Most common 2011 Smart fortwo problems
Share of the 16 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Smart fortwo complaints by model year
Best fortwo years: 2010, 2012, 2015. Years to avoid: 2008, 2009, 2013, 2016. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2011 Smart fortwo:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2011 Smart fortwo owners say
Engine & cooling
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.
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.
Electrical system
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.
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. …
Seat belts
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.
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.
2011 Smart fortwo engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | RWD | 94 / 79 / 87 MPGe | 63 mi |
| 1.0L 3-cyl | 5-speed dual-clutch | RWD | 33 / 39 / 36 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Smart fortwo a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 fortwo rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the fortwo at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Smart fortwo?
The engine & cooling — 5 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (4) and seat belts (4).
How many recalls does the 2011 Smart fortwo have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Smart fortwo. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Smart fortwo?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2012 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2016. See the full Smart fortwo years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Smart fortwo problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 32,000 miles; 64% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.