NHTSA lists 21 complaints for the 2016 Smart Fortwo, 5 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 4 complaints mention an injury, with 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-08.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as SMART FORTWO.
At a glance
Complaints
21
With crash
5
With fire
2
With injury (complaints)
4
Injuries
7
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
5,061
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
59
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE
8
38.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
7
33.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
23.8%
SERVICE BRAKES
4
19.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
14.3%
STEERING
2
9.5%
STRUCTURE
2
9.5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
4.8%
EQUIPMENT
1
4.8%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1
4.8%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
STRUCTURE
BODY
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
EQUIPMENT
APPLIANCE
1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
WARNINGS
1
VISIBILITY
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
1
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.
Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 smart fortwo vehicles. In these vehicles, the lock nut that secures the parking brake cable to the parking brake lever may loosen over time, resulting in increased parking brake lever travel before the parking brake engages.
Consequence: As the parking brake lever travel increases, the holding force may decrease to a point where the vehicle is no longer safely secured in all parking situations, allowing the vehicle to unexpectedly move when parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake cable lock nut, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2017. Owners may contact smart customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
1 investigations; 0 open.
DP22005
Opened: 2023-01-27. Closed: 2023-08-07.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele
Date: 2026-09-22. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.
Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibra
11036101
Date: 2026-08-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.
Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. a ? If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary
11035005
Date: 2026-07-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
11032875
Date: 2026-05-19. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY/WIPER.
Complaint There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: A: Wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering B: The windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) C: During the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the A-pillar
11031580
Date: 2026-04-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
11019018
Date: 2025-05-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out
11017496
Date: 2025-04-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. Remedy NOTE: If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover
11017500
Date: 2025-04-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. A leak test must be performed to determine i
11015640
Date: 2025-03-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. It becomes increasingly difficult to understand as the speed rises. Cause A. Seating of the microphones in the h
11009122
Date: 2024-10-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY/WIPER.
Complaint Washer fluid system leaks Cause Various possible causes: 1. Washer fluid reservoir itself. 2. Seal on washer fluid pump/washer fluid reservoir. 3. Washer fluid pump. 3.1. Distributor housing leaks. 3.2. Pump fitting leaks. 3.3. Washer fluid hose cannot be snapped into place on pump fitting
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.