2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet MOT pass rate and common faults

100 MOT tests in 2024. 59.0% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time59.0%
Failed or needed repairs41.0%
Typical mileage at test71,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 100 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect7.0%
  2. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits6.0%
  3. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits6.0%
  4. Washers: not working5.0%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.0%
  6. Horn: not working4.0%
  7. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
  8. Catalyst emissions: hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits3.0%
  9. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated3.0%
  10. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.0%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics42.0%
  2. Emissions & leaks27.0%
  3. Suspension22.0%
  4. Brakes12.0%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)11.0%
  6. Body & chassis8.0%
  7. Steering5.0%
  8. Tyres3.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.0%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure15.0%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened13.0%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.0%
  5. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated12.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All Fortwo Cabriolet years2005 Fortwo Cabriolet →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet?

In 2024, 59.0% of 2004 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet cars passed their MOT first time, across 100 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet?

The most common failure reasons were headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect; catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits; catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).