I have had it for 6 years. And it has been in for repair, at least 7 times in those somewhere around one time per year. Sometimes twice. All for heating 3 times same piece not sure what to do but it always has to do with no heat to car or overheating my insurance through carmax bout to end gonna cost me alot to keep it even though I love the car seems like a massive problem that mercedes should do something about I've called and got tge run a round
The worst 2016 smart Fortwo problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine9
- Fuel system7
- Electrical5
- Brakes4
- Body2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine9
- Fuel system7
- Electrical5
- Brakes4
- Body2
- Steering2
- Visibility2
- Driver assistance1
- Suspension1
- Transmission1
- Wheels1
Recalls 1
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 smart fortwo vehicles. In these vehicles, the lock nut that secures the parking brake cable to the parking brake lever may loosen over time, resulting in increased parking brake lever travel before the parking brake engages.
- Risk
- As the parking brake lever travel increases, the holding force may decrease to a point where the vehicle is no longer safely secured in all parking situations, allowing the vehicle to unexpectedly move when parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake cable lock nut, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2017. Owners may contact smart customer service at 1‑877‑496‑3691.
Recall number 17V448000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 2016 smart Fortwo
Defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
the federal safety agency 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 under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP22005
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 smart Fortwo 60
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- In our continuing efforts to assure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the...
- In our continuing efforts to assure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the...
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom...
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- Complaint There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance:...
- Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the...
- Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon,...
- Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can...
2016 smart Fortwo fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9L 3‑cyl | RWD | 31-33 | 39 | 34-35 |
| Electric motor Electric 68 mi range | RWD | 122 | 93 | 107 MPGe |
What 2016 smart Fortwo owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Car shuts down while driving. This happens usually after quick stops or sudden starts like at a red light or when a car suddenly stops on front of me. I have had this issue happen to me several times. I have tried contacting Mercedes-Benz and the dealership where I bought tge car but they do nothing. I need help getting this issue repaired.
The contact owns a 2016 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated with a loud whirring noise. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the air intake changeover valves had failed. The independent mechanic advised the contact that the parts needed to fix the vehicle were difficult to locate. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that about a month later, the check engine warning light illuminated again. The contact took the vehicle to the same independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a secondary air injection pump failure. The independent mechanic advised the contact that the parts were difficult to find. The contact found the parts, and the vehicle was repaired. The check engine warning light illuminated again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 58,299.
The car just shuts off while I am driving. I can tell now when it is about to shut off. I have had this problem since I purchased the car in 2016. I have taken the car to the dealership and called Mercedes Benz several times and they will not do anything. I will die because the car is getting worse and shuts off more frequently now. Can you get Mercedes Benz to help me? They told me that they don't care if I die due to a bad product they sold me. Please help. Please, I am begging you I do not want to hurt someone else due to this bad car.
Since I purchased the car from Hampton Auto Mall 757 865 8000 there has been an issue with the steering, brakes, gas system, fuel gauge etc.. The dealership or Mercedes refuses to fix the problem since I purchased it in 2016. I have almost died due to steering problems and gas tank. Please get a mechanic to check the steering and for small tears in your gas tank on Smarts. The dealership I bought my car from refuses to fix issue because of lemon laws the Service Advisor told me so.
Since purchasing the car the power steering has been bad. The dealership where I purchased the car and Mercedes refused to fix the issue. There is electrical issues and the gas tank gauge and gas tank have been replaced 3 times. Please do not purchase a Smart Car thecmakers do not stand behind their product. I took it to Mercedes Hampton VA Auto Mall and they are so rude. I have almost died 4 times due to bot bring able to turn steering wheel.
Three weeks after got the car from carmax check engine light went on and the after a smell of burning oil every time after driving somewhere. Cruise control failure about a month and half after getting the car, spring shocks in bad condition. Front windshield replaced looks like by the writing on the upper corner driver side (pieces of glass found on the car). Cargo cover missing and no mats.
The roof detached on the highway. It was just replaced by Mercedes Benz in Manhattan and a couple of weeks later when it went on a highway, the roof flew up and I had to hold on to it for dear life while I was searching for a shoulder since they don’t have them everywhere on the East Coast. I didn’t want anyone behind me to be killed. I didn’t want myself to be killed either. It’s very hard to drive with wind and a roof coming against you. As soon as I found a shoulder I bumped a street sign in a bush because it was so narrow and then the tow truck driver had to come and bring a ratchet straps to secure my roof to the car. He had to block traffic with his tow truck so we didn’t get hit and die. Then I had to drive five hours with my roof detached from Washington DC to New York because it was Labor Day and they were no mechanics open. It was TERRIFYING. I have nightmares. I had lives on my hands and my own. If it had flown off completely, which it would have if I didn’t pull it down as I pulled over, someone would have been killed and I could have crashed driving and holding my roof down at the same time.
Tl* the contact owned a 2016 smart fortwo. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH and uncertain if whether he depressed the accelerator pedal or the brake pedal; the vehicle accelerated off the road and hit a tree. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact sustained minor bruising at a result of the accident but did not seek medical treatment. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was totaled and remained at the scene of accident. The dealer nor the manufacturer nor the dealer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be towed from the scene of the accident. The possible failure mileage was 50,000.
The brakes are slipping bad. They have been slipping since I bought the vehicle in 2016. The gas tank is leaking and has leaked into the cab of the car. The gas tank has been replaced 3 times.
Compare the 2016 smart Fortwo
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Questions about the 2016 smart Fortwo
Is the 2016 smart Fortwo reliable?
Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 2016 smart Fortwo, 2.6 times a typical Fortwo model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 smart Fortwo?
Engine and cooling, with 9 complaints, typically around 3,500 miles. Next is fuel system (7).
How many recalls does the 2016 smart Fortwo have?
1 recall, covering parking brake.
What gas mileage does the 2016 smart Fortwo get?
Official estimates for the 2016 smart Fortwo range from 34 to 35 mpg combined. The most efficient version (0.9L 3-cyl, RWD) gets 31-33 city and 39 highway.
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