Before you buy a used Smart fortwo (450).

2000–2007 · 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.

OSX · 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.
2 official recalls on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm they have 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.

0.6-litre engine and automated gearbox on the smart fortwo 450Known weak points
Period mentioned
1998–2007
Mileage mentioned
What the sheet says: Jerky shifts (especially when warm or in traffic) or the gearbox refusing to shift; oil leaks from the head and valve cover; on early 0.6 engines, oil consumption and serious engine failures, sometimes before 100,000 km; rust on the frame, brake lines and exhaust.
Applies if: First-generation fortwo (450).

0.6 / 0.7 turbo · 0.8 cdi

0.6 / 0.7 turbo (Petrol) · 0.8 cdi (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 fortwo (450)
Engine	Documented faults	Recalls
0.6 / 0.7 turboPetrol	11 with conditions	2
0.8 cdiDiesel	11 with conditions	2

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: 450 front suspension jointSuspension

How to check it: Check VIN; inspect and replace old-type links.

View full entry

Smart airbag and seat-belt recalls (2006–2006)Airbags and seat belts

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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

0.6-litre engine and automated gearbox on the smart fortwo 450
Look out for: Jerky shifts (especially when warm or in traffic) or the gearbox refusing to shift; oil leaks from the head and valve cover; on early 0.6 engines, oil consumption and serious engine failures, sometimes before 100,000 km; rust on the frame, brake lines and exhaust.
Ask them to check: Work out whether the shifting fault is mechanical (clutch) or electronic (actuator, sensors) and always run the guided adaptation; measure oil consumption; check for rust.

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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