Model year record

2016 SMART Fortwo

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 40 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V448000

Parking brake

Component: Parking brake
Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
Vehicles affected: 5,061
Reported to NHTSA: 2017-07-16
Owners notified: 2017-09-20

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Engine	9	3,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	7	35 mi
Electrical system	5	13,700 mi
Service brakes	4	3,500 mi
Unknown or other	3	61 mi
Steering	2	—
Structure: body	2	51,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	400 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	13,333 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	1	—
Power train	1	3,500 mi
Suspension	1	—
Visibility/wiper	1	—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	1	13,333 mi
Wheels	1	35 mi

The 2015 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. The 2017 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.