The 2008 draws 5.08 complaints per run and the 2017 1, a 5.1-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 82.7% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 58 complaints, typically at 5.2 years.
Smart Fortwo years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8 | 8 | yes | |
| 2012 | 4 | 4 | yes | |
| 2011 | 15 | 7 | yes | |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | yes | |
| 2009 | 90 | 21 | yes | |
| 2008 | 127 | 25 | yes |
Among the 6 Smart Fortwo years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2008, 2009, 2011; the three worth hunting are 2017, 2012, 2010.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 6.2% | covered | |
| 1 year | 10.7% | covered | |
| 2 years | 17.3% | covered | |
| 3 years | 24.7% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 33.7% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 39.9% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 49.4% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 56.4% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 64.6% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 76.5% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 88.1% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 92.2% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 95.9% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 97.9% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 98.8% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 17.3% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 82.7% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 55% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
What waits further out is Power Train at 5.2 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 5.2 yrs | 3 | 1 | |
| Engine | 8 yrs | — | 22 | |
| Electrical System | 5.5 yrs | — | 10 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 7.2 yrs | 2 | 12 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8.9 yrs | — | 3 | |
| Seat Belts | 4.8 yrs | — | — | |
| Structure | 7 yrs | 1 | 3 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8.3 yrs | 1 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Fortwo's vehicle class. Per production run, the Chevrolet Corvette draws 3.41 and the Dodge Viper 1.2, against 3.69 for the Fortwo. That is the most complaints of the group.
| Same class as the Fortwo | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi R8 | 8 | 2008–2023 | |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 155 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Viper | 45 | 1992–2017 | |
| Mazda MX-5 | 34 | 1990–2026 | |
| Lamborghini Huracan | 25 | 2015–2026 | |
| Ford GT | 12 | 2004–2022 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Smart Fortwo reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.69 against 3.73 for the average car, and more than each of the 2 class rivals we compared.
Which Fortwo years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2008, 2009, 2011. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2017, 2012, 2010. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Fortwo problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 5.2 years, followed by Engine.
Will the warranty cover Fortwo problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 17.3% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 55% of the complaints here.
Is the Fortwo more reliable than the Chevrolet Corvette?
No: 3.69 complaints per production run for the Fortwo against 3.41 for the Chevrolet Corvette.
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