Smart Fortwo complaints by model year
369 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 100 | 3 | 11 | 1 |
| 2008 | 160 | 7 | 28 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2010–2019. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Smart Fortwo recalls (7)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Fortwo model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20V107000 | Feb 24, 2020 | High-Voltage Battery May Fail | 2019 | 100% |
| 18V273000 | Apr 27, 2018 | Insulation Mat may Deform and cause Fire | 2008, 2009 | 50.1% |
| 17V448000 | Jul 16, 2017 | Parking Brake Cable may Loosen | 2016 | 80.6% |
| 17V447000 | Jul 14, 2017 | Left Front Axle Steering Knuckle may Fail | 2017 | 85.5% |
| 17V179000 | Mar 16, 2017 | Missing Headlight Adjustment Cap/FMVSS 108 | 2016 | 79% |
| 15V192000 | Mar 31, 2015 | Steering Gear Mounting Bolts May Break | 2014, 2015 | 81.9% |
| 08V390000 | Aug 7, 2008 | PAINTING MATERIAL DELAMINATION | 2008 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 2 dr rwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Smart Fortwo FAQ
How many recalls has the Smart Fortwo had?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns that cover at least one Smart Fortwo model year from 2005 to 2019. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Smart Fortwo year has the most complaints?
Among the last 13 model years with settled counts, the 2008 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (160) and the 2018 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Smart Fortwo problems?
Across the 2010–2019 model years, owners most often name the engine, electrical system, seat belts in complaints filed with NHTSA.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.