FORCAR
Go Pro

Smart Fortwo VIN Check

NHTSA holds 251 owner complaints on the Smart Fortwo from 68 production runs; the worst run has 15, the typical one 3.7.

NHTSA complaint records · 251 complaints · 68 runs · 2008–2019 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Fortwo run is WMEEJ31X98K (2008 builds) with 15 complaints, 4.1× the typical run. Power train problems make up 22% of reports; 2008 is the worst model year at 5.1 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for Fortwo model years 2008–2019.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Smart Fortwo has 68 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 23% of every Fortwo complaint on file.

FIG.01·Smart Fortwo — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
WMEEJ31X98K••••••20081532
WMEEJ31X68K••••••200814—5
WMEEJ31X18K••••••200810—4
WMEEJ31X09K••••••200910—1
WMEEJ31X28K••••••20089—1
WMEEJ31XX8K••••••20089—2
WMEEJ31X78K••••••20088—1
WMEEJ31X99K••••••20098—1
WMEEJ31X79K••••••20098—2
WMEEJ31X88K••••••2008714
WMEEJ31X48K••••••20086—1
WMEEJ31X38K••••••20086—1
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 56 Fortwo runs has 6 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 23 Fortwo VINs so far, most often 2016, 2008, 2015 builds; 1 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Smart Fortwo the gap between build years is 5.1×: a 2008 car draws 5.1 complaints per run, a 2010 one 1.

FIG.02·Smart Fortwo — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
2017188—
2012144—
20112.11571
2010166—
20094.390213
20085.1127257
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2008 at 5.1 complaints per run; lightest is 2010 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 22% of everything Smart Fortwo owners report: Power Train, 58 of 251 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Smart Fortwo — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Power Train5831
Engine58—22
Electrical System41—10
Unknown Or Other30212
Engine And Engine Cooling21—3
Seat Belts21——
Structure1913
Fuel/propulsion System161—
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 5 recall campaigns on the Smart Fortwo; the 5 below cover build years 2008 to 2019. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Smart Fortwo — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
18V273000Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System2008–2009
20V107000Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery2019
17V447000Steering2017
17V448000Parking Brake2016
08V390000Structure:frame And Members2008
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

18V273000 was opened in 2018 on cars built from 2008: 10 years on the road before the recall.

How serious were they

Of the 251 reports on the Smart Fortwo, 4.4% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Smart Fortwo — complaint severity
OutcomeSmart FortwoAll vehicles
Complaints filed2511,115,966
Involved a crash11 (4.4%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire38 (15.1%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported1358,013
Deaths reported12,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Upgrade to Pro

You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.

  • Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
  • The original window sticker and factory options
  • Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
  • Decode a whole list of VINs at once
  • No ads, no tracking — and much more
See plans → Start free →
Free plan available — no credit card needed

How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Smart Fortwo share of that is 251 complaints over 68 runs, 0.02% of everything on record.

Everything on the Smart Fortwo
Recalls17 campaignsFuel economy108 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems280 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsUsed prices248 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2008–2026

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Smart Fortwo VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 251 NHTSA complaints from 68 Fortwo runs and 5 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Fortwo production run has the most complaints?

WMEEJ31X98K, a 2008 build, with 15 complaints, 3 of them after a crash. The typical Fortwo run has 3.7.

Which Fortwo years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2008 is heaviest at 5.1 complaints per run and 2010 lightest at 1.

How many Fortwo complaints involve a crash?

4.4% of 251 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 38 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →