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2016 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: 13 of 21 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 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

21 reports
13,700 miles · Jan 16, 2020
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR A MONTH. AFTER A MONTH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO 500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 WHERE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR A MONTH. AFTER A MONTH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO 500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 WHERE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT MERCEDES WOULD NOT COVER THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE LACK OF SERVICE UPKEEP. THE DEALER PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF $15,000.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,700.

NHTSA ODI #11299810

51,000 miles · Sep 18, 2019
EngineStructureUnknown Or Other

MY 2016 SMART CAR AT ONLY 51000 MILES HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASH. MY CAR WENT FROM 65 MILES A HOUR, THEN WARNING LIGHT SAID TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CAR WAS UNABLE TO EXCEL RATE OR BREAK, THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME. MERCEDES DIAGNOSED A WIG WAS ABLE TO …

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MY 2016 SMART CAR AT ONLY 51000 MILES HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASH. MY CAR WENT FROM 65 MILES A HOUR, THEN WARNING LIGHT SAID TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CAR WAS UNABLE TO EXCEL RATE OR BREAK, THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME. MERCEDES DIAGNOSED A WIG WAS ABLE TO FLY UP UNDER CAR AND GET WRAPPED AROUND AXELS, TRANSMISSION, AND BREAK BELTS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED FROM A WIG. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE UNDERNEATH IS LEFT VULNERABLE TO A OBJECT BEING ABLE TO CAUSE SO MUCH DAMAGE, THAT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A FATAL CAR CRASH. THIS HAPPENED ON HWY 59 SOUTH HOUSTON, WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11256423

19,000 miles · Sep 25, 2018
Electrical System

2016 SMART CAR PASSION KEY STUCK IN SWITCH. STATIONARY IN PARK GEAR. POOR DESIGN OF SHIFTER, IF THAT EASILY DISABLED. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH IMPROVED DESIGN SHIFTER. IF THAT SENSITIVE WHY DO THEY PUT 2 CUP HOLDERS NEAR THE SHIFTER? SIMPLE RUBBER SEAL WOULD FIX IT! THE SERVICE MECHANIC SAID THE SHIFTER WAS DAMAGED B…

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2016 SMART CAR PASSION KEY STUCK IN SWITCH. STATIONARY IN PARK GEAR. POOR DESIGN OF SHIFTER, IF THAT EASILY DISABLED. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH IMPROVED DESIGN SHIFTER. IF THAT SENSITIVE WHY DO THEY PUT 2 CUP HOLDERS NEAR THE SHIFTER? SIMPLE RUBBER SEAL WOULD FIX IT! THE SERVICE MECHANIC SAID THE SHIFTER WAS DAMAGED BECAUSE OF A COFFEE SPILL - HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE - BECAUSE ANY STAIN WAS YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT THE CAR. I HAVE NOT DRUNK ANY IN THE CAR OVER A YEAR. TO SAVE MONEY I MAKE COFFEE AT HOME AND DRINK AT WORK. I'M SURE ALL THIS SUMMER WET AND HUMID WEATHER CAUSED A PROBLEM. AFTER WEEKS OF RAIN THE KEY WAS JAMMING MANY TIMES BEFORE IT GOT STUCK. I THINK THE SHIFTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND FAILED AND SHOULD BE REPLACE FOR FREE. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THE SHIFTER IS COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. TRYING TO BLAME A SPILL FOR THE FAILURE BUT JUST A BAD SHIFTER. THIS IS THE SECOND SMART CAR I HAVE GOTTEN AND THE MOST TROUBLE. I CAN'T AFFORD THE ESTIMATED #1100 COST TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #11131619

1 miles · Sep 15, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

TYSINGER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON 08/30/2018. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANG AND THEN THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 45 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, BUT IT HAS NOT. THE CA…

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TYSINGER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON 08/30/2018. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANG AND THEN THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 45 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, BUT IT HAS NOT. THE CAR STALLS AT RED LIGHTS AND DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTER IT STALLS.

NHTSA ODI #11129713

13,333 miles · Jun 7, 2018
EquipmentVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT WAS LEASING A 2016 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION AND HOT AIR BLEW FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEA…

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TL* THE CONTACT WAS LEASING A 2016 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION AND HOT AIR BLEW FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,333.

NHTSA ODI #11100436

400 miles · Mar 28, 2017
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SMART FORTWO. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SMART FORTWO. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

NHTSA ODI #10969003

61 miles · Dec 26, 2016
Unknown Or Other

GAS TANK 5 GALLONS NOT 8 AS LISTED IN THE BOOK. TANKS FILLS UP PREMIUM GAS FOR $10. GAS PUMP SAID IT PUT OUT 5 GALLONS ONLY INTO THE TANK. THAT FILLED UP THE WHOLE. NOW I'M NAIVE TO FILL UP SOON I REACH ANOTHER 100 MILES. THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK. YOU SOLD ME THE WRONG VEHICLE. INSTEAD OF HELPING ME MAKE A WISE DECISION YOUR …

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GAS TANK 5 GALLONS NOT 8 AS LISTED IN THE BOOK. TANKS FILLS UP PREMIUM GAS FOR $10. GAS PUMP SAID IT PUT OUT 5 GALLONS ONLY INTO THE TANK. THAT FILLED UP THE WHOLE. NOW I'M NAIVE TO FILL UP SOON I REACH ANOTHER 100 MILES. THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK. YOU SOLD ME THE WRONG VEHICLE. INSTEAD OF HELPING ME MAKE A WISE DECISION YOUR ONLY CONCERN WAS TO SELL SELL SELL THAT'S IT. MPG IS AROUND 30. NOT TRUE IT'S AT 23 MPG. MIRRORS DON'T ADJUST CORRECTLY. BLIND-SIDING IS DANGEROUS AND FATAL. EMISSIONS ISSUE: SMELLS LIKE PLASTIC/RUBBER BURNING ??? BATTERY LEVEL INDICATOR IS MISSING. DOESN'T POWER MY PHONE WHILE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. AUDIO SYSTEM KEEPS CUTTING OFF PHONE CALLS AND THE GOOGLE NAVIGATOR GUIDANCE. THE BUMPER TO BUMPER 75,000 MILES WARRANTY DOESN'T EVEN COVER 60 MILES PER DAY FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS. THAT'S 1,800 MILES /MONTH. 21,600 MILES PER YEAR. I DO 10,000 MILES PER MONTH. I WALKED IN THE DEALERSHIP THINKING I WILL BE PAYING NO MORE THAN $100. SADLY ENOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING TO SIGN UP A $265/MONTH NOTE FOR NEXT 5 YEARS ON A CAR THAT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR AT LEAST MISSING TRUNK SLIDING COVER. CADDY FOR IPHONE ALARM SYSTEM IS LOW. RADIO STATIC HAVE ALL THE STATION IN DECIMAL POINTS BUT DOESN'T PICK AND SETTLE ON ONE THAT'S BROADCASTING. TERRIBLE RADIO.

NHTSA ODI #10937409

5,300 miles · Oct 3, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

THE FUEL GAUGE AND MPG INDICATORS ARE BOTH FAULTY. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK, AND THE MPG DIGITAL INDICATOR IS HARDLY EVER TRUE. ESPECIALLY THAT THE CAR'S ACTUAL CITY MPG IS WAY OFF FROM THE WHAT IS SHOWN ON THE STICKER.

NHTSA ODI #10911135

3,500 miles · Jul 19, 2016
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

ON STEEP UPHILLS AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE TOO WEAK TO PUSH THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD AND ACTUALLY THE CAR MY ROLL BACK AND BRAKES GO IN A LOCK MODE WHICH CREATES A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10885818

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

I NOTICED THAT MY GAS GAUGE WAS GIVING ME INCORRECT READINGS. THE GAS TANK ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL HOLDS 8+ GALLONS OF GAS. WHEN I GET A LOW FUEL WARNING IF I "FILL UP" THE TANK IT ONLY TAKES BETWEEN 5 AND 6 GALLONS. THE GAS GAUGE SHOWS FULL AND THEN WITHIN HOURS ALL OF A SUDDEN IT READS THERE IS ONLY A HALF TANK OF GAS. …

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I NOTICED THAT MY GAS GAUGE WAS GIVING ME INCORRECT READINGS. THE GAS TANK ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL HOLDS 8+ GALLONS OF GAS. WHEN I GET A LOW FUEL WARNING IF I "FILL UP" THE TANK IT ONLY TAKES BETWEEN 5 AND 6 GALLONS. THE GAS GAUGE SHOWS FULL AND THEN WITHIN HOURS ALL OF A SUDDEN IT READS THERE IS ONLY A HALF TANK OF GAS. I VISITED MY DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ MANHATTAN IF FEBRUARY OF 2016 AFTER WAITING FOR 3 HOURS I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS BEING WORKED ON BUT AT THAT TIME THERE IS NO FIX. PRIOR TO GOING TO THE DEALER I RECEIVE NO NOTIFICATION OF THIS PROBLEM. AS THE CONSUMER I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAKE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON JULY 29, 2016 BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO FIX OF THE GAS GAUGE PROBLEM AND THAT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A, "SAFETY" ISSUE NO NOTICED WERE SENT AND NO RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED. HOW IS NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE IN YOUR TANK NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. LUCKILY FOR ME I WAS NOT DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR RAN OUT OF GAS RECENTLY, HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I GUESS MY HAVING TO RISK MY LIFE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY SMART USA NOT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, I VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE. THE ATTACHED IMAGES WILL SHOW THE GAS GAUGE INDICATING LOW FUEL LEVEL, RECEIPT FOR AMOUNT OF GAS ADDED AND GAS GAUGE SHOWING FULL WITH ONLY IN THIS CASE A LITTLE OVER 5 GALLONS OF GAS BEING ADDED.

NHTSA ODI #10882810

Official recalls

1

17V448000 · Parking Brake

Jul 16, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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.