Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2017 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 ↗Left Front Axle Steering Knuckle may Fail
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- Failure of the left front axle steering knuckle could affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
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 (7)
7 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 57.1% |
| Steering | 2 | 28.6% |
| Engine | 1 | 14.3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Power train | 1 | 14.3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 14.3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 14.3% |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 14.3% |
| Wheels | 1 | 14.3% |
How 2017 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.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2017 Smart Fortwo 2 dr rwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2017 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
2017 Smart Fortwo FAQ
How many recalls does the 2017 Smart Fortwo have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 17V447000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2017 Smart Fortwo problems?
Owners filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (4), Steering (2), Engine (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What safety rating did the 2017 Smart Fortwo get?
NHTSA rated the 2017 Smart Fortwo 2 dr rwd 4 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (14.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2017 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 2017 drew 7. 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.