NHTSA vehicle safety data

2015 Smart Fortwo Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2015 Smart Fortwo right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 6 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2015 Smart Fortwo.

2015 Smart Fortwo owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Smart Fortwo, describing incidents dated December 1, 2016 to March 23, 2025.

Most-cited components

Engine 2 complaints
Unknown or Other 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Electrical System 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Seat Belts 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire; across all 6 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11650674 · Filed March 26, 2025
Sunday 3/23 I was driving west on 225 heading towards work, all of a sudden the check engine light comes on and all kinds of other lights on the dash came on. I got pulled over and looked in the rear view mirror I seen flames. Quickly grabbed my stuff and got out of the car. The investigation at the…
ODI #11532331 · Filed July 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated while buckling the seat belt, he became aware that a metal cable through the eyelet bolted to the frame by the door jamb on the driver's side had started to fray. The contact stated that the vehicle was not driven frequently and felt that…
ODI #11413227 · Filed April 21, 2021
CAR HAS MAJOR DELAYS MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL - YOU CAN BE TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AT TIMES AND THERE'S A MAJOR DELAY TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL - THIS DELAY IN GETTING THE CAR MOVING COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CRASH. MOTOR MOUNTS WEAR OUT UNDER 50,000 MILES…

Read all 6 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2015 Smart Fortwo in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP22-005: Pedestrian alert sounds
Closed August 7, 2023
- Recall 22V-063

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2015 Smart Fortwo right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2015 Smart Fortwo. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Smart Fortwo.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11650674

Fire

Incident: March 23, 2025 · Filed: March 26, 2025

Sunday 3/23 I was driving west on 225 heading towards work, all of a sudden the check engine light comes on and all kinds of other lights on the dash came on. I got pulled over and looked in the rear view mirror I seen flames. Quickly grabbed my stuff and got out of the car. The investigation at the time stated most of the heat was coming from the engine

Seat Belts

ODI #11532331

Incident: July 14, 2023 · Filed: July 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated while buckling the seat belt, he became aware that a metal cable through the eyelet bolted to the frame by the door jamb on the driver's side had started to fray. The contact stated that the vehicle was not driven frequently and felt that there could not be a wear and tear issue. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Suspension; Unknown or Other; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11413227

Incident: April 21, 2021 · Filed: April 21, 2021

CAR HAS MAJOR DELAYS MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL - YOU CAN BE TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AT TIMES AND THERE'S A MAJOR DELAY TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL - THIS DELAY IN GETTING THE CAR MOVING COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CRASH. MOTOR MOUNTS WEAR OUT UNDER 50,000 MILES SEEMS TOO SOON WHEN COMPARED TO MOST OTHER VEHICLES - SUSPENSION (SHOCKS) COME SUPER HARD FROM THE FACTORY.

Air Bags

ODI #11364499

Crash 1 injury

Incident: July 23, 2020 · Filed: October 15, 2020

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A SAFE DISTANCE BEHIND A LINCOLN NAVIGATOR WHEN THEY FOR NO REASON SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND STOPPED. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE NAVIGATOR. THE REAR OF THE CAR WENT UP INTO THE AIR CAME DOWN AND SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. MY WIFE WAS INJURED. SHE SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB CUTS AND SCRAPES AND CHEST PAINS. NO AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN THE CAR AT ALL.

Traction Control System; Engine

ODI #11166341

Incident: December 1, 2016 · Filed: January 10, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH OLMSTED (28450 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070, (440) 716-2700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR CAUSED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO SEIZE. ALSO, THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11010314

Incident: July 22, 2017 · Filed: July 24, 2017

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED-WAS NOT OUT OF GAS- TOOK A WHILE AND STARTED BUT SHOOK VIOLANTLY AND DIDN'T STAY STARTED- WAITED A WHILE LONGER AND IT STARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME.

Other Smart Fortwo model years

Check your 2015 Smart Fortwo VIN

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

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