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

Based on MOT data from 270 vehicles, the 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.5%, 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 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo 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) Fortwo Cabriolet (2004)

270 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.5% first-time pass rate

2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet

CarHunch analysed 270 real MOT records for the 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet. 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

The 2004 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet passes its first MOT 6.5 percentage points below the UK average at 73.5%, which is a meaningful gap—and that's compounded by the fact that nearly a third of these cars (32.6%) have picked up a dangerous defect at some point, making this a higher-risk buy than the typical 20-year-old vehicle. With an average of 4.81 failures per car and 20.6 advisories, these Smarts develop faults more readily than average, suggesting inherent reliability issues rather than just age-related wear.

At around 50,000 miles for a 2004 model, these examples are moderately low-mileage, but that hasn't protected them from problems—the real story is in those frequent advisories, which point to cumulative small defects in electrics, trim, and minor systems typical of the MCC generation. Before committing to one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on the electrical gremlins and suspension components that commonly drag these cars into the advisory column.

We have limited data for the 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet — 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

73.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

32.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.81

Over 17.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

50k

Middle half: 35k–62k

For context

These stats describe 270 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

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 270 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet

Based on MOT data from 270 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.6% 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%)	269	73.5%	4.82

Colour Breakdown

Based on 5,725 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 38.9%

2,227

Black 32.5%

1,859

White 12%

688

Red 5.2%

297

Blue 4.7%

269

Grey 3.5%

200

Yellow 1.1%

Green 0.7%

Pink 0.7%

Orange 0.5%

Cream 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo 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.

49,645

typical

35,344

low mileage

61,965

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolet vehicles fall between 35,344 and 61,965 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 35,344 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.

✓ 35,344–61,965 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolets sit.

⚠ Over 83,652 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) Fortwo Cabriolet — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 38% of 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo Cabriolets are still active.

Numbers are declining — 83 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (38% 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

17.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.81

Avg failures per vehicle

20.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on