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

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) Roadster?

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) Roadster?

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) Roadster 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 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster reliable?

Based on MOT data from 796 vehicles, the 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.3%, 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) Roadster?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (74.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.9% 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) Roadster?

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) 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. 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 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 Roadster falls short of the UK average with a 75.3% first-time pass rate, and a concerning 26% of examples have recorded dangerous defects—well above the typical threshold. This combination suggests structural or safety weaknesses that go beyond routine wear items, making a thorough pre-purchase inspection essential.

At nearly 56,000 miles on average, these Roadsters show fairly low mileage for their age, yet they're racking up 4.17 failures and 22 advisories per vehicle on test. The high advisory count points to persistent minor issues across brakes, lighting, and trim, so budget for incremental repairs and obtain a full service history before committing to one.

The 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster has a decent first-time pass rate (75.3%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

26%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.17

Over 16.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

56k

Middle half: 40k–70k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 22 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 796 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

What tends to go wrong

Across 796 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 74.3%

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

Tyre wear 56%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear 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 28.7%

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Lighting 27.5%

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim

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

Suspension & steering 23.2%

Offside Front coil spring corroded · Nearside Front coil spring corroded

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

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 796 Smart (mcc) Roadster cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster

Based on MOT data from 796 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26% 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%)	795	75.3%	4.17

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,077 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 43.3%

899

Black 41.1%

853

Blue 5.5%

115

Red 4.2%

Yellow 3.4%

Grey 0.6%

Orange 0.6%

Gold 0.5%

White 0.3%

Green 0.2%

Purple 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadster 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.

55,955

typical

40,022

low mileage

70,056

high mileage

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

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 40,022 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.

✓ 40,022–70,056 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadsters sit.

⚠ Over 94,575 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) Roadster — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 47% of 2004 Smart (mcc) Roadsters are still active.

Numbers are declining — 271 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (47% 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

16.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.17

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2003 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing