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Smart Roadster Light Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart Roadster Light Auto car check

Is the Smart Roadster Light Auto reliable? We analysed 2,183 real MOT tests across 137 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,183 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
73.2%
Typical Mileage
58,337mi
Annual Mileage
4,206mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Smart Roadster Light Auto is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, position lamp(s) not working and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart Roadster Light Auto.

Smart Roadster Light Auto Number Plates

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

Smart Roadster Light Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

78.8%
2006
73.5%
2005
71.7%
2004

Smart Roadster Light Auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 82
position lamp(s) not working 54
Registration plate lamp not working 50
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 44
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 42
Direction indicator incorrect colour 34
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 32
Stop lamp not working 32
Horn not working 29

Smart Roadster Light Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
1,911 mi/yr
Typical
4,206 mi/yr
Average
5,285 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,776 mi/yr

Smart Roadster Light Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2006 52 78.8% 33,473 38,602 58,442
2005 1,451 73.5% 38,338 55,777 75,864
2004 668 71.7% 43,395 67,782 89,462

How Long Does a Smart Roadster Light Auto Last?

Based on 137 Smart Roadster Light Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.9 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
22 years

Smart Roadster Light Auto Mileage Distribution

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

Median
58,337 mi
75th Percentile
80,631 mi
95th Percentile
114,473 mi
Max Recorded
180,449 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart Roadster Light Auto

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

Best year
2006

78.8% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

Year to avoid
2004

71.7% MOT pass rate from 668 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart Roadster Light Auto is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 78.8% across 52 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.7% — 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 Light Auto Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Smart Roadster Light Auto THIS CAR 73.2% 2,183 58,337 mi 22 yrs
Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) 74% 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
Ducati Hypermotard 950 91.3% 958 4,692 mi — yrs

Compared to the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) (74.0% pass rate) and the Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto (79.4% pass rate), the Smart Roadster Light Auto trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart Roadster Light Auto?

The Smart Roadster Light Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.2% across 2,183 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Smart Roadster Light Auto are brake pipe excessively corroded (82 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (54), and registration plate lamp not working (50). 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 Light Auto owner drives around 4,206 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 Light Auto models stay on UK roads for around 22 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 Light Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart Roadster Light Auto reliable?
Based on 2,183 MOT tests, the Smart Roadster Light Auto has a 73.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Smart Roadster Light Auto?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, position lamp(s) not working, and registration plate lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Smart Roadster Light Auto do per year?
The typical Smart Roadster Light Auto does around 4,206 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart Roadster Light Auto last?
Most Smart Roadster Light Auto models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 137 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart Roadster Light Auto?
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 Light Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart Roadster Light Auto is 2006 with a 78.8% pass rate across 52 tests.