2005 Smart Roadster — MOT failures & pass rate
1,847 MOT tests on the 2005 Smart Roadster are in this dataset, and 80.5% of them passed. That is 2.7 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests against 6.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, individual direction indicators and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 75 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.4% once past 120-150k — 2.4× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 255 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.8% | 126 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.7% | 106 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 62 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.6% | 49 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 40 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 75 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 70 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 68 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 63 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 61 |
| 6 | Wipers | 60 |
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 | 33.1% | 611 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.1% | 501 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.3% | 337 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 227 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 182 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 6.1% | 113 |
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 | 120 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 533 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 643 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 404 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 119 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 408 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 391 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 373 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 354 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 321 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Roadster
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.8% 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 (5.7% 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 2005 Smart Roadsters pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 1,847 2005 Smart Roadster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart Roadster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by brakes (6.8%).
Does the 2005 Roadster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,847 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.