2006 Smart Smart Roadster — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Smart Smart Roadster passed 78.7% of its 348 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 6.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.5% of all tests — 7.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, stop lamp and individual direction indicators — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 19.7% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 28 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 21 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 12 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 10 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 16 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 16 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 5 | Wipers | 11 |
| 6 | Horn | 11 |
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 | 31.3% | 109 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.0% | 87 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.5% | 61 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 55 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 48 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 24 |
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 | 138 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 111 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 61 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 18.7% |
| 2022 | 70 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 76 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 66 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 61 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Smart Roadster
On a 2006 Smart Roadster, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.1% 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 (6.0% 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 2006 Smart Smart Roadsters pass their MOT?
78.7% of the 348 2006 Smart Smart Roadster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Smart Smart Roadster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by brakes (8.1%).
Does the 2006 Smart Roadster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.9% in the 30-60k band to 19.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 348 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.