2017 Smart Fortwo Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Fortwo years
- Not enough data 8th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Smart Fortwo. That ranks 8th out of 13 Fortwo model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints, 57%), typically at around 1,667 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 7owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 | 57% | 1,667 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 29% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 14% | 2,334 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 14% | 2,900 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 14% | 2,334 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 Smart Fortwo recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 smart fortwo and smart fortwo Cabriolet vehicles. Casting imperfections may result in the failure of the left front axle steering knuckle.
Risk: Failure of the left front axle steering knuckle could affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle steering knuckle, replacing any from the affected batch, free of charge. The recall October 13, 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.
The Power Electronics Control Unit (ECM), Part No. A453-900-72-11, and the DC-to-DC converter have both failed, rendering this all-electric vehicle completely inoperable. There is no backup propulsion system. The DC-to-DC converter powers safety-critical systems including lighting, turn signals…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Driver Side front wheel / maybe steering rack / etc. makes loud grinding / rubbing sound when making turn only when the weather's hot and humid and when the car has been running for about 20 min How…
The car won't charge over 20% due probably a faulty manufacturer part of N83 high voltage control box. This could cause very serious electrical/battery issues if the high voltage box is faulty.
Seat belts do not retract. There were couple of times while in transit on city road, i had to apply brake suddenly and seat belt fail to engage to hold the passenger back . All the time , both seat belts do not retract to their home position when not in use and car is stopped and parked, this…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SMART FOR TWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND REAR WIPER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARAGE ISLA VERDE LLC (LOCATED AT AVE, BALDORIOTY…
Other Smart Fortwo years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Fortwo | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 Fortwo | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 7 | 1 |
| 2016 Fortwo | 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 2017 Smart Fortwo?
Owners most often report electrical system, steering, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Smart Fortwo?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 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 2017 has too little data to compare, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.