Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster reliable?

Based on MOT data from 264 vehicles, the 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (85% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56.1% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Smart (mcc) Roadster (2003)

264 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.6% first-time pass rate

2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster

CarHunch analysed 264 real MOT records for the 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2003 Smart Roadster falls short of the UK average with a 75.6% first-time pass rate, and one in five of these cars have experienced a dangerous defect during their MOT history—a significant concern for a two-decade-old sports car. This suggests buyers should factor in potential safety-critical repairs before purchase.

At 57,440 miles on average, these Roadsters are relatively low-mileage for their age, yet they're still racking up 4.11 failures per test and a hefty 21 advisories each, pointing to widespread wear and electrical gremlins rather than catastrophic engine issues. Before committing to one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the suspension, lighting, and brake systems where most problems cluster.

We have limited data for the 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

75.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

21.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.11

Over 15.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 38k–74k

For context

These stats describe 264 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 264 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 85%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Oil leak · …

Tyre wear 56.1%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 31.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 264 Smart (mcc) Roadster cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster

Based on MOT data from 264 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	263	75.6%	4.1

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,077 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 43.3%

899

Black 41.1%

853

Blue 5.5%

115

Red 4.2%

Yellow 3.4%

Grey 0.6%

Orange 0.6%

Gold 0.5%

White 0.3%

Green 0.2%

Purple 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

55,215

typical

37,616

low mileage

73,502

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles fall between 37,616 and 73,502 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 37,616 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 37,616–73,502 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadsters sit.

⚠ Over 99,227 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 44% of 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadsters are still active.

Numbers are declining — 74 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (44% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

15.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.11

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart (mcc) Roadster: All Roadster years → Which year to buy? →

2004 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Smart (mcc) Roadster stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?