2014 Smart FORTWO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2014 Smart FORTWO has 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: while driving at a steady speed of 40mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power. you could hear that the cylinders and pistons stopped working. the vehicle had 2 gallons of gas. we put in 2 more gallons at the adjacent gas station and limped home at 30mph. the dealership picked up the vehicle at our h. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

4 complaints

29%

• WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 40MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. YOU COULD HEAR THAT THE CYLINDERS AND PISTONS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAD 2 GALLONS OF GAS. WE PUT IN 2 MORE GALLONS AT THE ADJACENT GAS STATION AND LIMPED HOME AT 30MPH. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AT OUR H
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY WOULD MOVE FROM THE RUN POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE EXTREMELY CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. THE CONTACT STATED MENTIONED
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EURO MOTORCARS GERMANTOWN (LOCATED AT 19750 GERMANTOWN RD, GERMANTOWN, MD 20874, (301) 601-5500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED

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

“WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 40MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. YOU COULD HEAR THAT THE CYLINDERS AND PISTONS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAD 2 GALLONS OF GAS. WE PUT IN 2 MORE GALLONS AT THE ADJACENT GAS STATION AND LIMPED HOME AT 30MPH. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AT OUR H”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

4 complaints

29%

• MY SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP RIDES ON MY NECK.
• THE SHOULDER PORTION OF MY SEAT BELT RIDES ON MY NECK. WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM? REF COMPLAINT #10722112 28MAY15.
• Driver’s seatbelt broke at the tensioner as if the cable had been cut with wire cutters. My vehicle has not been involved in a wreck. Under normal driving conditions. Safety issue is if it broke this easily what would’ve happened if I had been involved in an accident? Of course I took the vehicle

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

“MY SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP RIDES ON MY NECK.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

1 complaints

• LOCAL STREET. RAN OVER A ~4 INCH BOLT IN ROADWAY. PUNCTURED TIRE, BUT THEN THE BOLT KNOCKED 4 HOLES IN THE WHEEL (RIM). I DO NOT CONSIDER A BOLT IN THE ROADWAY TO BE AN UNUSUAL HAZARD. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE WHEEL - TIRE COMBINATION IS SUITABLE FOR USE ON PUBLIC ROADS. I BELIEVE THAT THE WHEEL -

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

“LOCAL STREET. RAN OVER A ~4 INCH BOLT IN ROADWAY. PUNCTURED TIRE, BUT THEN THE BOLT KNOCKED 4 HOLES IN THE WHEEL (RIM). I DO NOT CONSIDER A BOLT IN THE ROADWAY TO BE AN UNUSUAL HAZARD. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE WHEEL - TIRE COMBINATION IS SUITABLE FOR USE ON PUBLIC ROADS. I BELIEVE THAT THE WHEEL - ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

1 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICL

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

1 complaints

• LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CONDENSER FAN AND LOSE BOLTS/SCREWS WHICH HOLD IT IN PLACE. MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED SAID WILL COST $1,700-$1,800 TO FIX! INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALED TO ME THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT/PROBLEM. I PAID ALMOST $7,000 FOR MY SM

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

“LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CONDENSER FAN AND LOSE BOLTS/SCREWS WHICH HOLD IT IN PLACE. MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED SAID WILL COST $1,700-$1,800 TO FIX! INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALED TO ME THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT/PROBLEM. I PAID ALMOST $7,000 FOR MY SM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~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 14 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 40MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. YOU COULD HEAR THAT THE CYLINDERS AND PISTONS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAD 2 GALLONS OF GAS. WE PUT IN 2 MORE GALLONS AT THE ADJACENT GAS STATION AND LIMPED HOME AT 30MPH. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AT OUR H
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: MY SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP RIDES ON MY NECK.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: LOCAL STREET. RAN OVER A ~4 INCH BOLT IN ROADWAY. PUNCTURED TIRE, BUT THEN THE BOLT KNOCKED 4 HOLES IN THE WHEEL (RIM). I DO NOT CONSIDER A BOLT IN THE ROADWAY TO BE AN UNUSUAL HAZARD. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE WHEEL - TIRE COMBINATION IS SUITABLE FOR USE ON PUBLIC ROADS. I BELIEVE THAT THE WHEEL -
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)