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Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) car check

Is the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) reliable? We analysed 44,118 real MOT tests across 2,659 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 44,118 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.0%
Typical Mileage
54,896mi
Annual Mileage
3,707mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include registration plate lamp not working, position lamp(s) not working and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd).

Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd). Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

73.6%
2007
74.4%
2006
74.5%
2005
74.1%
2004
73.2%
2003

Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Registration plate lamp not working 986
position lamp(s) not working 848
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 827
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 800
Stop lamp not working 785
Brake pipe excessively corroded 722
Direction indicator incorrect colour 688
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 607
Horn not working 473

Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,528 mi/yr
Typical
3,707 mi/yr
Average
4,976 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,960 mi/yr

Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 311 73.6% 24,762 40,950 54,467
2006 2,434 74.4% 33,686 53,487 74,901
2005 9,600 74.5% 33,968 52,084 73,427
2004 23,499 74.1% 35,358 54,690 77,602
2003 8,144 73.2% 38,598 60,888 83,804

How Long Does a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) Last?

Based on 2,659 Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.3 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
54,896 mi
75th Percentile
77,718 mi
95th Percentile
113,143 mi
Max Recorded
964,420 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd)

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2005

74.5% MOT pass rate from 9,600 tests

Year to avoid
2003

73.2% MOT pass rate from 8,144 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.5% across 9,600 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) THIS CAR 74.0% 44,118 54,896 mi 23 yrs
Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto 79.4% 44,035 38,367 mi 18 yrs
Smart City Passion 61 Auto 73% 27,463 48,099 mi 23 yrs
Smart Forfour Passion 72.9% 17,805 66,422 mi 22 yrs
Ducati 916 88.4% 15,443 15,973 mi 32 yrs

Compared to the Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto (79.4% pass rate) and the Smart City Passion 61 Auto (73.0% pass rate), the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd)?

The Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.0% across 44,118 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) are registration plate lamp not working (986 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (848), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (827). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) owner drives around 3,707 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) models stay on UK roads for around 23 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) reliable?
Based on 44,118 MOT tests, the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) has a 74.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd)?
The most common MOT failures are registration plate lamp not working, position lamp(s) not working, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) do per year?
The typical Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) does around 3,707 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) last?
Most Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 2,659 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd)?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd)?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) is 2005 with a 74.5% pass rate across 9,600 tests.