2004 Smart (mcc) City Coupe MOT pass rate: 68.8% (1,990 tests)
Is the 2004 City Coupe getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.7% +2.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 71.1% +7.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 69.5% +4.2 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2004 City Coupe
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 803 | 35.9% |
| 2 | Suspension | 326 | 14.6% |
| 3 | Brakes | 313 | 14.0% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 259 | 11.6% |
| 5 | Visibility | 195 | 8.7% |
| 6 | Tyres | 120 | 5.4% |
All City Coupe years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,844 | 66.3% | +0.6 pts | 67,055 |
| 2003 | 2,742 | 64.8% | -0.2 pts | 68,222 |
| 2004 (this page) | 1,990 | 68.8% | +4.5 pts | 67,244 |
| 2006 | 1,672 | 64.8% | +0.4 pts | 62,150 |
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FAQs
Is a 2004 Smart (mcc) City Coupe reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 68.8% of their MOT tests (1,990 tests, 2023–2025), +4.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 67,244 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 City Coupe?
The median tested example shows 67,244 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.