What goes wrong, what it costs, and what to check before you buy a used Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd).
The Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) occupies a niche position on the UK market.
We track 5 known issues across the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) range, including 3 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd)? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
452 (2002–2007) — Engine options included the 0.7 Turbo. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 3 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Engine mounting severe deterioration (£200–£350 to address).
The engine mounts on the Smart Roadster deteriorate severely causing excessive engine movement that can damage surrounding components and affect handling. The turbo engine creates additional vibration stress that accelerates rubber mount degradation. This is a safety-critical defect as excessive engine movement can affect steering response.
If the engine mount fails completely, the engine can contact surrounding components causing damage to the radiator, exhaust system, or wiring. Excessive movement affects handling and can make the car dangerous to drive. Complete replacement of all engine mounts typically required once deterioration begins.
Check all auxiliary systems during the test drive — air conditioning (both hot and cold), engine mounts (excessive vibration at idle or clunking when pulling away) and all belt-driven accessories. Listen for squealing or chirping from the belt area.
The flexible brake hoses deteriorate at an exceptionally high rate on the Smart Roadster, failing MOT tests at 21.2 times the national fleet average. Peak failures occur at 40-60k miles, suggesting the brake hose material or mounting arrangement is inadequate for the application. The convertible design may expose brake lines to additional environmental stress. This is a critical safety defect as brake hose failure leads to complete loss of braking ability.
Failure of a brake hose results in complete loss of braking ability to that wheel or circuit, creating an immediate safety risk. The car should not be driven if brake hose deterioration is suspected. Emergency repair requires immediate professional attention.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
Brake pipe corrosion affects Smart Roadsters at 9.2 times the national fleet average, with 2,563 MOT failures recorded across all mileage bands. The convertible design and potential water ingress points may accelerate corrosion of brake lines. Early failures from 20k miles suggest inadequate corrosion protection on brake pipe materials or routing through vulnerable areas. This represents a critical safety defect that can lead to brake system failure.
Corroded brake pipes can fail without warning, leading to complete loss of braking ability. Even minor corrosion creates safety risks as brake fluid pressure can cause rapid deterioration once corrosion begins. The car should not be driven if significant brake pipe corrosion is present.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
The shock absorber mounting bushes deteriorate prematurely on the Smart Roadster, showing MOT failure rates 24.6 times higher than the fleet average. Peak failures occur as early as 20-40k miles, indicating a design weakness in the suspension bush material or mounting system. The roadster's shorter wheelbase and stiffer suspension setup places higher loads on these components. This affects ride comfort and handling precision.
Worn shock absorber bushes reduce handling precision and ride comfort. If completely failed, the shock absorber can become detached, leading to dangerous loss of vehicle control. Typically requires replacement of complete bush sets rather than individual components.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
Wheel bearings fail at 8.7 times the fleet average on Smart Roadsters, with peak failures at 40-60k miles indicating premature wear. The lightweight design may use smaller bearings that are inadequate for the loads, or the hub design allows contamination ingress. MOT data shows 278 failures with a worsening trend across 2020-2024, suggesting this remains an active issue on surviving examples.
A failed wheel bearing can cause the wheel to seize or detach completely, creating an immediate safety hazard. Early intervention allows bearing replacement, but delayed repair may require hub replacement significantly increasing costs. The car should not be driven if severe bearing play is detected.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) common problems page.
Based on 6k real DVSA MOT tests, the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or det... at 35x the fleet average, followed by wheel bearings worn (34x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 6k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) has some well-documented weak points, including 3 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd), we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.