Smart Roadster MOT pass rate & common failures
5,244 MOT tests on the Smart Roadster (1999–2020) give it an 80.0% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 2.2pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.4% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and individual direction indicators — position lamp alone was recorded 186 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.7% in the 0-30k band and 24.0% in the 150k+ band, a 10.3-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.4% in 2021 to 18.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Roadster model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 554 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 1,898 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 1,847 | 80.5% | 19.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 719 | 80.8% | 19.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 139 | 82.0% | 18.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 705 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.1% | 374 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 335 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 202 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.5% | 132 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 126 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 123 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.1% | 110 |
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 | 186 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 182 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 179 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 163 |
| 5 | Wipers | 161 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 154 |
| 7 | Horn | 144 |
| 8 | Track rod end | 133 |
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 | 32.1% | 1,685 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.5% | 1,441 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.5% | 919 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 696 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 542 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 5.1% | 269 |
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 | 432 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,413 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,785 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,138 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 353 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 100 | 24.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,177 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 1,148 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 1,068 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 959 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 892 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a Smart Roadster
- 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.
- Brakes (7.1% 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.
- Suspension (6.4% 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.
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?
80.0% of the 5,244 Smart Roadster MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.0% fail rate, across model years 1999–2020.
What does the Smart Roadster most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, then brakes (7.1%).
How much does mileage affect Roadster MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.0% for 150k+, a 10.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,244 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.