2003 Smart Roadster — MOT failures & pass rate
554 MOT tests on the 2003 Smart Roadster are in this dataset, and 78.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests against 7.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, horn and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.9% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.8% in 2021 to 15.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 73 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 39 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 24 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 18 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 2 | Horn | 19 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 4 | Wipers | 16 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 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 | 39.7% | 220 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.3% | 168 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 112 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.7% | 98 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 64 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 36 |
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 | 40 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 125 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 168 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 137 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 121 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 127 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 121 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 94 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 91 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Roadster
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 (6.3% 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
How many 2003 Smart Roadsters pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 554 2003 Smart Roadster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Smart Roadster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by brakes (7.0%).
Does the 2003 Roadster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 554 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.