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2014 Smart Fortwo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 9 of 13 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

13 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2023
Seat Belts

The cable attaching the seatbelt is frayed and only being held on by a few strands of cable. My research into the problem on forums and the internet has shown that this is an issue on the drivers side seatbelt for Smart Car.

NHTSA ODI #11540919

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2023
Air Bags

The SRS light is on. Technician scanned vehicle and performed guided tests on drivers side seat airbag, found that HE airbag squib is faulty. This is an internal part of the airbag and airbag will need to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI #11501955

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2022
Service Brakes

The brake booster malfunctioned while I was driving

NHTSA ODI #11497260

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2022
Seat Belts

Driver’s seatbelt broke at the tensioner as if the cable had been cut with wire cutters. My vehicle has not been involved in a wreck. Under normal driving conditions. Safety issue is if it broke this easily what would’ve happened if I had been involved in an accident? Of course I took the vehicle immediately to a repair shop a…

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Driver’s seatbelt broke at the tensioner as if the cable had been cut with wire cutters. My vehicle has not been involved in a wreck. Under normal driving conditions. Safety issue is if it broke this easily what would’ve happened if I had been involved in an accident? Of course I took the vehicle immediately to a repair shop and the cost to repair is $843.31. Of course the parts have to be ordered. This is a safety issue it’s a law issue you have to have a seatbelt it’s not like I can’t live without the seatbelt. All my research shows that several people have complained about the same incident happening to them I was not driving the vehicle at the time I had just stopped at a store got back in my car and the seatbelt was broken.

NHTSA ODI #11469708

65,000 miles · Mar 26, 2021
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR HAD BURST. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED PARK PL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR HAD BURST. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED PARK PLACE MOTORCARS MERCEDES-BENZ DALLAS (6113 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209) OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AS AN OVERHEATED ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #11405076

26,666 miles · Dec 11, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EURO MOTORCARS GERMANTOWN (LOCATED AT 19750 GERMANTOWN RD, GERMANTOWN, MD 20874, (301) 601-5500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE GEAR BO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EURO MOTORCARS GERMANTOWN (LOCATED AT 19750 GERMANTOWN RD, GERMANTOWN, MD 20874, (301) 601-5500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,666.

NHTSA ODI #11288478

30,000 miles · Jul 23, 2019
Power TrainSuspension

LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CONDENSER FAN AND LOSE BOLTS/SCREWS WHICH HOLD IT IN PLACE. MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED SAID WILL COST $1,700-$1,800 TO FIX! INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALED TO ME THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT/PROBLEM. I PAID ALMOST $7,000 FOR MY SMART FOR TWO PURE COUPE. I SHOU…

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LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CONDENSER FAN AND LOSE BOLTS/SCREWS WHICH HOLD IT IN PLACE. MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED SAID WILL COST $1,700-$1,800 TO FIX! INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALED TO ME THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT/PROBLEM. I PAID ALMOST $7,000 FOR MY SMART FOR TWO PURE COUPE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE PAYING AN ADDITIONAL NEARLY $2,000 BECAUSE BOLTS JIGGLED LOSE.I NO LONGER FEEL SECURE IN MY CAR.NOW IM DRIVING IN HOT FLORIDA IN THE SUMMER WITH NO A/C BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD THIS FIX.

NHTSA ODI #11234271

6,157 miles · Jul 7, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,157.

NHTSA ODI #10883432

2,500 miles · Jun 6, 2015
Seat Belts

THE SHOULDER PORTION OF MY SEAT BELT RIDES ON MY NECK. WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM? REF COMPLAINT #10722112 28MAY15.

NHTSA ODI #10723785

2,600 miles · May 29, 2015
Seat Belts

MY SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP RIDES ON MY NECK.

NHTSA ODI #10722112

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.