Smart Fortwo 2011 problems
The Smart Fortwo (stylized as "smart fortwo") is a two-seater city car built by the Smart division of the Mercedes-Benz Group from 1998 to 2024. In its third generation, the Fortwo has a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and a one-box design.
The first generation was internally designated as the W450, launched at the 1998 Paris Motor Show. The second generation W451-build series was launched at the 2006 Bologna Motor Show. The third generation Fortwo (2014–) was internally designated as the C453 build series, and debuted globally on July 16, 2014, at the Tempodrom in Berlin along with a closely related four-door version, the Smart Forfour, co-developed and sharing the same platform and engines with the third-generation Renault Twingo.
Marketed in 46 countries worldwide, Fortwo production had surpassed 1.7 million units by early 2015. The brand name Smart supposedly derives from its early history as a cooperative venture between Swatch and Mercedes: Swatch Mercedes ART. The Fortwo nameplate derives from its two-person seating capacity. Until 2002, the Fortwo had been marketed as the smart City-Coupé.
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Common Smart Fortwo 2011 problems
The Smart Fortwo, first introduced in 2011, is known for its compact size and fuel efficiency. However, like any vehicle, it is not without its common problems. Here are some of the issues that 2011 Smart Fortwo owners have reported:
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Issues: The Smart Fortwo is equipped with a TPMS to monitor the air pressure in the car's tires. However, some owners have reported issues with the system, such as false alarms or failure to detect low tire pressure.
It's important to note that these issues are not necessarily universal to all 2011 Smart Fortwo vehicles, and many owners have reported having no significant problems with their cars. However, these are some of the common issues that have been reported by owners of this vehicle.
What are the issues with smart ForTwo?
Common Problems
- Electrics (11 cases)
- Suspension, Other (1 case)
- Other (7 cases)
- Electrics, Other (1 case)
- Gearbox / clutch, Suspension (1 case)
- Brakes (2 cases)
- Engine (4 cases)
- Electrics, Engine (2 cases)
How safe is a 2011 Smart car?
In side impacts, the Smart was awarded a perfect five out of five stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Smart its highest rating of "Good" for both frontal- and side-impact protection.
What are the weaknesses of a smart car?
Smart cars are typically only big enough to seat 2 people. This can be a real issue if you have a family of 4. Since they are not really geared towards families, this can be a decided disadvantage to owning one. Never mind the 20 trips you'd have to make to take your daughter's soccer team to practice!
Do smart cars need a lot of maintenance?
Electric Smart Car Service Requirement
Unlike conventional cars, electric cars require less maintenance. Since electric cars eliminate most mechanical components used in traditional vehicles, they don't need tune-ups, fluid flush, engine or transmission servicing, spark plugs, or drive belts replacement.
Smart Fortwo 2011 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Smart Fortwo problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine problems
- Seat belts problems
- Electrical system problems
- Service brakes problems
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Smart Fortwo 2011 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Smart Fortwo 2011 complaints
The NHTSA has received 16 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Smart Fortwo 2011.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-01-02
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA1BK
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: 175 55 r15 Tge tires wires startes to unravelling and chabgibg the ahape of tge tire.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-10-16
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA2BK
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-07-18
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA38K
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS
- Summary: 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.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-07-15
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA5BK
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: SAFE BELT BUCKLE JAMMED OR CAN'T CLICK
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2017-04-22
- Fire: 1
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA3BK
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: 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 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.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-09-01
- Number Of Injuries: 2
- Crash: 1
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA3BK
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: 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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-08-11
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA1BK
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: AFTER ONLY 10.000 MILES THE ENGINE MOUNTS ALL GO BAD!
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-09-07
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA3BK
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: 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!
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-05-20
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA2BK
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: 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.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-04-20
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA5BK
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: 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
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2012-08-15
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA5BK
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: 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 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
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-03-25
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA5BK
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
- Summary: 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.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2012-10-10
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA4BK
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 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. 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2012-11-05
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA9BK
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2012-09-17
- VIN: WMEEJ3BA1BK
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: 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 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
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2012-03-07
- Crash: 1
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND OTHER CAR. VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE INTO OTHER STOPPED VEHICLE. *TR
Negative Smart Fortwo 2011 car reviews
Positive Smart Fortwo 2011 car reviews
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I really like the Smart fortwo! It's a great run-around vehicle that can go just about anywhere with the proper tires. I've had a lot of fun driving it, and even put a 2
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I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your car! It sounds like you're getting great gas mileage, and the low insurance rates are definitely a plus. The smart car is definitely eye-catching, and it's great to hear that the interior is roomy and comfortable. It's always a bit nerve-wracking to try something new, but it sounds like the smart car was a great choice for you. And it's wonderful to hear that you've had a positive experience with the Mercedes-Benz service at the dealer. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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I'm so glad you're interested in this car! It's definitely a great choice. At first, the shifting might feel a little strange, but after a couple of days, you'll get in sync with the car. It's nimble and quick, and performs great at highway speeds.
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I recently switched from owning a mini-van for 18 years to a Smart car, and I couldn't be happier! At first, I was a bit nervous about downsizing, but after driving it for just two days, I fell in love with it. I find myself looking for any excuse to go out and drive it. I even managed to fit everything from my first trip to Costco, despite still having two 17-year-olds at home. I love all the attention I get while driving it and am even trying to convince my husband to get one for his commute to work!
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Love, love, love your car! You must be thrilled with the 38 mpg average on your 30 mile round-trip commute, and the 47 mpg on the highway is impressive. It's great to hear that you feel safe driving at high speeds. The upgraded stereo sounds like a fantastic addition, and it's wonderful to hear that you drive to work with a smile on your face every day.
Additional sources
More sources of information about Smart Fortwo 2011 problems:
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Oct 5, 2015 ... The W451 had a refresh in 2011 that contained the transmission updates noted by jimvw57 (2013 actually saw a new design for the panoramic roof ...
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Apr 9, 2020 ... What to look for when shopping used smart fortwo 451s in North America. This is the 2008-2015 model in Canada and the United States.
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2011 Smart Fortwo is seriously not shifting right! What the CAR ...
May 22, 2022 ... ... Smart transmission NEVER shifts “well,” even when working properly. 14:28 · Go to channel · A small car with a not so small problem. CAR WIZARD ...
Other years of Smart Fortwo
Are you having problems with your Smart Fortwo 2011?
Nigel Buckridge 2024-09-05
The 2008 and 2009 smart cars have had issues with the paint peeling off within a few years, despite being well taken care of. As a senior who saved for three years to purchase my car, I am disappointed to see the paint peeling off like crazy. I have taken impeccable care of my car, garage kept, washed with water only, and with no accidents. I brought this to the attention of Mercedes and the smart headquarters to apply for their 'goodwill out of warranty process', but unfortunately, I was denied twice. Despite their approved place recommending to replace the panels or paint the car, they have refused to do so. It is disheartening to see the clear coat peeling off the whole car, and it is not something that should happen to a car that was well taken care of. I have contacted Mercedes and smart, but they have not taken any ethical or moral responsibility to fix the deficient paint job that was initially put on the car. I have posted two signs on my smart car to warn others about the paint issue. It is important to be cautious when buying these cars, as it will cost $2800 to fix my car. As a senior on social security, I cannot afford this, nor can I sell the car the way it looks. I hope that smart/Mercedes will take responsibility and make it right for their customers. Thank you for your attention to this matter.Mercedes failed to back their car up and the transmission failed on me for the 3rd time. As of 2019, I have gotten rid of the car. Although I initially loved the car, it became unreliable and I grew to hate it. The convertible top started to be temperamental in putting it up and down. I just left it shut as I was afraid I would not be able to get it back up, kept getting caught up com where. I auctioned it with proceeds going to Wheels for Wishes. I am confident that I made the right decision and would not deal with Mercedes again.
Mustafa Dibbert 2024-05-15
This car may struggle with hills and mountains, so it may not be the best choice for those living in such areas.
Monserrat Kassulke 2024-04-14
I was in the market for a commuter car and decided to review the 2011 Smart for Two Passion for its costs and performance stats. After test driving it, I bought a new one for $15460. The car was comfortable, gave good service, and ran fine for eight years. However, during the mandatory CA smog test in May 2019, it failed indicating a miss in one of the three cylinders. I took it to a local Mercedes repair shop (not an authorized dealer) because the nearest authorized dealer is 60 miles away and required a lot of coordination to get there and back. The local repair shop tested all cylinders and found #2 to be very weak and recommended replacing the complete engine at a significantly high cost. I then talked with the service rep at the authorized Smart for Two dealer in Santa Barbara, CA to discuss problems and costs to repair. They informed me that they are no longer in the Smart Car business and basically suggested I donate the car to charity. Next, I called Daimler Vehicle Innovations (Smart) and pleaded for help. Unfortunately, the result was that although I was under 50000 miles, the 4-year warranty had expired. Now I have a vehicle that is running on two and a quarter cylinders, definitely shows signs of cylinder misfire and needs costly repair. The purchase price, maintenance, and repairs over eight years cost me about $3200 a year. It wasn't the best purchase, unfortunately. UPDATE 11/15/2019: The final costs for repair would have been over $11,000. I sold it to
Arely Romaguera 2024-01-10
The car has a jeep-like feel, which some may find hard and stiff, and it may be slow to accelerate. The brake pedal may also be uncomfortable. However, it is a great option for those who face parking issues on their daily commute. In fact, it has allowed me to compete with motorcycles. Although, in other aspects, it may be disappointing, such as the slow transmission and insufficient air conditioning. If I didn't have to worry about parking, I may not have chosen this car. But given my circumstances, I would buy it again.