2004 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,082 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 72.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.1% in the 90-120k group versus 19.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 191 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 106 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.5% | 103 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 97 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.7% | 83 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 63 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 115 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 103 |
| 3 | Washers | 82 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 68 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 64 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 45 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 33.1% | 358 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.5% | 265 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.8% | 257 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 151 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 123 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 94 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 51 | 19.6% |
| 30-60k | 355 | 24.2% |
| 60-90k | 469 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 173 | 34.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 301 | 29.9% |
| 2022 | 244 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 209 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 174 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 154 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 City Cabriolet
Before buying a 2004 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (9.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2004 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolets pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 1,082 2004 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 2004 City Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 0-30k band to 34.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,082 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.