Before you buy a used Smart forfour (454).

2004–2006 · Petrol / Diesel · 2 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Bahnfrend · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

1 documented, sourced fault across its 2 engines.
That is not much data: if no other faults show up here, it does not mean it has none.
It only applies with certain equipment or production dates: ask what this car has.
1 official recall on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm it has been done.
According to the data we have, all its engines have the same number of documented faults.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 2 of its engines.

Automated gearbox, engine management and battery on the smart forfour 454Known weak points
Period mentioned
2004–2006
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.

1.1 / 1.3 / 1.5 (Mitsubishi) · 1.5 cdi (OM639)

1.1 / 1.3 / 1.5 (Mitsubishi) (Petrol) · 1.5 cdi (OM639) (Diesel)

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Smart forfour (454)
Engine	Documented faults	Recalls
1.1 / 1.3 / 1.5 (Mitsubishi)Petrol	11 with conditions	1
1.5 cdi (OM639)Diesel	11 with conditions	1

According to the data we have, all its engines have the same number of documented faults.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
Ask an official Smart dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.

Recall: forfour rear bench mountingSafety / seats

How to check it: Check VIN; inspect and lock mountings per campaign.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 1 checked

Known weak points

Automated gearbox, engine management and battery on the smart forfour 454
Look out for: A six-speed automated gearbox (Softouch) that jumps out of gear, lurches at low speed or sticks in a gear; failed clutch or actuator; engine management that fails and strands the car; a short-lived starter battery; brakes and suspension worn with age.
Ask them to check: Test the automated gearbox slowly and in reverse; test the battery.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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