2011 SMART Fortwo Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

SEAT BELTS

3 complaints

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.

Oct 27, 2018

SAFE BELT BUCKLE JAMMED OR CAN'T CLICK

Aug 29, 2017

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.

May 21, 2015

ENGINE

3 complaints

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.

Apr 27, 2017

Fire: 1

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

May 04, 2015

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

Dec 06, 2013

TIRES

1 complaint

175 55 r15 Tge tires wires startes to unravelling and chabgibg the ahape of tge tire.

Jan 09, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS

1 complaint

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.

Jul 31, 2018

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

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.

Oct 08, 2016

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

AFTER ONLY 10.000 MILES THE ENGINE MOUNTS ALL GO BAD!

Sep 28, 2016

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

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!

Sep 15, 2016

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

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.

Apr 24, 2013

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

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

Mar 22, 2013

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

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

Dec 04, 2012

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

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

Sep 18, 2012

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND OTHER CAR. VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE INTO OTHER STOPPED VEHICLE. *TR

May 13, 2012

Crash: 1

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4.5/5.0

32 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2011 SMART Fortwo have?

The 2011 SMART Fortwo currently has 16 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2011 SMART Fortwo?

The most common problems reported for the 2011 SMART Fortwo are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2011 SMART Fortwo problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2011 SMART Fortwo comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.