Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus A MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 3 model years and 528 tests, the Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus A passes its MOT 81.4% of the time. That is 9.0 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 emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests against 6.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 22 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.3% versus 7.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Roadster Coupe Brabus A model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 139 | 83.5% | 16.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 319 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 70 | 84.3% | 15.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 68 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 32 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 25 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 19 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.6% | 19 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.8% | 15 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 22 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 15 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 15 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 14 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 14 |
| 8 | Horn | 14 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.3% | 144 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.9% | 137 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.4% | 92 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 60 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 8.1% | 43 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 25 |
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 | 43 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 161 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 208 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 82 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 121 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 112 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 103 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 95 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 97 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus A
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.1% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Brabus A?
81.4% of the 528 Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus A MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.6% fail rate, across model years 2004–2006.
What does the Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus A most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, then brakes (6.1%).
How much does mileage affect Roadster Coupe Brabus A MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.3% for 120-150k, a 20.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 528 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.