Does the Smart Roadster fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Smart Roadster records 4.74 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 6.13 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.39, 95% interval −2.04 to −0.75). It ranks 410 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Smart Roadster by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Smart Roadster is “Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc”, recorded 119 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 119 | 2.09 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 110 | 1.93 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,699 (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
Smart Roadster 2005 · Smart Roadster 2006 · Smart Roadster by postcode area · Smart Roadster body, chassis and structure failures · Smart Roadster brakes failures · Smart Roadster lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Smart Roadster noise, emissions and leaks failures · Smart Roadster seat belts and airbags failures · Smart Roadster suspension failures · Smart Roadster tyres failures · Smart Roadster visibility failures