Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

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 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

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 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

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 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% 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 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet reliable?

Based on MOT data from 305 vehicles, the 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (66.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (45.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet?

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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Smart (mcc) Cabriolet (2004)

305 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.5% first-time pass rate

2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet

CarHunch analysed 305 real MOT records for the 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 305 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2004 Smart Cabriolet passes its MOT first time in only 74.5% of cases, a notable 5.5 percentage points below the UK average, and nearly one in three vehicles (32.8%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant red flag for potential buyers. This high rate of serious issues combined with the below-average pass rate suggests these cars demand careful inspection before purchase.

At under 50,000 miles median mileage, these 20-year-old vehicles are relatively low-mileage, yet they're still accumulating an average of 4.62 failures and 17.3 advisories per test, indicating age-related wear rather than heavy use is the core problem. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection that specifically focuses on structural integrity, electrics, and suspension—areas where ageing Smarts typically struggle most.

The 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet has a below-average first-time pass rate (74.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

74.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

32.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.62

Over 17 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 37k–62k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 305 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 305 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 66.2%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · …

Tyre wear 59%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 43.1%

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 27.2%

Nearside Stop lamp not working · Offside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Wipers & washers 26.1%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 305 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet

Based on MOT data from 305 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.8% 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 (100%)	304	74.4%	4.63

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,400 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 49.5%

1,188

Black 33.5%

803

Blue 4.2%

100

White 3.9%

Red 3.7%

Grey 1.6%

Yellow 1.1%

Pink 0.7%

Green 0.6%

Cream 0.5%

Multi-colour 0.5%

Orange 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet 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.

48,923

typical

37,193

low mileage

61,631

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet vehicles fall between 37,193 and 61,631 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 37,193 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.

✓ 37,193–61,631 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolets sit.

⚠ Over 83,201 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 28% of 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolets are still active.

Numbers are declining — 68 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (28% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.62

Avg failures per vehicle

17.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart (mcc) Cabriolet: All Cabriolet years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2002 2003 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Smart (mcc) Cabriolet stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on