2011 Smart FORTWO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2011 Smart FORTWO has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: 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 sa. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

5 complaints

22%

• 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 SA
• 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 N
• 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. T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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 SA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

17%

• 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 SA
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

4 complaints

17%

• 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.
• SAFE BELT BUCKLE JAMMED OR CAN'T CLICK
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

• 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 SA
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 23 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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 SA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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 SA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND OTHER CAR. VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE INTO OTHER STOPPED VEHICLE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)