Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Smart Forfour Passion?

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 Forfour Passion?

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 Forfour Passion?

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 Forfour Passion vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

40% 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 Forfour Passion reliable?

Based on MOT data from 180 vehicles, the 2004 Smart Forfour Passion has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.1%, 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 Forfour Passion?

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 Forfour Passion (2004)

180 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.1% first-time pass rate

2004 Smart Forfour Passion

CarHunch analysed 180 real MOT records for the 2004 Smart Forfour Passion. 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 Compare Models

The 2004 SMART FORFOUR PASSION is a genuine reliability concern—its 70.7% first-time pass rate sits 9.3 points below the UK average, and a striking 40% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above acceptable levels for a buyer considering one. This petrol model struggles with structural and safety issues that go beyond normal wear.

These cars are sitting around 67,000 miles on average for their age, which is reasonable mileage, but the 4.9 failures per vehicle and nearly 20 advisories tell a worrying story of accumulated problems. If you're viewing a 2004 FORFOUR, get a thorough pre-purchase inspection focused on structural integrity, suspension, and braking components—don't rely on its MOT history alone.

We have limited data for the 2004 Smart Forfour Passion — 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

73.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

40%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.9

Over 17.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

67k

Middle half: 52k–82k

For context

These stats describe 180 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 180 Smart Forfour Passion cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Smart Forfour Passion

Based on MOT data from 180 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 40% 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 (97%)	175	73.1%	5.01

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Smart Forfour Passion 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.

67,149

typical

51,749

low mileage

81,853

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Smart Forfour Passion vehicles fall between 51,749 and 81,853 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,749 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.

✓ 51,749–81,853 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Smart Forfour Passions sit.

⚠ Over 110,501 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 Forfour Passion — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 19% of 2004 Smart Forfour Passions are still active.

Numbers are declining — 28 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (19% 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

17.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.9

Avg failures per vehicle

19.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart Forfour Passion: All Forfour Passion years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006

Or browse all models: Smart →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Smart Forfour Passion stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on