Does the Smart Roadster fail the MOT on visibility more than it should?

The Smart Roadster records 8.26 visibility failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 12.78 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−4.52, 95% interval −5.16 to −3.88). It ranks 677 of 746 models on visibility (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on visibility · check a Smart Roadster by registration

What exactly fails on visibility?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Smart Roadster is “Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen”, recorded 336 times in 2019–2024.

Smart Roadster: most frequent visibility defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wording	Items	Per 100 tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	336	2.81
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view	250	2.09
Wiper blade defective	143	1.19
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	137	1.14
Wiper not operating or missing	59	0.49

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 11,977 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Other pages for this model

Does the Smart Roadster fail the MOT on visibility more than it should?

What exactly fails on visibility?

Related pages

Other pages for this model