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2017 Smart FortwoProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 7 owner complaints about the 2017 Smart Fortwo, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 17V-447 the manufacturer reports only 85% of affected cars repaired.

2017 Smart Fortwo
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Lowest repair rate 85%Owner complaints70 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage2kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 8, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2017 Smart Fortwo has problems

7 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system40
Steering20
Exterior lighting10
Power train10
Seat belts10
Suspension10
Visibility/wiper10
Wheels10
Engine10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2017 Smart Fortwo recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

85%repaired · 2019 Q1

Steering

Recall 17V-447 · Jul 14, 2017 · 110 vehicles · 94 repaired

Risk. Failure of the left front axle steering knuckle could affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Smart.

Best & worst years

2017 vs. every other Fortwo year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Fortwo median. How we score

'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2017 Smart Fortwo safety ratings

2017 Smart Fortwo 2 DR RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2017 Smart Fortwo frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2017 Smart Fortwo side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2017 Smart Fortwo side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 4 stars (14.7% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2017 Smart Fortwo, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Pedestrian alert soundsDP22005 · closed Aug 7, 2023
    Led to recall 22V-063
In owners' words

What Fortwo owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The Power Electronics Control Unit (ECM), Part No. A453-900-72-11, and the DC-to-DC converter have both failed, rendering this all-electric vehicle completely inoperable. There is no backup propulsion system. The DC-to-DC converter powers safety-critical systems including lighting, turn signals,…
Complaint 11730040 · Apr 8, 2026
The car won't charge over 20% due probably a faulty manufacturer part of N83 high voltage control box. This could cause very serious electrical/battery issues if the high voltage box is faulty.
Complaint 11535062 · Jul 28, 2023
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SMART FOR TWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND REAR WIPER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARAGE ISLA VERDE LLC (LOCATED AT AVE, BALDORIOTY…
Complaint 11127959 · Sep 6, 2018 · 2,334 miles

Own a 2017 Fortwo?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.