2004 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
703 MOT tests on the 2004 Smart Fortwo are in this dataset, and 75.4% of them passed. That is 4.9 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 29.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 71 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 24.1% in the 0-30k band and 34.4% in the 120-150k band, a 10.3-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.3% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 129 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.7% | 75 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.1% | 64 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.4% | 52 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 37 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 30 |
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 | 71 |
| 2 | Washers | 50 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 46 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 42 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 32 |
| 6 | Wipers | 26 |
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 | 35.7% | 251 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.6% | 187 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.5% | 179 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 108 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 81 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.4% | 59 |
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 | 54 | 24.1% |
| 30-60k | 203 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 287 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 103 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 34.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 171 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 156 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 142 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 128 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 106 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Fortwo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.7% 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 (9.1% 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 Fortwos pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 703 2004 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Smart Fortwo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by suspension (10.7%).
Does the 2004 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.1% in the 0-30k band to 34.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 703 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.