SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2013 Smart Fortwo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
25Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
6
201016
20118
201225
201313
20146
201521
2016
Compare all Fortwo years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
7Engine
6Power Train
5Electrical System
3Seats
2
All reported categories
Structure
2Unknown Or Other
2Air Bags
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Exterior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

21 reports with mileage · 4 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports

Equipment Adaptive/mobility complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2013
Equipment Adaptive/mobility

I BOUGHT A KIT TO TOW A SMART CAR WITH MY RV. THERE ARE 2 BRACKETS THAT AFTER INSTALLATION THEY WILL BE ONLY 0.236" AWAY FROM THE FRONT TIRES DURING TURNINGS. I CONSIDER THIS ISTALLATION AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. I DIDN'T INSTALL THIS KIT AND CONTACTED DISTRIBUITOR AND MANUFACTURER TO TELL THEM WHAT I FOUN…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT A KIT TO TOW A SMART CAR WITH MY RV. THERE ARE 2 BRACKETS THAT AFTER INSTALLATION THEY WILL BE ONLY 0.236" AWAY FROM THE FRONT TIRES DURING TURNINGS. I CONSIDER THIS ISTALLATION AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. I DIDN'T INSTALL THIS KIT AND CONTACTED DISTRIBUITOR AND MANUFACTURER TO TELL THEM WHAT I FOUND. THEY REFUSED TO REFUND EVEN I SENT THEM PICTURES AND EXPLAINED WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. PACKAGE, DESCRIPTION AND INSTRUCTIONS DON'T SHOW IF THIS PRODUCT MEETS THE DOT OR SAE STANDARDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10526050

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

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. 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, NHTSA 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 NHTSA 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 NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.