Is the Smart Fortwo Reliable?

20082019 reliability analysis based on NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints.

88/100
Excellent

Reliability Score

2
Total Recalls
82
Owner Complaints
4
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Own a Smart Fortwo? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Smart Fortwo Reliability by Year

Model YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliability ScoreRating
2019Not enough data
2018Not enough data
201704
96
Excellent
20162191
71
Good
20150101
90
Excellent
2014010
90
Excellent
201309
91
Excellent
201208
92
Excellent
20110162
83
Excellent
201006
94
Excellent

Reliability scores are proprietary to VinCheckEngine and incorporate multiple weighted safety signals.

How the Fortwo Compares to Similar Vehicles

Smart Fortwo88/100
Sedan Category Average72/100

The Fortwo scores 16 points above the average sedan — a strong result.

Known Smart Fortwo Reliability Issues

The following components appear most frequently in owner complaints filed with NHTSA:

ENGINE
15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
10
SEAT BELTS
9
SERVICE BRAKES
7
POWER TRAIN
7
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
6

Based on 82 owner complaints across recent model years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart Fortwo reliable?+

The Smart Fortwo scores 88/100 on our reliability index — rated "Excellent." Across 10 recently analyzed model years, it accumulated 2 recall campaigns and 82 owner complaints in the NHTSA database.

What year Fortwo is most reliable?+

Among the years analyzed, the 2017 Fortwo achieved the highest reliability score of 96/100 with 0 recalls and 4 complaints.

How many miles does a Fortwo last?+

With consistent maintenance, most Smart Fortwo owners report 150,000 to 200,000+ miles of service life. Checking the VIN of any specific used Fortwo will reveal its actual mileage history and any title events.

More Smart Fortwo Research

Check a Specific Smart Fortwo VIN

Model-level reliability scores show general trends. A VIN-specific report reveals the exact history of any individual vehicle — accidents, odometer records, auction events, and open recalls.

Run a Free VIN Report →