Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Smart Fortwo. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Parking Brake Cable may Loosen
- Summary
- 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
- 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.
Missing Headlight Adjustment Cap/FMVSS 108
- Summary
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Smart Fortwo vehicles. The horizontal headlight adjustment mechanism on these vehicles may not have been properly sealed off to prevent future adjustment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- If the headlight can be adjusted horizontally, the headlight may be adjusted outside of the designed specifications, reducing the driver's visibility and potentially blinding oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct sealing caps to prevent the headlights from being adjusted horizontally, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (22)
22 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 8 | 36.4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 31.8% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 22.7% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 22.7% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 13.6% |
| Steering | 2 | 9.1% |
| Structure | 2 | 9.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 4.5% |
| Equipment | 1 | 4.5% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 4.5% |
How 2016 compares with other Fortwo years
Best and worst Fortwo years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 | 8 | 0 |
| 2013 | 25 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 1 |
| 2015 | 8 | 1 |
| 2016 | 22 | 2 |
| 2017 | 7 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2016 Fortwo for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Smart Fortwo FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Smart Fortwo have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 17V448000 (brake), 17V179000 (lighting). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Smart Fortwo problems?
Owners filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (8), Fuel/propulsion system (7), Electrical system (5) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 2016 Fortwo compare with other years?
Among the 2010–2019 Smart Fortwo model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2013 the most (25). The 2016 drew 22. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.