2016 Smart FORTWO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Smart FORTWO has 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: on steep uphills and when you have come to a stop because of a red light or a stop sign, the engine seems to be too weak to push the transmission forward and actually the car my roll back and brakes go in a lock mode which creates a big safety issue.. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 9 crash reports 17 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

9 complaints

23%

• ON STEEP UPHILLS AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE TOO WEAK TO PUSH THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD AND ACTUALLY THE CAR MY ROLL BACK AND BRAKES GO IN A LOCK MODE WHICH CREATES A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SMART FORTWO. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.
• TYSINGER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON 08/30/2018. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANG AND THEN THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 45 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD G

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

“ON STEEP UPHILLS AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE TOO WEAK TO PUSH THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD AND ACTUALLY THE CAR MY ROLL BACK AND BRAKES GO IN A LOCK MODE WHICH CREATES A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

7 complaints

18%

• MY NEW CAR AND MANY OTHERS HAVE GAS GAUGES THAT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AT ALL! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN YOUR TANK AT ALL. HTTP://WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM/FORUMS/F208/2016-GAS-GAUGE-ISSUE-107826/
• I NOTICED THAT MY GAS GAUGE WAS GIVING ME INCORRECT READINGS. THE GAS TANK ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL HOLDS 8+ GALLONS OF GAS. WHEN I GET A LOW FUEL WARNING IF I "FILL UP" THE TANK IT ONLY TAKES BETWEEN 5 AND 6 GALLONS. THE GAS GAUGE SHOWS FULL AND THEN WITHIN HOURS ALL OF A SUDDEN IT READS THER
• THE FUEL GAUGE AND MPG INDICATORS ARE BOTH FAULTY. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK, AND THE MPG DIGITAL INDICATOR IS HARDLY EVER TRUE. ESPECIALLY THAT THE CAR'S ACTUAL CITY MPG IS WAY OFF FROM THE WHAT IS SHOWN ON THE STICKER.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“MY NEW CAR AND MANY OTHERS HAVE GAS GAUGES THAT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AT ALL! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN YOUR TANK AT ALL. HTTP://WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM/FORUMS/F208/2016-GAS-GAUGE-ISSUE-107826/”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

13%

• TYSINGER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON 08/30/2018. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANG AND THEN THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 45 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD G
• 2016 SMART CAR PASSION KEY STUCK IN SWITCH. STATIONARY IN PARK GEAR. POOR DESIGN OF SHIFTER, IF THAT EASILY DISABLED. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH IMPROVED DESIGN SHIFTER. IF THAT SENSITIVE WHY DO THEY PUT 2 CUP HOLDERS NEAR THE SHIFTER? SIMPLE RUBBER SEAL WOULD FIX IT! THE SERVICE MECHANIC
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR A MONTH. AFTER A MONTH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO 500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103

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

“TYSINGER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON 08/30/2018. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANG AND THEN THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 45 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD G”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

4 complaints

10%

• ON STEEP UPHILLS AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE TOO WEAK TO PUSH THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD AND ACTUALLY THE CAR MY ROLL BACK AND BRAKES GO IN A LOCK MODE WHICH CREATES A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.
• THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING BAD. THEY HAVE BEEN SLIPPING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2016. THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING AND HAS LEAKED INTO THE CAB OF THE CAR. THE GAS TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND UNCERTAIN IF WHETHER HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR THE BRAKE PEDAL; THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING AT A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

10%

• GAS TANK 5 GALLONS NOT 8 AS LISTED IN THE BOOK. TANKS FILLS UP PREMIUM GAS FOR $10. GAS PUMP SAID IT PUT OUT 5 GALLONS ONLY INTO THE TANK. THAT FILLED UP THE WHOLE. NOW I'M NAIVE TO FILL UP SOON I REACH ANOTHER 100 MILES. THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK. YOU SOLD ME THE WRONG VEHICLE. INSTEAD OF HELPING M
• TL* THE CONTACT WAS LEASING A 2016 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION AND HOT AIR BLEW FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.
• MY 2016 SMART CAR AT ONLY 51000 MILES HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASH. MY CAR WENT FROM 65 MILES A HOUR, THEN WARNING LIGHT SAID TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CAR WAS UNABLE TO EXCEL RATE OR BREAK, THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME. MERCEDE

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

“GAS TANK 5 GALLONS NOT 8 AS LISTED IN THE BOOK. TANKS FILLS UP PREMIUM GAS FOR $10. GAS PUMP SAID IT PUT OUT 5 GALLONS ONLY INTO THE TANK. THAT FILLED UP THE WHOLE. NOW I'M NAIVE TO FILL UP SOON I REACH ANOTHER 100 MILES. THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK. YOU SOLD ME THE WRONG VEHICLE. INSTEAD OF HELPING M”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 39 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ON STEEP UPHILLS AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE TOO WEAK TO PUSH THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD AND ACTUALLY THE CAR MY ROLL BACK AND BRAKES GO IN A LOCK MODE WHICH CREATES A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: MY NEW CAR AND MANY OTHERS HAVE GAS GAUGES THAT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AT ALL! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN YOUR TANK AT ALL. HTTP://WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM/FORUMS/F208/2016-GAS-GAUGE-ISSUE-107826/
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TYSINGER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON 08/30/2018. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANG AND THEN THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 45 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD G
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: ON STEEP UPHILLS AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE TOO WEAK TO PUSH THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD AND ACTUALLY THE CAR MY ROLL BACK AND BRAKES GO IN A LOCK MODE WHICH CREATES A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)