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Smart Fortwo Recalls — All NHTSA Recall Campaigns

7 recall campaigns on record across 5 model years of the Smart Fortwo. Data sourced directly from NHTSA and updated daily.

7
Recall Campaigns
284
Owner Complaints
12
Reported Injuries
1
Reported Deaths
5 affected model years15 crash-involved complaintsMost recalled year: 2008

Affected Model Years

R = recalls · C = complaints. Click a year to see the full problems report.

Recall Breakdown by Component Category

Steering2 campaigns (29%)
Other1 campaign (14%)
Engine1 campaign (14%)
Brakes1 campaign (14%)
Electrical1 campaign (14%)
Visibility/Lighting1 campaign (14%)

Most Common Owner Complaint Areas — Smart Fortwo

ENGINE
46
POWER TRAIN
40
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
33
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
20
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
17
SEAT BELTS
17
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
15
SERVICE BRAKES
13
STRUCTURE:BODY
11
AIR BAGS
6

Based on 284 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years. 1 death and 12 injuries reported.

All Smart Fortwo Recall Campaigns

#08V3900002008 Smart FortwoOther
Issued: Jul 8, 2008

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

SMART USA IS RECALLING 43 MY 2008 FORTWO 451 VEHICLES. A SINGLE BATCH OF PAINT SENT TO THE COMPANY DID NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. A RE-WORK WAS DONE IN THE PLANT USING DIFFERENT FORMULATIONS OF PAINTING MATERIALS. AFTER THE RE-WORK WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COMBINATION OF MATERI

Risk: SUCH DE LAMINATING CAN TAKE PLACE IN THE AREA OF THE BODY WHERE THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF HAVE BEEN AFFIXED WITH ADHESIVE, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE ADHESION OF THOSE COMPONENTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY, INCREA

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAINT THE AFFECTED AREAS TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SMART USA AT 1-248-648-2451.

#18V2730002008 Smart FortwoEngine
Issued: Invalid Date

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2008-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles. The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deteriorate, and loosen over time, allowing the mat to contact hot exhaust system components.

Risk: If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear insulation mat with an improved one, free of charge. The recall began in July 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367

#17V4480002016 Smart FortwoBrakes
Issued: Invalid Date

PARKING BRAKE

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.

Risk: 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 mov

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.

#17V4470002017 Smart FortwoSteering
Issued: Invalid Date

STEERING

Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 smart fortwo and smart fortwo Cabriolet vehicles. Casting imperfections may result in the failure of the left front axle steering knuckle.

Risk: Failure of the left front axle steering knuckle could affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle steering knuckle, replacing any from the affected batch, free of charge. The recall October 13, 2017. Owners may contact smart

#20V1070002019 Smart FortwoElectrical
Issued: Invalid Date

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling one 2019 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive vehicle. A welded joint within the high-voltage battery main cell conductors may detach and interrupt electrical contact, resulting in sudden battery failure. The detached weld may also cause an electrical arc which

Risk: If the high-voltage battery fails, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an electrical arc inside the battery increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace the high-voltage battery, free of charge. The recall began May 8, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's n

#15V1920002014 Smart FortwoSteering
Issued: Invalid Date

STEERING

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Smart Fortwo Coupes and Convertibles, and 2014 Fortwo Coupe Electric and Fortwo Convertible Electric vehicles. The affected vehicles have steering gear mounting bolts which may break during vehicle operation.

Risk: If the steering gear mounting bolts break, vehicle handling could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began on May 8, 2015. Owners may contact Smart customer service at 1-800-762-7887.

#17V1790002016 Smart FortwoVisibility/Lighting
Issued: Invalid Date

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Smart Fortwo vehicles. The horizontal headlight adjustment mechanism on these vehicles may not have been properly sealed off to prevent future adjustment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle

Risk: If the headlight can be adjusted horizontally, the headlight may be adjusted outside of the designed specifications, reducing the driver's visibility and potentially blinding oncoming traffic, increas

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct sealing caps to prevent the headlights from being adjusted horizontally, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2017. Owners may

Recalls by Component

1Engine Recalls

#18V273000MY 2008

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2008-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles. The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deterio

1Brakes Recalls

#17V448000MY 2016

PARKING BRAKE

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

1Electrical Recalls

#20V107000MY 2019

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling one 2019 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive vehicle. A welded joint within the high-voltage battery main cell conductors may detach and inter

2Steering Recalls

#17V447000MY 2017

STEERING

Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 smart fortwo and smart fortwo Cabriolet vehicles. Casting imperfections may result in the failure of the left front axle s

#15V192000MY 2014

STEERING

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Smart Fortwo Coupes and Convertibles, and 2014 Fortwo Coupe Electric and Fortwo Convertible Electric vehicl

Smart Fortwo Recall — Frequently Asked Questions

How many recalls does the Smart Fortwo have?
The Smart Fortwo has 7 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database, spanning model years 2008 through 2019.
Is my Fortwo under recall?
Recall applicability depends on your specific VIN — not just the model year. Some recalls cover only certain production date ranges or trim levels. Enter your 17-digit VIN at VinCheckEngine or NHTSA.gov for an exact answer.
What is the most recalled Fortwo year?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2008 Smart Fortwo has the highest recall campaign count (2 campaigns). However, the total count of campaigns is not the same as the number of defects — some campaigns are issued as expansions of earlier recalls.
Does a Fortwo recall mean my car is unsafe to drive?
Not necessarily. Recalls range from critical safety hazards — where NHTSA advises against driving — to minor inconveniences like a label error. Check the consequence field of each recall to understand the severity. If your specific VIN is subject to an open recall, contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Who pays for recall repairs on a Fortwo?
The manufacturer is legally required to pay for all recall repairs under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer, regardless of whether you are the original owner or whether the vehicle is out of warranty.

Check Your Specific Smart Fortwo for Open Recalls

Model-level recall data tells you what campaigns exist. A VIN-specific check tells you exactly which ones apply to your vehicle — based on production date, serial number, and configuration.

Free VIN Check — Check My Fortwo