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

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) Forfour?

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) Forfour?

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) Forfour vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

36% 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) Forfour reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,094 vehicles, the 2004 Smart (mcc) Forfour has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.8%, 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) Forfour?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Smart (mcc) Forfour are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (74.5% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (70.9% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (49.4% 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) Forfour?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Smart (mcc) Forfour (2004)

1,094 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.8% first-time pass rate

2004 Smart (mcc) Forfour

CarHunch analysed 1,094 real MOT records for the 2004 Smart (mcc) Forfour. 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

The 2004 Smart Forfour's 72.8% first-time pass rate trails the UK average of 80% by a meaningful margin, and more concerning, 35.6% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects during their MOT history—well above the threshold for buyer concern. Petrol and diesel versions perform similarly (73.0% and 71.7% pass rates respectively), so fuel choice won't materially improve your odds.

At nearly 70,000 miles median mileage, these 20-year-old cars show typical wear for their age, but the real red flag is the average 4.77 failures per vehicle—suggesting systemic durability issues rather than isolated problems. Plan for roughly 21 advisory items per test and budget accordingly; if you're considering one, a pre-purchase inspection by a technician familiar with Smart's known weaknesses (particularly electrical and suspension) is not optional.

The 2004 Smart (mcc) Forfour has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.8% 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

72.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

35.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.77

Over 16.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

66k

Middle half: 50k–81k

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 21 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 1,094 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 1,094 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 74.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear 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 49.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Suspension & steering 25.2%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 23.3%

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working · Offside Registration plate lamp not working

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

Wipers & washers 23.2%

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

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 1,094 Smart (mcc) Forfour cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Smart (mcc) Forfour

Based on MOT data from 1,094 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.7% 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 (81%)	887	73%	4.71
Diesel (19%)	207	71.7%	5.03

Colour Breakdown

Based on 26,853 Smart (mcc) Forfour vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 38.2%

10,263

Silver 14.3%

3,843

White 13.6%

3,663

Grey 11.8%

3,167

Red 9.3%

2,503

Blue 5.9%

1,585

Yellow 3%

818

Orange 2.7%

727

Brown 0.5%

144

Green 0.4%

108

Gold 0.1%

Bronze 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Smart (mcc) Forfour 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.

66,227

typical

50,080

low mileage

81,407

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Smart (mcc) Forfour vehicles fall between 50,080 and 81,407 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 50,080 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.

✓ 50,080–81,407 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Smart (mcc) Forfours sit.

⚠ Over 109,899 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) Forfour — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 2004 Smart (mcc) Forfours are still active.

Numbers are declining — 158 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% 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

16.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.77

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2005 2006 2007 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on