CSR

Smart · NHTSA safety record

2016 Smart Fortwo

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

21

Complaints

5

Crashes

2

Fires

7

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Smart Fortwo have filed 21 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2016 and March 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 8 of them (38%). The typical failure was reported at 5,300 miles, the median across the 13 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

PARKING BRAKE

17V448000 · July 16, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. · up to 5,061 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

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.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 21.

ENGINE 8 38%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 33%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 24%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 14%
STEERING 2 10%
STRUCTURE 2 10%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 5%
EQUIPMENT 1 5%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 5%
POWER TRAIN 1 5%
SUSPENSION 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 5.

2016 2026
2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE

4 injured

Car shuts down while driving. This happens usually after quick stops or sudden starts like at a red light or when a car suddenly stops on front of me. I have had this issue happen to me several times. I have tried contacting Mercedes-Benz and the dealership where I bought tge car but they do nothing. I need help getting this issue repaired.

NHTSA complaint 11598820. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · 50,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND UNCERTAIN IF WHETHER HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR THE BRAKE PEDAL; THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING AT A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND REMAINED AT THE SCENE OF ACCIDENT. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE POSSIBLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA complaint 11383048. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1 injured

The car just shuts off while I am driving. I can tell now when it is about to shut off. I have had this problem since I purchased the car in 2016. I have taken the car to the dealership and called Mercedes Benz several times and they will not do anything. I will die because the car is getting worse and shuts off more frequently now. Can you get Mercedes Benz to help me? They told me that they don't care if I die due to a bad product they sold me. Please help. Please, I am begging you I do not want to hurt someone else due to this bad car.

NHTSA complaint 11517032. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

fire · crash · 35 miles

THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING BAD. THEY HAVE BEEN SLIPPING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2016. THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING AND HAS LEAKED INTO THE CAB OF THE CAR. THE GAS TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint 11353926. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I have had it for 6 years. And it has been in for repair, at least 7 times in those somewhere around one time per year. Sometimes twice. All for heating 3 times same piece not sure what to do but it always has to do with no heat to car or overheating my insurance through carmax bout to end gonna cost me alot to keep it even though I love the car seems like a massive problem that mercedes should do something about I've called and got tge run a round

NHTSA complaint 11722865. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

58,299 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated with a loud whirring noise. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the air intake changeover valves had failed. The independent mechanic advised the contact that the parts needed to fix the vehicle were difficult to locate. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that about a month later, the check engine warning light illuminated again. The contact took the vehicle to the same independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a secondary air injection pump failure. The independent mechanic advised the

NHTSA complaint 11585774, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

crash

Since purchasing the car the power steering has been bad. The dealership where I purchased the car and Mercedes refused to fix the issue. There is electrical issues and the gas tank gauge and gas tank have been replaced 3 times. Please do not purchase a Smart Car thecmakers do not stand behind their product. I took it to Mercedes Hampton VA Auto Mall and they are so rude. I have almost died 4 times due to bot bring able to turn steering wheel.

NHTSA complaint 11457487. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
Three weeks after got the car from carmax check engine light went on and the after a smell of burning oil every time after driving somewhere. Cruise control failure about a month and half after getting the car, spring shocks in bad condition. Front windshield replaced looks like by the writing on the upper corner driver side (pieces of glass found on the car). Cargo cover missing and no mats.

NHTSA complaint 11448747. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Smart Fortwo

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2014 13 0
2013 25 0
2011 16 0

Every Smart on this site — 4 vehicles, 7 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

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.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst