2005 Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus A — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus A passed 79.9% of its 319 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 Roadster Coupe Brabus A comes out 7.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.5% of all tests — 6.9 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and stop lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 18 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 27.3% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 43 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 21 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.6% | 18 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 14 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.8% | 12 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.5% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 10 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 9 |
| 6 | Wipers | 9 |
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 | 27.6% | 88 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.3% | 84 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.9% | 54 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 36 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 7.5% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 14 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 115 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 108 | 23.2% |
| 90-120k | 47 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 71 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 64 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 57 | 19.3% |
| 2025 | 58 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Roadster Coupe Brabus A
On a 2005 Roadster Coupe Brabus A, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (5.6% 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 Coupe Brabus As pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 319 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus A?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (6.6%).
Does the 2005 Roadster Coupe Brabus A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 30-60k band to 27.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 319 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.