Smart Fortwo Problems by Year
NHTSA has 346 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on file for the Smart Fortwo, across 13 model years (2005–2019). The 2008 model year has the most complaints (140). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
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Smart Fortwo years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Fortwo year: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2008 Fortwo: 140 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2009 Fortwo: 100 complaints, 1 recall
- 2013 Fortwo: 25 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2018 Fortwo: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2019 Fortwo: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2005 Fortwo: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Smart Fortwo problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 82 | 10 | 1 |
| Power Train | 71 | 9 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 57 | 12 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 34 | 8 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 25 | 5 | 3 |
| Structure | 25 | 7 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 23 | 4 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 16 | 7 | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 15 | 6 | 3 |
| Wheels | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 8 | 3 | 3 |
| Tires | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Seats | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other/unknown | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Smart Fortwo model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Fortwo | 1 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2018 Fortwo | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2017 Fortwo | 7 | 1 | 4★ | Electrical System | |
| 2016 Fortwo | 21 | 1 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 Fortwo | 6 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2014 Fortwo | 13 | 0 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2013 Fortwo | 25 | 0 | — | Seat Belts | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Fortwo | 8 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2011 Fortwo | 16 | 0 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 Fortwo | 6 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2009 Fortwo | 100 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Fortwo | 140 | 2 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 Fortwo | 2 | 0 | — | Air Bags |
More from Smart: all Smart models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Smart Fortwo years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2008 (140), 2009 (100), 2011 (16), 2013 (25), 2016 (21) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Fortwo year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Smart Fortwo?
Engine, with 82 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Smart Fortwo have?
5 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.