Pass rate, every year
79.2% Around average
4,792 tests across 4 model years, 2003–2006.
−1.8 pts vs the national average
Smart Roadster MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics
Best year to buy
2005 80.5%
The strongest of the 4 years on record. See the 2005 page →
Worst year to buy
2004 78.3%
2.2 points below the 2005 peak. See the 2004 page →
The Smart Roadster MOT pass rate is 79.2%, −1.8 percentage points below the UK average. That is 4,792 DVSA MOT tests recorded between 2003 and 2006. This page lists the most common Smart Roadster MOT failures by category, names the best and worst model years, and finishes with a pre-MOT checklist you can run at home.
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MOT pass rates are national — type your postcode to see how Smart Roadster MOT pass rates does in your corner of the country.
Smart Roadster MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average
The Smart Roadster passed on its first attempt in 74.8%, and its overall record sits −1.8 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Smart Roadster in the 2023–2025 data: 4,792 tests across 4 model years (2003–2006). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.
| Measure | This model |
|---|---|
| Tests analysed | 4,792 |
| Overall pass rate | 79.2% |
| Passed on first attempt | 74.8% |
| Average mileage at test | 81,284 mi |
| Model years covered | 2003–2006 (4 years) |
| Versus UK national average | −1.8 pts below |
Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.
Most Common Smart Roadster MOT Problems by Failure Category
Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Smart Roadster, the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.
| Inspection section | Share of failures |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 59% |
| Suspension | 15% |
| Visibility | 14% |
| Steering | 6% |
| Brakes | 5% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 1% |
Shares are over the Smart Roadster's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Around 59% of the recorded Smart Roadster failures fall in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (5.6%), "Position lamp not working" (2.4%), "Horn not working" (2.4%) among the Smart Roadster's lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment faults.
Suspension
Around 15% of the recorded Smart Roadster failures fall in the Suspension section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Ball joint excessively worn" (1.9%), "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (1.7%), "Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" (0.1%) among the Smart Roadster's suspension faults.
Visibility
Around 14% of the recorded Smart Roadster failures fall in the Visibility section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (2.5%), "Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively" (0.4%), "Wipers blade defective" (0.4%) among the Smart Roadster's visibility faults.
Top Recorded Smart Roadster DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions
The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Smart Roadster, each with how many of the model's 4,792 tests it was noted on.
- "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 267 Smart Roadster tests, 5.6% of the model's MOT record.
- "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 119 Smart Roadster tests, 2.5% of the model's MOT record.
- "Position lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 114 Smart Roadster tests, 2.4% of the model's MOT record.
- "Horn not working" (Major) — noted on about 113 Smart Roadster tests, 2.4% of the model's MOT record.
- "Ball joint excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 89 Smart Roadster tests, 1.9% of the model's MOT record.
- "Rear fog lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 83 Smart Roadster tests, 1.7% of the model's MOT record.
Best and Worst Smart Roadster Model Years by Pass Rate
The strongest Smart Roadster model year on record is 2005 (80.5% across 1,172 tests), and the weakest is 2004 (78.3%). The gap between them is 2.2 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Roadster | 261 | 78.9% |
| 2005 Roadster | 1,172 | 80.5% |
| 2004 Roadster | 2,542 | 78.3% |
| 2003 Roadster | 817 | 80.0% |
Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.
Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Smart Roadster Owners
These checks follow this Smart Roadster's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Smart Roadster.
-
the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”
Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.
-
the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”
Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.
-
the horn — “horn not working”
Press it. That is the whole check, and a surprising number of cars fail on it.
Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Smart Roadster. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions: Smart Roadster MOT & Reliability
What is the Smart Roadster MOT pass rate?
79.2% of the 4,792 recorded Smart Roadster MOT tests ended in a pass, −1.8 percentage points below the national average. 74.8% of those passed on the first attempt.
Which Smart Roadster model years pass the MOT most often?
2005 is the strongest Smart Roadster year on record at 80.5%, while 2004 is the weakest at 78.3%. The year-by-year table below lists every model year with at least 50 recorded tests.
What are the most common Smart Roadster MOT failures?
The most recorded Smart Roadster failures are "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" and "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" — together around 8% of tests, mostly in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section.