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Vehicle safety record

2011 Smart Fortwo Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 16 complaints about the 2011 Smart Fortwo with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (5) and the seats & seat belts (4). Those complaints describe 2 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 2010 has 6 and the 2012 has 8.

NHTSA data checked

DMore problems than a typical Fortwo year, for its age

#185 most complained-about 2011 vehicle

Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Deaths
0

Most common 2011 Smart Fortwo problems

Share of all 16 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

No recalls for the 2011 Smart Fortwo

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Smart Fortwo. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.

What owners say

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16 complaints about the 2011 Smart Fortwo

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.

Wheels & tires

175 55 r15 Tge tires wires startes to unravelling and chabgibg the ahape of tge tire.

Filed Incident TiresNHTSA 11500754
Seats & seat belts

The driver side seat belt latch has failed for the second time in 2 years. The male end can not be inserted into the female end.

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 11143407
Electrical systemSeats & seat belts

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.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Seat beltsNHTSA 11115029
Seats & seat belts

SAFE BELT BUCKLE JAMMED OR CAN'T CLICK

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 11020473
Engine & coolingFire

I was driving eastbound in the number 1 lane of california highway 24 about 1/4 mile before the tunnel road exit. I heard a noise coming from the engine are of the car, looked at the instrument cluster and noticed that the engine light had illuminated, and experience a sudden loss of power. I pulled off of the highway at the tunnel road exit and stalled on the off ramp. I attempted to restart the engine twice by turning the key. I saw smoke in my rearview mirror, exited the vehicle, and saw flames coming from...

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underneath the vehicle. I called 911 and gave the dispatch operator my location. By the time the highway patrol and local fire department arrived, my car was totaled. The attached photos tell the story of the damage.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10981144
Fuel systemCrash2 injuries

The car broke down on exit 231 b in virginia. The smart had a gas tank defect. I was nearly killed. I have taken the car to tysinger motors in virginia multiple times.

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10914887
Other & unknown

AFTER ONLY 10.000 MILES THE ENGINE MOUNTS ALL GO BAD!

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 10910436
Body, doors & structure

The panoramic roof is crazing! It's unsafe to drive the car because the glass can shattered on top of my head at any giving moment! When it's raining or washing the car at the carwash the roof is also leaking. This is a very common problem with the smart car passion model! A lot of complaints about it!

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10906862
Seats & seat belts

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.

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 10717770
Engine & cooling

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

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10714370
Engine & cooling

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...

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cylinder 3 was not seated properly and misfiring. I would need a cylinder head replaced costing about $7000. At this point warranty expired. After the check was performed the car was in worst condition and could not be driven. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10555017
BrakesEngine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10509372
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

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. ...

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But my complaint is that this is the 5 time my car has not left the dealer for 4 and half month with different test each month is fix and when I go out and run it by the end of the block I have to return to the dealer and leave it. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 10504116
Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

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

Filed Incident Electrical system · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 10487276
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

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...

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I told them I had the records!) How can a transmission fail within 24,000 miles! I am very upset I ever bought a smart car from these people. Who would allow this type of "quality" out there. This is the worst car I've ever owned! And I will be happy to tell everyone about all the issues I've had with this piece of garbage. I have a dodge ram that's 8 years old and has never had a problem! Bad smart car people! *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10475775
Acceleration & cruise controlBrakesCrash

Stopped at a red light behind other car. Vehicle rolled forward while foot was on brake into other stopped vehicle. *Tr

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Service brakesNHTSA 10458246

Smart Fortwo: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20128020AirbagsC
201116021Engine & coolingD
20106001Engine & coolingB
20091001311Engine & coolingF
20081402727Engine & coolingF
All Fortwo years

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Questions about the 2011 Smart Fortwo

Does the 2011 Smart Fortwo have any recalls?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Smart Fortwo right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Smart Fortwo?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (5), seats & seat belts (4), electrical system (4).

How many complaints has the 2011 Smart Fortwo had?

16 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on May 13, 2012 and the latest on January 9, 2023. Of these, 2 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2011 Smart Fortwo a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 30 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Smart Fortwo year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Smart Fortwo years have the most complaints?
What should I do if my 2011 Smart Fortwo has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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