Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2015 Smart Fortwo with NHTSA between 2017 and 2025.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 10
Against the median year of the Smart Fortwo. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
40% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
75% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2015 Smart Fortwo
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Other & Unspecified
220.0%
Median failure at 13,162 miles
Engine & Cooling
220.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 12,000 mi
Stability & Traction Control
110.0%
Median failure at 12,000 miles
Seat Belts
110.0%
Median failure at 65,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
110.0%
Median failure at 10,000 miles
Suspension
110.0%
Median failure at 10,000 miles
Airbags
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 53,000 mi
Electrical System
110.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jul 2017peak 3Mar 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2015 Smart Fortwo
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP22005Opened 27 Jan 2023Closed 7 Aug 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 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 Marc...
Recalls on the 2015 Smart Fortwo
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20171435 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. Vehicles may have been assembled with headlamps that allow for horizontal adjustment, which is contrary to the requirements of the standard. This could reduce vehicle visibility, or could adversely affect the vision of oncoming drivers during low light and night time conditions, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will install sealing caps on the headlamps to seal the adjustment screws.
Recall 20151351,278 units in Canada
Steering
On certain vehicles, bolts which connect the steering gear to the front cross member may break, which could affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash resulting in injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace defective bolts.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Baytown, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Sunday 3/23 I was driving west on 225 heading towards work, all of a sudden the check engine light comes on and all kinds of other lights on the dash came on. I got pulled over and looked in the rear view mirror I seen flames. Quickly grabbed my stuff and got out of the car. The investigation at the time stated most of the heat was coming from the engine
NHTSA complaint #11650674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baytown, TXFire
ENGINE
Sunday 3/23 I was driving west on 225 heading towards work, all of a sudden the check engine light comes on and all kinds of other lights on the dash came on. I got pulled over and looked in the rear view mirror I seen flames. Quickly grabbed my stuff and got out of the car. The investigation at the time stated most of the heat was coming from the engine
NHTSA complaint #11650674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesPlymouth, MACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A SAFE DISTANCE BEHIND A LINCOLN NAVIGATOR WHEN THEY FOR NO REASON SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND STOPPED. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE NAVIGATOR. THE REAR OF THE CAR WENT UP INTO THE AIR CAME DOWN AND SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. MY WIFE WAS INJURED. SHE SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB CUTS AND SCRAPES AND CHEST PAINS. NO AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN THE CAR AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #11364499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Baytown, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Sunday 3/23 I was driving west on 225 heading towards work, all of a sudden the check engine light comes on and all kinds of other lights on the dash came on. I got pulled over and looked in the rear view mirror I seen flames. Quickly grabbed my stuff and got out of the car. The investigation at the time stated most of the heat was coming from the engine
NHTSA complaint #11650674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baytown, TXFire
ENGINE
Sunday 3/23 I was driving west on 225 heading towards work, all of a sudden the check engine light comes on and all kinds of other lights on the dash came on. I got pulled over and looked in the rear view mirror I seen flames. Quickly grabbed my stuff and got out of the car. The investigation at the time stated most of the heat was coming from the engine
NHTSA complaint #11650674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesLeicester, NC
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2015 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated while buckling the seat belt, he became aware that a metal cable through the eyelet bolted to the frame by the door jamb on the driver's side had started to fray. The contact stated that the vehicle was not driven frequently and felt that there could not be a wear and tear issue. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #11532331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesLindenhurst, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR HAS MAJOR DELAYS MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL - YOU CAN BE TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AT TIMES AND THERE'S A MAJOR DELAY TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL - THIS DELAY IN GETTING THE CAR MOVING COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CRASH. MOTOR MOUNTS WEAR OUT UNDER 50,000 MILES SEEMS TOO SOON WHEN COMPARED TO MOST OTHER VEHICLES - SUSPENSION (SHOCKS) COME SUPER HARD FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #11413227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesLindenhurst, NY
SUSPENSION
CAR HAS MAJOR DELAYS MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL - YOU CAN BE TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AT TIMES AND THERE'S A MAJOR DELAY TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL - THIS DELAY IN GETTING THE CAR MOVING COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CRASH. MOTOR MOUNTS WEAR OUT UNDER 50,000 MILES SEEMS TOO SOON WHEN COMPARED TO MOST OTHER VEHICLES - SUSPENSION (SHOCKS) COME SUPER HARD FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #11413227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesLindenhurst, NY
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR HAS MAJOR DELAYS MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL - YOU CAN BE TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AT TIMES AND THERE'S A MAJOR DELAY TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL - THIS DELAY IN GETTING THE CAR MOVING COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CRASH. MOTOR MOUNTS WEAR OUT UNDER 50,000 MILES SEEMS TOO SOON WHEN COMPARED TO MOST OTHER VEHICLES - SUSPENSION (SHOCKS) COME SUPER HARD FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #11413227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesPlymouth, MACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A SAFE DISTANCE BEHIND A LINCOLN NAVIGATOR WHEN THEY FOR NO REASON SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND STOPPED. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE NAVIGATOR. THE REAR OF THE CAR WENT UP INTO THE AIR CAME DOWN AND SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. MY WIFE WAS INJURED. SHE SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB CUTS AND SCRAPES AND CHEST PAINS. NO AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN THE CAR AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #11364499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesUpper Sandusky, OH
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH OLMSTED (28450 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070, (440) 716-2700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR CAUSED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO SEIZE. ALSO, THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
NHTSA complaint #11166341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesUpper Sandusky, OH
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH OLMSTED (28450 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070, (440) 716-2700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR CAUSED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO SEIZE. ALSO, THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
NHTSA complaint #11166341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,325 milesTexarkana, AR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED-WAS NOT OUT OF GAS- TOOK A WHILE AND STARTED BUT SHOOK VIOLANTLY AND DIDN'T STAY STARTED- WAITED A WHILE LONGER AND IT STARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME.
NHTSA complaint #11010314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.