Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 25 safety complaints
about the 2013 Smart Fortwo with the US government. Of those, 3 mention a fire and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the seat belts,
named in 7 complaints, 28% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 13,000 miles,
the median across the 21
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers March 2013 to December 2024 · How this is counted
What is on file
25 complaints on file
25
Complaints
0
Describe a crash
3
Mention fire
0
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
SEAT BELTS 7 · 28%
7 28%
ENGINE 6 · 24%
6 24%
POWER TRAIN 5 · 20%
5 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 · 12%
3 12%
SEATS 2 · 8%
2 8%
STRUCTURE 2 · 8%
2 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 · 8%
2 8%
AIR BAGS 1 · 4%
1 4%
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY 1 · 4%
1 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 4%
1 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 · 4%
1 4%
TIRES 1 · 4%
1 4%
048
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 25.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2013 at 5.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2013 to 2024.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not crash tested the 2013 Smart Fortwo. Its New Car Assessment Program
tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach
motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so
an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It
is not a low score.
What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a
different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people
inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke
during ordinary use.
Defect investigations
1 on file
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
Pedestrian alert sounds
DP22005
Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
the electrical 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.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fire · 6,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SMART FORTWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY CASING MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CHARGING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
NHTSA complaint 10766514. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
fire · 33,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SMART FOR TWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANSICO DEALER LOCATED AT 500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CAWHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT DAMAGED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THE REPAIR DUE TO NEGLIGENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A TEN PERCENT DISCOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000. *LN UPDATED …
NHTSA complaint 11033202, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
fire · 15,000 miles
ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16TH WHEN TRYING TO START MY 2013 SMART FORTWO BRABUS, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLICKING, SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE AC VENTS, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED, FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY ON A CITY STREET AT THE TIME. HERE IS A LINK TO AN ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER: AND I'VE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE FIRE DEPT. REPORT.
NHTSA complaint 11074117. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEAT BELTS
Seat belt anchor to vehicle on driver side of vehicle frayed and broke away with normal routine use.
NHTSA complaint 11628640. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEAT BELTS
The drivers side seatbelt connecting floor (I think it's the belt force limiter) has a cable that has broken off. This is the 2nd time this has happened to my SmartCar. It is a design flaw because the cable runs against the metal of the seat cutting thru the cable. It isn't usually noticed until it breaks off making the seatbelt complete become broken from the floor. Additionally, SmartCars including this one have a known issue where AirBags become I op (light on) due to connection issue under seat. So now I have no restraints in my car.
NHTSA complaint 11469109. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Software for power control module is not correspond to the series level Software configuration. Basically it doesn't want to take charge due to the Software issues from manufacturer.
NHTSA complaint 11439125. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
70,000 miles
THE GEAR CANNOT GO REVERSE. IT STUCK AT NEUTRAL. I CAN DRIVE FORWARD, NEUTRAL BUT NOT GO REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint 11416476. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
1 mile
REGARDING LIGHTNING: WATER/HUMIDITY HAD ACCESS TO THE SAM UNIT AND THE RIGHT-SIDE SIGNALS/STOP LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. REGARDING BODY/OTHER: SOME OF THE CONVERTIBLE-ROOF STEEL FRAME/BARS GOT BENT WHEN CLOSING THE TOP AND THE BENT BARS WOULD PREVENT THE TOP FROM CLOSING UNLESS YOU FORCED THE STEEL/METAL BARS.
NHTSA complaint 11376789. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
14,300 miles
DRIVER SEATBELT WILL NOT STAY IN TENSION RING. AT TIMES STUCK IN PARK & WHEN UNSTUCK WILL NOT ENGAGE ANY GEAR AND STOPPING AT RED LIGHT WHILE IN DRIVE SOON AFTER STARTING CAR IT WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS ENGAGED. IN ALL CASES ENGINE MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN TURN TO POWER ON ONLY FOR 10 TO TWENTY MINUTES DURING WHICH EVENTUALLY CLICKING/CLUNKING SOUNDS ARE HEARD. AFTER HEARING THESE SOUNDS START AND SHIFT. REPEAT SOMETIMES TWICE BEFORE TRANSMISSION UNLOCKS. YOU MUST LEAVE ONE HOUR EARLY TO WORK OR APPOINTMENTS ANTICIPATING TRANSMISSION LOCKUP AND RESET PROCESS. USING THE YELLOW LEVER UNDER SHIFT CONSOLE WILL UNLOCK SHIFTER BUT WILL NOT AIDE WITH GEARS ENGAGING. USING GOOGLE SEARCH I …
NHTSA complaint 11354621, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst