Smart Fortwo Recalls (2014-2019)
The Smart Fortwo has been the subject of 5 recall campaigns on record with NHTSA across the 2014 to 2019 model years. They cluster mostly around the steering, electrical system, and parking brake.
The Smart Fortwo scores 91 out of 100 (grade A), one of the cleaner recall records among the vehicles we track. That score reflects how serious the recalls are rather than how many. 60% involve a critical safety system, none carried a do-not-drive warning, and 0% were issued in the last three years. How the score works.
Those 5 campaigns span 5 model years of the Smart Fortwo. The single largest affected 5,061 vehicles, over parking brake. A recall repair is free at a franchised dealer and most never expire, so an older open recall is still worth fixing. Beyond recalls, you can also see the most common Fortwo problems owners report and its crash-test safety ratings.
The full record is below, grouped first by model year and then listed in detail. Each entry gives the defect NHTSA describes, the safety risk it creates, the manufacturer's remedy, the number of vehicles in that campaign, and the dates. A recall covers a whole production run, so a campaign listed for the Smart Fortwo may not apply to your exact vehicle, and one you have already had repaired will still appear in the history. To see what is actually open and unfixed on a specific car, check its 17-digit VIN.
Smart Fortwo recalls by model year
Recall activity by model year. Select a year to jump to its recalls below. Older years often carry more recalls simply because defects surface over time.
Smart Fortwo recalls by affected system
Which vehicle systems the recalls touch, using NHTSA's component groups. Select a system to see how it is recalled across every make and model.
Recalls by model year
2019 Smart Fortwo Recalls
1 recall affects the 2019 Smart Fortwo, involving the electrical system.
2016 Smart Fortwo Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2016 Smart Fortwo, involving the parking brake and exterior lighting.
Every Smart Fortwo recall in detail
Electrical System
- Affected years
- 2019 Smart Fortwo
- Vehicles in this recall
- 1
- Reported
- Feb 24, 2020
- Owners notified
- May 8, 2020
Defect: 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 can ignite inside the battery cells.
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 number for this recall is 2020030009.
NHTSA campaign number 20V107000.
Parking Brake
- Affected years
- 2016 Smart Fortwo
- Vehicles in this recall
- 5,061
- Reported
- Jul 16, 2017
- Owners notified
- Sep 20, 2017
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.
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 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.
NHTSA campaign number 17V448000.
Steering
- Affected years
- 2017 Smart Fortwo
- Vehicles in this recall
- 110
- Reported
- Jul 14, 2017
- Owners notified
- Oct 13, 2017
Defect: 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 customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
NHTSA campaign number 17V447000.
Exterior Lighting
- Affected years
- 2016 Smart Fortwo
- Vehicles in this recall
- 2,213
- Reported
- Mar 16, 2017
- Owners notified
- Sep 8, 2017
Defect: 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 Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
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, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign number 17V179000.
Steering
- Affected years
- 2014-2015 Smart Fortwo
- Vehicles in this recall
- 5,058
- Reported
- Mar 31, 2015
- Owners notified
- May 8, 2015
Defect: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 15V192000.
Common questions about Smart Fortwo recalls
- Does the Smart Fortwo have any recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA has 5 recall campaigns on record for the Smart Fortwo across the 2014 to 2019 model years. The most common areas are the steering, electrical system, and parking brake.
- How many times has the Smart Fortwo been recalled?
- The Smart Fortwo has 5 recall campaigns from the 2014 to 2019 model years. A single campaign often covers several model years at once, so the number of recalls is not the same as the number of years affected.
- What is the most serious Smart Fortwo recall?
- The most serious recall on record involves the parking brake, affecting 5,061 vehicles. 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.
- Which Smart Fortwo model year has the most recalls?
- The 2016 Smart Fortwo has the most, with 2 recall campaigns on record. Older model years often pick up more recalls over time, since defects can surface years after a car is built.
- How do I check if my Smart Fortwo has an open recall?
- Enter your 17-digit VIN on the recall check page. It returns the recalls tied to your exact vehicle straight from NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer, with no expiration on most safety recalls.
Recall data comes from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. For how it is sourced and how the safety score is built, see the methodology and data sources. This page is a reference, not legal or safety advice.