Smart (mcc) Roadster (2004)

796 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.3% first-time pass rate

2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster

CarHunch analysed 796 real MOT records for the 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 4.7% below UK average
75.3%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
55,955
typical mileage
40,022–70,056 middle half
26%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.17
avg MOT failures per car
over 16.3 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 26% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Smart (mcc) Roadster

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 795 75.3% 4.17
Diesel (0%) 1 66.7% 3

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

40,022
low mileage
55,955
typical
70,056
high mileage

Half of all 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles fall between 40,022 and 70,056 miles.

2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 271 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (47% of peak).

574 271 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

16.3
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.17
Avg failures per vehicle
22
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 74.3%
    Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  • 56%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 53.9%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 36.6%
    Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay
  • 32.2%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 28.7%
    Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 27.5%
    Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim
  • 26.8%
    Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Smart (mcc) Roadster?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Smart (mcc) Roadster:

2003 2005 2006