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Smart FortwoModel year report

2012 Smart Fortwo Problems

Complaints
8filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
32,000miles, 7 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
36 mpgcombined, 1.0L 3-cyl RWD · 34 city / 38 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Smart Fortwo (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 2012 Smart Fortwo. The part named most often is air bags, with 2 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and seat belts (2). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 71% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 32,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 58 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 24 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.

Example complaints

Air bags: “The contact owns a 2012 Smart Fortwo. While at a stop sign, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained back injuries, which required medical attention. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 5,200.”

NHTSA complaint #10650608, filed 2014-10, 5,200 miles

Electrical system: “I was driving on the freeway (5 lane) in my 2012 Smart Fortwo passion coupe in the middle lane at 65-70 MPH. All of the sudden my accelerator was no longer functional. I looked down and saw that my speedometer and gear indicator were also non-functional. I was able to coast (despite heavy traffic) to the shoulder of the fast lane - it was impossible for me to get to the slow lane shoulder due to heavy traffic. I was able to use the breaks once I hit the shoulder (unsure if power brakes or not) and once stopped was unable to use automatic windows. …”

NHTSA complaint #10466970, filed 2012-07, 2,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

71% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 20,000 and 45,100 miles.

29%0–1014%10–2529%25–5014%50–750%75–10014%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (7 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 32,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2012201420163201720182022
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 2012 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 Cabriolet · coupe 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 2012 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).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
fortwo cabriolet RWD1.0L 3-cyl5-speed automatic343836$2,300
fortwo coupe RWD1.0L 3-cyl5-speed automatic343836$2,300

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 2012 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. 58 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 58 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 2012 Smart Fortwo have?

NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 2012 Smart Fortwo as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Smart Fortwo is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 2 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.

Has the 2012 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 2012 Smart Fortwo get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Smart Fortwo (fortwo cabriolet, 1.0L 3-cyl) at 36 mpg combined, 34 city and 38 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 2012 Smart Fortwo reported?

Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 32,000 miles and the middle half falls between 20,000 and 45,100 miles; 71% 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.