2013 Smart Fortwo: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 35 complaints
35
Total Complaints
12,000mi
Median Mileage
SEAT BELTS
Top Issue
0
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

6,500 25th Percentile
12,000 Median Mileage
30,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SEAT BELTS
7
ENGINE
6
POWER TRAIN
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
SEATS
2
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
TIRES
1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
1
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1

Severity Assessment

0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I WAS ON THE ONRAMP TO A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 50 MPH SO THAT I COULD MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WITHOUT SLOWING TRAFFIC DOWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER BEFORE THE VEHICLE LOST IT'S MOMENTUM. LUCKILY I DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH FAST ONCOMING TR..."
"IN COMPLIANCE WITH MY 2013 SMART FORTWO VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL, I WASHED MY VEHICLE IN AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH, LOCATED AT A FUEL STATION. UPON THE START OF THE DRYING CYCLE, THE FRONT "HOOD ASSEMBLY" DETACHED FROM THE CAR AND FLEW BACK, STRIKING MY WINDSHIELD. IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF ONE OF T..."
"IN COMPLIANCE WITH MY 2013 SMART FORTWO VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL, I WASHED MY VEHICLE IN AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH, LOCATED AT A FUEL STATION. UPON THE START OF THE DRYING CYCLE, THE FRONT "HOOD ASSEMBLY" DETACHED FROM THE CAR AND FLEW BACK, STRIKING MY WINDSHIELD. IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF ONE OF T..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28