Used car guide

2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwos, from 502 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

502MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
3,300typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for side repeaters

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwos than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Side repeaters3× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    6% All 2004 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.4× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    6.2% All 2004 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 2.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

By area

The share of 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    38% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    37% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    36% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    28% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    14% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20191,872Tyres 26%
20183,365Tyres 30%
20174,802Tyres 27%
20165,717Tyres 26%
20152,205Tyres 25%
20143,658Tyres 26%
2013889Tyres 29%
20121,781Brakes 33%
20112,998Brakes 30%
20104,241Brakes 32%
20094,613Brakes 36%
20083,749Brakes 35%
20071,771Brakes 34%
2006752Suspension 40%
2005575Suspension 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Smart (mcc) Fortwos registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score