RoadVitals

2011 Smart Fortwo Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Jan 9, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since May 13, 2012

What this page shows

Our database holds 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Smart Fortwo. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–16 of 16

Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 9, 2023

175 55 r15 Tge tires wires startes to unravelling and chabgibg the ahape of tge tire.

NHTSA ID
11500754
Incident
Jan 2, 2023
Seat belts
Filed Oct 27, 2018

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS. THE MALE END CAN NOT BE INSERTED INTO THE FEMALE END.

NHTSA ID
11143407
Incident
Oct 16, 2018
Mileage
84,000 mi
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Jul 31, 2018

THE METAL SEAT BELT CONNECTOR FRAYED IN TO TWO PIECES. REPLACED WITH OEM PART. IT FRAYED AGAIN. IT'S A 2011 DRIVEN BY A 75 YR.OLD SENIOR CITIZEN. MERCEDES ACCUSED OWNER OF MALICIOUSLY CUTTING CABLE. EXTREME SAFETY HAZZARD.

NHTSA ID
11115029
Incident
Jul 18, 2016
Mileage
64,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 29, 2017

SAFE BELT BUCKLE JAMMED OR CAN'T CLICK

NHTSA ID
11020473
Incident
Jul 15, 2015
Engine
Filed Apr 27, 2017
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND IN THE NUMBER 1 LANE OF CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 24 ABOUT 1/4 MILE BEFORE THE TUNNEL ROAD EXIT. I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE ARE OF THE CAR, LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, AND EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AT THE TUNNEL ROAD EXIT AND STALLED ON THE OFF RAMP. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE TWICE BY TURNING THE KEY. I SAW SMOKE IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I CALLED 911 AND GAVE THE DISPATCH OPERATOR MY LOCATION. BY THE TIME THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, MY CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ATTACHED PHOTOS TELL THE STORY OF THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
10981144
Incident
Apr 22, 2017
Mileage
51,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 8, 2016
Crash reported2 injuries reported

THE CAR BROKE DOWN ON EXIT 231 B IN VIRGINIA. THE SMART HAD A GAS TANK DEFECT. I WAS NEARLY KILLED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TYSINGER MOTORS IN VIRGINIA MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA ID
10914887
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Mileage
54,000 mi
Filed Sep 28, 2016

AFTER ONLY 10.000 MILES THE ENGINE MOUNTS ALL GO BAD!

NHTSA ID
10910436
Incident
Aug 11, 2015
Mileage
10,004 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 15, 2016

THE PANORAMIC ROOF IS CRAZING! IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE GLASS CAN SHATTERED ON TOP OF MY HEAD AT ANY GIVING MOMENT! WHEN IT'S RAINING OR WASHING THE CAR AT THE CARWASH THE ROOF IS ALSO LEAKING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SMART CAR PASSION MODEL! A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT!

NHTSA ID
10906862
Incident
Sep 7, 2016
Mileage
15,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed May 21, 2015

MY WIFE WAS DEPARTING WITH THE CAR AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO INSERT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND IT WOULD NOT INSERT. I CALLED THE MERCEDES DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
10717770
Incident
May 20, 2015
Mileage
57,200 mi
Engine
Filed May 4, 2015

2011 SMART FORTWO COUPE. RUNNING ROUGH AND SHOWING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH OBD CODE P0302. MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP FOUND MISFIRE ON CYLINDER #2. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND CYLINDER #2 LEAKING 75%. REMOVED AND REPLACED CYLINDER HEAD WITH A NEW CYLINDER HEAD AS A "GOODWILL REPAIR." THIS PARTICULAR MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER HAS DONE 14 OF THESE REPAIRS TO DATE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF THE MITSUBISHI ENGINES USED IN THE CURRENT MODEL SMART FORTWO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10714370
Incident
Apr 20, 2015
Mileage
36,200 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 6, 2013

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. NO APPARENT REASON. CAR DROVE OK BROUGHT TO MB DEALER. THEY RUN DIAGNOSTIC. NOTED THAT CYLINDER 3 MISFIRED AT SOME POINT, BUT EVERYTHING IS FINE NOW. CAR WAS IN WARRANTY THEN. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. CAR WAS RIDING ROUGH TEMPORARILY. THEN IT WAS OK AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AROUND 35000 MILES. BROUGHT TO DEALER AGAIN. CAR WAS DRIVING FINE AT THAT POINT. THERE WAS SOME OCCASIONAL HESITATION IN SHIFTING. WAS INFORMED THAT CYLINDER 3 WAS NOT SEATED PROPERLY AND MISFIRING. I WOULD NEED A CYLINDER HEAD REPLACED COSTING ABOUT $7000. AT THIS POINT WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER THE CHECK WAS PERFORMED THE CAR WAS IN WORST CONDITION AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555017
Incident
Aug 15, 2012
Mileage
23,500 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Apr 24, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT CYLINDER THREE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE STOP LAMP SWITCH; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,300.

NHTSA ID
10509372
Incident
Mar 25, 2013
Mileage
27,200 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 22, 2013

THE CAR DOES NOT PULL OUT OF PARKING AND DOES NOT TAKE GEARS. IT HAS GONE 4 TIMES WITH THE SAME ISSUES TO THE DEALER TO LEAVE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AS A LAST RESORT THEY TOLD ME TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION 4,000.00 AND NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIX. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE THIS IS ABUSIVE. AND I HAVE NO ONE TO HELP BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT MY CREDIT AFFECTED BUT THESE CARS ARE NO GOOD. NOT EVEN THE DEALER KNOWS HOW TO FIX THEM. AND SMART USA SAYS NOTHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THEIR OUT OF WARRANTY. BUT MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS IS THE 5 TIME MY CAR HAS NOT LEFT THE DEALER FOR 4 AND HALF MONTH WITH DIFFERENT TEST EACH MONTH IS FIX AND WHEN I GO OUT AND RUN IT BY THE END OF THE BLOCK I HAVE TO RETURN TO THE DEALER AND LEAVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504116
Incident
Oct 10, 2012
Mileage
25,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Dec 4, 2012

HEATER BLOWER SQUEAKS AND STOPS RUNNING CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES AND DISCOMFORT. POTENTIAL DANGER DUE TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THERE ARE VERY FEW OF THESE CARS IN THE USA SO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS WHEN LOOKING AT NUMBER OF REPORTED ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10487276
Incident
Nov 5, 2012
Mileage
32,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 18, 2012

THIS CAR IS JUST OVER A YEAR OLD, ONLY 24,928 MILES ON IT. IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK. I CALLED THE SMART DEALERSHIP OF BUCKHEAD, GA AND THEY TOLD ME TO TRY TO "RE-TRAIN" IT BY TURNING IT ON PART WAY 3 TIMES WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THEN IT WOULD SHIFT. NOPE. I CALLED THEM BACK UP AND THEY SAID THAT I WAS OVER MY 24,000 MILE WARRANTY (EVEN IF ONLY BY 928 MILES WHICH IS LESS THAN 2 WEEKS WORTH OF DRIVING FOR ME) AND BECAUSE I DID MY OIL CHANGES SOMEWHERE ELSE THEY WON'T DO THIS AS WARRANTY WORK. (EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM I HAD THE RECORDS!) HOW CAN A TRANSMISSION FAIL WITHIN 24,000 MILES! I AM VERY UPSET I EVER BOUGHT A SMART CAR FROM THESE PEOPLE. WHO WOULD ALLOW THIS TYPE OF "QUALITY" OUT THERE. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED! AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES I'VE HAD WITH THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE. I HAVE A DODGE RAM THAT'S 8 YEARS OLD AND HAS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM! BAD SMART CAR PEOPLE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10475775
Incident
Sep 17, 2012
Mileage
24,928 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 13, 2012
Crash reported

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND OTHER CAR. VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE INTO OTHER STOPPED VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10458246
Incident
Mar 7, 2012
Mileage
2,500 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .