NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Smart Fortwo Coupe Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Smart Fortwo Coupe has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Smart dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 Smart Fortwo Coupe. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2016 Smart Fortwo Coupe owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2016 Smart Fortwo Coupe, describing incidents dated September 4, 2017.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11021653 · Filed September 5, 2017
AT 65MPH ON A FREEWAY TRAVELING STRAIGHT WHEN I HAD TO BRAKE FOR TRAFFIC I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SWERVED SEVERELY TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT ENTERING BOTH LANES LUCKILY THEIR WAS NOBODY WAS IN THOSE LANES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS SUCH A SEVERE DIRECTION…

Read the full complaint

Missing Headlight Adjustment Cap/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #17V179000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported March 16, 2017 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

Potentially affected: 2,213 vehicles

Repair completion: 79.03% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified September 8, 2017 · Vehicles built June 16, 2015 – September 24, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Smart Fortwo vehicles. The horizontal headlight adjustment mechanism on these vehicles may not have been properly sealed off to prevent future adjustment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Safety consequence

If the headlight can be adjusted horizontally, the headlight may be adjusted outside of the designed specifications, reducing the driver's visibility and potentially blinding oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct sealing caps to prevent the headlights from being adjusted horizontally, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2016 Smart Fortwo Coupe. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Smart Fortwo Coupe.

Service Brakes

ODI #11021653

Incident: September 4, 2017 · Filed: September 5, 2017

AT 65MPH ON A FREEWAY TRAVELING STRAIGHT WHEN I HAD TO BRAKE FOR TRAFFIC I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SWERVED SEVERELY TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT ENTERING BOTH LANES LUCKILY THEIR WAS NOBODY WAS IN THOSE LANES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS SUCH A SEVERE DIRECTION CHANGE I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WESTMINSTER MERCEDES-BENZ DENVER CO DEALER WHERE THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR,MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS A VERY UNCONTROLLED STOP!!!

Other Smart Fortwo Coupe model years

Check your 2016 Smart Fortwo Coupe VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Smart Fortwo Coupe at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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