Most common 2013 Smart fortwo problems
Share of the 25 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 2013 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 2013 Smart fortwo owners say
Seat belts
The drivers side seatbelt connecting floor (I think it's the belt force limiter) has a cable that has broken off. This is the 2nd time this has happened to my SmartCar. It is a design flaw because the cable runs against the metal of the seat cutting thru the cable. It isn't usually noticed until it breaks off making the seatbelt complete become broken from the floor. Additionally, SmartCars including this one have a known issue where AirBags become I op (light on) due to connection issue under seat. So now I have no restraints in my car.
Driver seatbelt will not stay in tension ring. At times stuck in park & when unstuck will not engage any gear and stopping at red light while in drive soon after starting car it will not move when accelerator is engaged. In all cases engine must be turned off then turn to power on only for 10 to twenty minutes during which eventually clicking/clunking sounds are heard. After hearing these sounds start and shift. Repeat sometimes twice before transmission unlocks. You must leave one hour early to work or appointments anticipating transmission lockup and reset process. Using the yellow lever under shift console will unlock shifter but will not aide with gears engaging. Using google search I found other owners experience the exact same problem.
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Smart for two. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power. In addition, the contact noticed white smoke. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was also towed to Mercedes-Benz of san fransico dealer located at 500 8th st, san francisco, cawhere it was diagnosed that the coolant damaged the engine compartment and the engine assembly needed to be replaced. The dealer refused to do the repair due to negligence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered a ten percent discount. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000. Updated 9/7/18
This car is an EV. Water in the brake light switch, will not let the car recharge. Water and mud in the 12v power cable on the drivers side of the battery pack has caused a 12v power cable fitting to crack. Both of these problems are on the bottom side of the car. These problems will not let the car recharge! This is not a flood car! It has 76,087 mile on it!!!!! My dealer is a joke! I have not been able to drive my for 8 months. Also the key fob is broken. This also will not let me drive my car. I am still paying for this piece of junk! ([redacted]) owner. Redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6)
Transmission & drivetrain
Driver seatbelt will not stay in tension ring. At times stuck in park & when unstuck will not engage any gear and stopping at red light while in drive soon after starting car it will not move when accelerator is engaged. In all cases engine must be turned off then turn to power on only for 10 to twenty minutes during which eventually clicking/clunking sounds are heard. After hearing these sounds start and shift. Repeat sometimes twice before transmission unlocks. You must leave one hour early to work or appointments anticipating transmission lockup and reset process. Using the yellow lever under shift console will unlock shifter but will not aide with gears engaging. Using google search I found other owners experience the exact same problem.
This car is an EV. Water in the brake light switch, will not let the car recharge. Water and mud in the 12v power cable on the drivers side of the battery pack has caused a 12v power cable fitting to crack. Both of these problems are on the bottom side of the car. These problems will not let the car recharge! This is not a flood car! It has 76,087 mile on it!!!!! My dealer is a joke! I have not been able to drive my for 8 months. Also the key fob is broken. This also will not let me drive my car. I am still paying for this piece of junk! ([redacted]) owner. Redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6)
2013 Smart fortwo engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | RWD | 122 / 93 / 107 MPGe | 68 mi |
| 1.0L 3-cyl | 5-speed dual-clutch | RWD | 34 / 38 / 36 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Smart fortwo a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 fortwo rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the fortwo at the same age. It is one of the fortwo years we suggest avoiding. 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 2013 Smart fortwo?
The seat belts — 7 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (6) and transmission & drivetrain (5).
How many recalls does the 2013 Smart fortwo have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 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 2013 Smart fortwo problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 13,000 miles; 86% 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.