 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 154 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 47 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 123 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 98 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 95 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 82 | 19.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd)
On a 2003 Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd), lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 (6.6% 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 2003 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd)s pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 512 2003 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by suspension (7.6%).
Does the 2003 Roadster Coupe 80 (Rhd) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 512 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.