2011 Smart FORTWO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
29,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 16 complaints (31.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 18.8% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 18.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Engine: 5; Electrical System: 4; Seat Belts: 4; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Tires: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10458246 · 2012-05-13 (May 13, 2012)
STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND OTHER CAR. VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE INTO OTHER STOPPED VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475775 · 2012-09-18 (September 18, 2012)
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!…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,928 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10487276 · 2012-12-04 (December 4, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504116 · 2013-03-22 (March 22, 2013)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509372 · 2013-04-24 (April 24, 2013)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10555017 · 2013-12-06 (December 6, 2013)
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 AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10714370 · 2015-05-04 (May 4, 2015)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 36,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10717770 · 2015-05-21 (May 21, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717770 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.