2016 Smart Fortwo Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Fortwo years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Smart Fortwo. That ranks 4th out of 13 Fortwo model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (8 complaints, 38%), typically at around 27,250 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 21owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Smart Fortwo problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 8 | 38% | 27,250 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 33% | 63 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 5 | 24% | 13,700 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 19% | 3,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 14% | 25,531 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 10% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 5% | 400 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% | 13,333 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 5% | 3,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 5% | 13,333 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 5% | 35 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Smart Fortwo recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Parking brake
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 smart fortwo vehicles. In these vehicles, the lock nut that secures the parking brake cable to the parking brake lever may loosen over time, resulting in increased parking brake lever travel before the parking brake engages.
Risk: As the parking brake lever travel increases, the holding force may decrease to a point where the vehicle is no longer safely secured in all parking situations, allowing the vehicle to unexpectedly move when parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake cable lock nut, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2017. Owners may contact smart customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I have had it for 6 years. And it has been in for repair, at least 7 times in those somewhere around one time per year. Sometimes twice. All for heating 3 times same piece not sure what to do but it always has to do with no heat to car or overheating my insurance through carmax bout to end gonna…
Car shuts down while driving. This happens usually after quick stops or sudden starts like at a red light or when a car suddenly stops on front of me. I have had this issue happen to me several times. I have tried contacting Mercedes-Benz and the dealership where I bought tge car but they do…
The contact owns a 2016 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated with a loud whirring noise. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the air intake changeover valves had failed. The…
The car just shuts off while I am driving. I can tell now when it is about to shut off. I have had this problem since I purchased the car in 2016. I have taken the car to the dealership and called Mercedes Benz several times and they will not do anything. I will die because the car is getting worse…
Since purchasing the car the power steering has been bad. The dealership where I purchased the car and Mercedes refused to fix the issue. There is electrical issues and the gas tank gauge and gas tank have been replaced 3 times. Please do not purchase a Smart Car thecmakers do not stand behind…
Other Smart Fortwo years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Fortwo | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 Fortwo | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 Fortwo | 7 | 1 |
| 2016 | 21 | 1 |
| 2015 Fortwo | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 Fortwo | 13 | 0 |
| 2013 Fortwo | 25 | 0 |
| 2012 Fortwo | 8 | 0 |
| 2011 Fortwo | 16 | 0 |
| 2010 Fortwo | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 Fortwo | 100 | 1 |
| 2008 Fortwo | 140 | 2 |
| 2005 Fortwo | 2 | 0 |
See all Smart Fortwo problems by year, every Smart model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Smart models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Smart Fortwo?
Owners most often report engine, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Smart Fortwo?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Smart Fortwo a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Fortwo model years, the 2016 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.