Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A?

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 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A?

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 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A?

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 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% 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 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A reliable?

Based on MOT data from 215 vehicles, the 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A?

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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Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A (2003)

215 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.8% first-time pass rate

2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A

CarHunch analysed 215 real MOT records for the 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2003 Smart Passion is considerably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 71.1% against the national benchmark of 80%. More concerning, over a quarter of these vehicles (26.1%) have recorded dangerous defects during their MOT history—a significant buyer red flag that suggests structural, braking, or steering issues are common in this age cohort.

At nearly 50,000 miles median mileage for a 21-year-old car, these Smarts have been driven hard, and the numbers bear that out: owners face an average of 3.61 failures and 13.3 advisories per test, pointing to worn suspension, exhaust, and trim components as routine maintenance costs. Before buying, obtain a full MOT history and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, steering geometry, and suspension condition—these are the weak points that will determine whether you're buying a keeper or a money pit.

We have limited data for the 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A — 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

76.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

26.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.61

Over 14.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

48k

Middle half: 35k–61k

For context

These stats describe 215 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 215 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A

Based on MOT data from 215 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26.1% 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 (95%)	204	76%	3.77

Colour Breakdown

Based on 207 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 87.9%

182

Black 9.7%

Red 2.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A 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.

47,872

typical

34,900

low mileage

61,337

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A vehicles fall between 34,900 and 61,337 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 34,900 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.

✓ 34,900–61,337 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 As sit.

⚠ Over 82,804 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 As are still active.

Numbers are declining — 32 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% 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

14.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.61

Avg failures per vehicle

13.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Mcc Smart Passion S Touch 16 A stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing