Smart Roadster (452)
The Smart Roadster (Type 452) is a brilliant, flawed masterpiece that attempted to revive the spirit of the classic British lightweight sports car using the platform of the original Fortwo. Sitting incredibly low to the ground and weighing just 800kg, it offers sublime, unassisted steering and go-kart handling on B-roads. In the UK, it is a highly prized cult classic, but ownership requires massive patience due to catastrophic water leak issues and the frustratingly slow automated manual gearbox. If the SAM unit (fuse box) gets wet, the car will die completely. It is strictly for enthusiasts who have a garage and want maximum driving fun at low speeds.
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Common Faults & Reliability
These are the most common documented problems for the Smart Roadster (452), sorted by their typical impact and frequency.
Catastrophic Water Ingress
high severityWater enters through wing mirrors, door seals, the bulkhead, and the rear quarter lights. This often ruins the SAM unit and the carpets.
SAM Unit Failure
high severityWater tracks down the wiring loom from the wiper tray and enters the SAM unit. This is the most common cause of "dead" Roadsters.
Snapped Aircon Pipes
low severityThe AC pipes are prone to vibration-induced cracks, leading to total loss of refrigerant.
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