Smart Fortwo years to avoid (and the best years)

73 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall across 4 model years, 2011 to 2016. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.

73complaints
1recalls
7reported crashes
7reported fires
9reported injuries

Which Smart Fortwo years should you avoid?

No Smart Fortwo model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Smart Fortwo year has 18 complaints on file.

What are the best Smart Fortwo years?

The Smart Fortwo years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2014 (13), 2011 (16) and 2016 (20). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

Year	Complaints	vs typical year	Recalls	Crashes	Injuries	Our read	Most reported
2016	20	1.1×	1	5	7	Few red flags	Engine
2014	13	0.7×	0	0	0	Few red flags	Engine
2013	24	1.3×	0	0	0	Few red flags	Engine
2011	16	0.9×	0	2	2	Few red flags	Engine

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 16 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

Engine & powertrain8 (50%)
Airbags & seat belts4 (25%)
Brakes1 (6%)
Steering, suspension & tires1 (6%)
Structure & body1 (6%)

Recalls (1)

Safety · 17V448000 · Jul 2017 · model year 2016
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.