2011 Smart Fortwo
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Smart › Fortwo › 2011
These records cover every 2011 Smart Fortwo. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
16 complaints2 involved a crash1 involved a fire2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Tires
175 55 r15 Tge tires wires startes to unravelling and chabgibg the ahape of tge tire.
- Seat belts
The driver side seat belt latch has failed for the second time in 2 years. the male end can not be inserted into the female end.
- Electrical system · Seat belts
The metal seat belt connector frayed in to two pieces. Replaced with oem part. It frayed again. It's a 2011 driven by a 75 yr.old senior citizen. mercedes accused owner of maliciously cutting cable. Extreme safety hazzard.
- Seat belts
Safe belt buckle jammed or can't click
- Engine
I was driving eastbound in the number 1 lane of california highway 24 about 1/4 mile before the tunnel road exit. I heard a noise coming from the engine are of the car, looked at the instrument cluster and noticed that the engine light had illuminated, and experience a sudden loss of power. I…
I was driving eastbound in the number 1 lane of california highway 24 about 1/4 mile before the tunnel road exit. I heard a noise coming from the engine are of the car, looked at the instrument cluster and noticed that the engine light had illuminated, and experience a sudden loss of power. I pulled off of the highway at the tunnel road exit and stalled on the off ramp. I attempted to restart the engine twice by turning the key. I saw smoke in my rearview mirror, exited the vehicle, and saw flames coming from underneath the vehicle. I called 911 and gave the dispatch operator my location. By the time the highway patrol and local fire department arrived, my car was totaled. The attached photos tell the story of the damage.
- Fuel/propulsion system
The car broke down on exit 231 b in virginia. The smart had a gas tank defect. I was nearly killed. I have taken the car to tysinger motors in virginia multiple times.
- Unknown or other
After only 10.000 miles the engine mounts all go bad!
- Structure › Body
The panoramic roof IS crazing! It's unsafe to drive the car because the glass can shattered on top of my head at any giving moment! When it's raining or washing the car at the carwash the roof IS also leaking. This IS a very common problem with the smart car passion model! A lot of complaints about it!
- Seat belts
My wife was departing with the car and when she tried to insert the seat belt buckle and it would not insert. I called the mercedes dealer and they said it was a common failure but they wanted to charge me for the repair.
- Engine
2011 smart fortwo coupe. running rough and showing check engine light with obd code p0302. mercedes-benz dealership found misfire on cylinder #2. further investigation found cylinder #2 leaking 75%. removed and replaced cylinder head with a new cylinder head as a "goodwill repair." this…
2011 smart fortwo coupe. running rough and showing check engine light with obd code p0302. mercedes-benz dealership found misfire on cylinder #2. further investigation found cylinder #2 leaking 75%. removed and replaced cylinder head with a new cylinder head as a "goodwill repair." this particular mercedes-benz dealer has done 14 of these repairs to date. this appears to be a problem with a number of the mitsubishi engines used in the current model smart fortwo. *tr
- Engine
Engine check light came on. No apparent reason. Car drove ok brought to mb dealer. They run diagnostic. Noted that cylinder 3 misfired at some point, but everything IS fine now. Car was in warranty then. after several months check engine light came on again. car was riding rough temporarily.…
Engine check light came on. No apparent reason. Car drove ok brought to mb dealer. They run diagnostic. Noted that cylinder 3 misfired at some point, but everything IS fine now. Car was in warranty then. after several months check engine light came on again. car was riding rough temporarily. Then it was ok and the light went off. light came on again around 35000 miles. Brought to dealer again. Car was driving fine at that point. There was some occasional hesitation in shifting. was informed that cylinder 3 was not seated properly and misfiring. I would need a cylinder head replaced costing about $7000. At this point warranty expired. after the check was performed the car was in worst condition and could not be driven. *tr
- Engine · Service brakes
TL* the contact owns a 2011 smart fortwo. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated, the vehicle was taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The failure was located at cylinder three. The contact also stated that while the brake pedal was depressed, it made a squeaking…
TL* the contact owns a 2011 smart fortwo. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated, the vehicle was taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The failure was located at cylinder three. The contact also stated that while the brake pedal was depressed, it made a squeaking noise. The dealer replaced the brake stop lamp switch; however, the engine failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 27,200 and the current mileage was 28,300.
- Electrical system · Power train
The car does not pull out of parking and does not take gears. it has gone 4 times with the same issues to the dealer to leave with the same problem. as a last resort they told me to change the transmission 4,000.00 and no guarantee that the problem will be fix. something needs to be done this IS…
The car does not pull out of parking and does not take gears. it has gone 4 times with the same issues to the dealer to leave with the same problem. as a last resort they told me to change the transmission 4,000.00 and no guarantee that the problem will be fix. something needs to be done this IS abusive. and I have no one to help because I do not want my credit affected but these cars are no good. not even the dealer knows how to fix them. and smart USA says nothing can be done because their out of warranty. but my complaint IS that this IS the 5 time my car has not left the dealer for 4 and half month with different test each month IS fix and when I go out and run it by the end of the block I have to return to the dealer and leave it. *tr
- Electrical system · Visibility/wiper
Heater blower squeaks and stops running causing visibility issues and discomfort. Potential danger due to loss of visibility. There are very few of these cars in the USA so please consider this when looking at number of reported issues. *Tr
- Electrical system · Engine · Power train
This car IS just over a year old, only 24,928 miles on it. It will not come out of park. I called the smart dealership of buckhead, ga and they told me to try to "re-train" it by turning it on part way 3 times with my foot on the brake and then it would shift. Nope. I called them back up and they…
This car IS just over a year old, only 24,928 miles on it. It will not come out of park. I called the smart dealership of buckhead, ga and they told me to try to "re-train" it by turning it on part way 3 times with my foot on the brake and then it would shift. Nope. I called them back up and they said that I was over my 24,000 mile warranty (even if only by 928 miles which IS less than 2 weeks worth of driving for me) and because I did my oil changes somewhere else they won't do this as warranty work. (Even though I told them I had the records!) how can a transmission fail within 24,000 miles! I am very upset I ever bought a smart car from these people. Who would allow this type of "quality" out there. This IS the worst car I've ever owned! And I will be happy to tell everyone about all the issues I've had with this piece of garbage. I have a dodge RAM that's 8 years old and has never had a problem! Bad smart car people! *tr
- Service brakes · Vehicle speed control
Stopped at a red light behind other car. vehicle rolled forward while foot was on brake into other stopped vehicle. *tr
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Pedestrian alert sounds
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…
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.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 11009122Complaint Washer fluid system leaks Cause Various possible causes: 1. Washer fluid reservoir itself. 2. Seal on washer fluid pump/washer fluid reservoir. 3. Washer fluid pump. 3.1. Distributor housing leaks. 3.2. Pump fitting leaks. 3.3. Washer fluid hose cannot be snapped into place on pump fitting. 3.4. Washer fluid hose will not stay on pump fitting, although connector OK. 4. Washer fluid line. 4.1 Connector will not stay on pump fitting because it is broken. 4.2 Sealing ring in connector missing. 4.3 Sealing ring in connector fitted, but deformed and therefore leaks. 4.4 Damage to washer line by animal. 5. Seal on heating washer fluid reservoir/washer fluid reservoir. Remedy Replace defective component parts only. Do not replace any adjacent component parts that are intact. Note: Repair kits for washer line hoses do exist to allow patches for line damage.
- 11008091Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. It becomes increasingly difficult to understand as the speed rises. Cause A. Seating of the microphones in the headliner. Side edges are covered by the textile cover (see picture "1") B. Assembly of microphones (B25/20 or B25/21) in the headliner. C. Dirt inside the microphone housing Remedy 1. Press finger on rear of microphone (on adhesive tape) 2. Remove microphone cap from the front 3. Eliminate protruding material residues of the microphone cutout at the headliner, e.g. with a soldering iron. The microphone must be seated in the headliner as shown in picture "2". 4. Push microphone from behind until it is firmly pressed into the headliner 5. Maintain pressure and press/clip cap into microphone from the front. Note: The cover cap must be clearly heard and felt to engage. 6. This procedure must be carried out on both microphones (B25/20 and B25/21) Note: It is recommended to replace the cover caps. The non-woven cloth in the cover cap protects the microphone from soiling and must not be removed. NOTE: The information contained in this document is intended for use by trained, professional technicians with the knowledge to properly and safely perform diagnosis and repairs on Mercedes-Benz vehicles, using Mercedes-Benz approved tools and equipment. It informs service technicians about conditions that could occur in certain vehicles and provides information that could assist in proper vehicle diagnosis, service, or repair. It does not indicate that a defect is present in any vehicle referenced in this document nor does it imply warranty coverage. DO NOT assume that a symptom or condition, or a described cause of a symptom or condition, affects any particular vehicle or groups of vehicles, or that a described repair applies to any particular vehicle or groups of vehicles. There can be multiple causes resulting in the same or similar symptoms or conditions described in this document, and trained professional service technicians must use their diagnostic skills to make evaluations on a case-by-case basis. The information contained in this document does not guarantee warranty coverage nor does it extend the vehicles warranty in any way.
- 11007974Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. A leak test must be performed to determine if physical fogging exists or if the headlamp is leaky. Remedy In advance, observe LI82.10-P-078301 "Headlamps or Front Fog Lamps Leaking or Fogged". 1. Prepare headlamp/check for external damage: For headlamps with a closed system 1. Check the headlamps for any external damage and check also for correct seating of the Gore-diaphragm/correct latching of the cover caps. 2. If the headlamp exhibits any external damage, replace the headlamp. For headlamps with an open system 1. Check the headlamps for any external damage and seal off the vent then make sure the cover caps are latched correctly into place. 2. If the headlamp exhibits any external damage, replace the headlamp. Note: A headlamp with external damage is not a warranty or goodwill case. 2. Leak test of headlamp with overpressure: Connect test adapter to pressure tester. (Figure 1) Check test adapter for leak tightness. To do so, connect plug and coupling (picture 2) and apply a maximum overpressure of 30 mbar. The pressure must remain constant. If the pressure does not remain constant, use a new adapter. Seal all the outlet openings using sealing compound and the given diaphragm with the plunger (picture 3). (Picture 4) Make allowance for the different headlamp variants here (there are different outlet openings). Check if the headlamp needs to be removed to gain access to the diagnostic socket on the headlamp housing. Plug the adapter onto the diagnostic socket on the headlamp housing. (Picture 5). Apply a maximum of 30 mbar overpressure to the headlamp housing. Note: If the maximum overpressure of 50 mbar is exceeded the headlamp seal will be damaged. If a pressure drop of less than 10 mbar is measured within 30 seconds, the headlamp is not leaky and the problem is down to natural physical fogging. If a pressure drop of more than 10 mbar is measured within 30 seconds, the headlamp is leaky. Note: The leaky position can be localized with the aid of soap suds. Replace any leaky headlamps. Note: Desiccant packs can be installed for headlamps that are not leaky. See: LI82.10-P-064766 Fogged headlamp, desiccant pack installed - open ventilation system LI82.10-P-078304 Fogged headlamp, desiccant pack installed - closed ventilation system
- 11007753Complaint Headlamp or front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. Headlamps comply with all applicable standards. If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the lamp unit is a "closed system". Remedy Headlamp: Remedy 1 Clearing fogged/condensed LED headlamps and LED rear lamps: 1. Drive vehicle into workshop (temperature higher than +18 C/+64.4 F) and connect the exhaust extraction. Note: Do not perform an engine wash before the defogging test. 2. Switch off the engine and connect battery support via a charger. 3. Open the hood or trunk. 4. Switch on the lights. 5. Leave the vehicle in this state for 60 minutes. 6. Check for formation of condensation, a significant reduction in the formation of condensation must be clearly recognizable (thawing progress). Clearing fogged/condensed halogen/xenon headlamps: 1. Drive the vehicle into the workshop (temperature higher than +18 C/+64.4F). Note: Do not perform an engine wash before the defogging test. 2. Switch off the engine. 3. Open the hood. 4. Switch off the lights. 5. Leave the vehicle in this state for 60 minutes. 6. Check for formation of condensation, a significant reduction in the formation of condensation must be clearly recognizable (thawing progress). Note: If there is no visible reduction in the formation of condensation, check the headlamp for a defect. (See Remedy 2) It is not physically possible to defog the headlamps completely. Fogging does not impair the operation or the service life of the headlamp. Remedy 2 A Damaged headlamp can be identified as follows: 1. Check the headlamp for external damage and that the cover caps and the diaphragm are correctly seated. 2. Check the electrical connectors of the plugs and pins. 3. Check for leak tightness in accordance with LI82.10-P-078307. The test can only be conducted on headlamps. 4. If the headlamp or the rear lamp has any external damage, replace the component part in accordance with the WIS instructions. Note: External damage to the headlamp/rear lamp or faulty seating of the cover caps does not present a warranty or goodwill case. With headlamps, it is possible to install desiccant packs if the problem occurs repeatedly. Open ventilation system: LI82.10-P-064766. Closed ventilation system LI82.10-P-078304
- 11005294Complaint Rear lamps fogged up/not leaktight. Cause Fogging of the rear lamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. This does not lead to any technical impairment of the rear lamps. Remedy Rear lamp: Remedy 1: Clearing fogged/condensed rear lamps: 1. Drive the vehicle into the workshop (temperature higher than +18 C/+64.4 F) Note: Do not wash the vehicle or subject it to high-pressure cleaning before the defogging test. 2. Switch off the engine and connect battery support via a charger. 3. Open the trunk. 4. Switch on the exterior lighting. 5. Leave the vehicle in this state for 60 minutes. 6. Check for formation of condensation -> a significant reduction in the formation of condensation must be clearly recognizable (defogging progress).
- 10167526Highline can only be operated to a limited extent or not at all; the input points (contact points) are shifted horizontally relative to the display; calibration is not possible.
- 10167515PreConditioning of the vehicle via the Vehicle Homepage or the instrument cluster does not function or is restricted.
- 10167514PreConditioning of the vehicle via the Vehicle Homepage or the instrument cluster does not function or is restricted.
- 10167486Range does not meet customer's expectations. Customers usually differentiate as follows: 1. Total of distance driven + indicated range remaining with one HV battery charge too low 2. Actual range until the drive system shuts down too low
- 10167028If the Radio 9 was switched off while driving, it can switch itself back on again the next time the engine is started.
- 10167004Creaking, grating or grunting noise while steering audible in the steering gear area. The noise can be transferred through the steering gear into the interior. The noise occurs, in particular, at high temperatures, e.g. in the summer.
- 10157087Switching noise from climate relay
- 10154012Smart audio system - Radio inoperative - New software available
- 10154008Media system, poor sound quality via AUX IN
- 10153996Vehicle Range ? Voltage difference of cells too great
- 10151978Vehicle does not start
- 10151977Vehicle does not start
- 10151976Vehicle does not start
- 10151975Vehicle does not start
- 10151974Vehicle does not start
- 10151956smart media system: Telephone connection is made, communication is not possible
- 10151928ATA operates without obvious cause
- 10144276Light switch/combination switch, fault code stored
- 10144134Condenser leaking
- 10144079Charging socket/charging cable: Charging cable lock jams (P12E900, P13E800)
- 10144078Vehicle cannot be started (FC: P0A0A00, P0A0E00, P0D9F00, P1D0BFD, C11C187, P0D5800, P0D5900, P0D9900, P0D9A97)
- 10144064ATA triggers without obvious cause
- 10136113Engine diagnosis warning lamp (CEL) is active due to fault codes - P2237 & P2626.
- 10136015Brake pedal/carpet seal does not fit properly
- 10135990Preparation for Performing Maintenance Service or Status Check of High-Voltage Battery
- 10135930Charging complaints - Initial analysis
- 10135925Update Electric Drive. (Updates to Work Procedure and Special Tools)
- 10135882ATA goes off
- 10135709Smart 453 Engine diagnosis warning lamp activated - Fault code P261000
- 10135686Outside door handle does not return to end position
- 10135666Instrument cluster - Fuel gauge does not indicate "Full"
- 10135662smart media system cannot be operated, touchscreen does not react, interference noise during voice control
- 10135626Fault profiles and measures for Highline radio, SA code 527
- 10135595Instrument cluster - Fuel gauge does not indicate "Full"
- 10134791Noise from area of electric steering
Every Smart Fortwo model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.