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Smart FortwoModel year report

2011 Smart Fortwo Problems

Complaints
16filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
29,600miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
36 mpgcombined, 1.0L 3-cyl RWD · 33 city / 39 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Smart Fortwo (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2011 Smart Fortwo. The part named most often is engine, with 5 complaints (31% of the total), followed by electrical system (4) and seat belts (4). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 64% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 29,600 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 54 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 22 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10981144, filed 2017-04, 51,000 miles

Electrical system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10504116, filed 2013-03, 25,000 miles

Seat belts: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10717770, filed 2015-05, 57,200 miles

Brakes: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10509372, filed 2013-04, 27,200 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

64% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 23,500 and 54,000 miles.

7%0–1029%10–2529%25–5029%50–757%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 29,600 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2012320133201520163201720182023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2011 Smart Fortwo. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Fortwo · coupe RWDnot rated———3 · 21.2% risk
Fortwo · C RWDnot rated———3 · 21.2% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Smart Fortwo version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
fortwo cabriolet RWD1.0L 3-cyl5-speed automatic333936$2,300
fortwo coupe RWD1.0L 3-cyl5-speed automatic333936$2,300
fortwo electric drive cabriolet RWDElectricsingle-speed947987 MPGe$900
fortwo electric drive coupe RWDElectricsingle-speed947987 MPGe$900

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2011 Smart Fortwo in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 54 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 54 bulletins →

Other model years of the Smart Fortwo

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201772,3341435—Not enough data
2016215,3001—107 MPGe—Falling
2015616,3251—36—Not enough data
2014136,1571—36—Not enough data
20132513,0000—3624 · FewerFalling
2012832,0000—36—Not enough data
20111629,6000—36—Rising
2010633,9500—36—Not enough data
200910038,5001—3650 · TypicalFalling
200814039,2282—3693 · MoreFalling

All Smart Fortwo model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Smart Fortwo have?

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2011 Smart Fortwo as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Smart Fortwo is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 5 complaints (31% of the total), followed by electrical system with 4.

Has the 2011 Smart Fortwo been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Smart Fortwo get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Smart Fortwo (fortwo cabriolet, 1.0L 3-cyl) at 36 mpg combined, 33 city and 39 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Smart Fortwo reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 29,600 miles and the middle half falls between 23,500 and 54,000 miles; 64% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.