Before you buy a used Smart fortwo / forfour (453).
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.
The essentials.
- 4 documented, sourced faults across its 2 engines.
- 2 of them depend on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
- 8 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.
- Single clunk from the rear drive shaft when moving off or changing direction (smart and Mercedes-Benz)Transmission
- Period mentioned
- 2014 onwards
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
- 12 V battery, brakes and campaigns on the smart 453 (EQ too)Known weak points
- Period mentioned
- 2014–2024
- 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.
0.9 / 1.0 (Renault)
Petrol
- Stretched timing chain on the 0.9 and 1.2 TCeTiming system
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2012–2020
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Only the 0.9 turbo (Renault H4Bt); the naturally aspirated 1.0 is a different engine.
EQ / electric drive
Electric
- smart EQ (453) range that drops suddenly or battery that will not charge, from a voltage difference between cellsHigh-voltage battery
- Period mentioned
- The whole electric 453 series
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Which engine has the fewest documented faults?
| Engine | Documented faults | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 0.9 / 1.0 (Renault)Petrol | 32 with conditions | 7 |
| EQ / electric driveElectric | 31 with conditions | 7 |
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: transmission selector cableTransmission / parking
Engines: 0.9 / 1.0 (Renault) (Petrol)
How to check it: Check VIN and transmission; inspect connection and rectify.
View full entrySmart brake recalls (2015–2026)Brakes
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 entrySmart steering recalls (2015–2017)Steering
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 entrySmart fuel-system recalls (2014–2014)Fuel system
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 entrySmart engine, transmission and software recalls (2015–2015)Powertrain and engine management
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 entrySmart body, seat and fitting recalls (2008–2016)Bodywork
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 entrySmart other recalls (2021–2021)Bodywork
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 entryRecall: internal EQ battery weldHigh-voltage battery
Engines: EQ / electric drive (Electric)
How to check it: Check VIN; replace affected battery.
View full entryOn 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 4 checked
Transmission
Look out for: A single sharp clunk at a rear wheel when moving off or switching from reverse to forward (or the other way round); it makes no noise while driving.
Ask them to check: Tell the garage it is a single clunk when changing direction; the technical note says to test by loosening the drive shaft nut by one turn (it is always replaced with a new one).
High-voltage battery
Look out for: The range shown does not match the charge, drops very quickly after a short trip, or the high-voltage battery no longer charges. Possible codes: P0DE616 and P0DE717 (cell voltage too low or too high).
Ask them to check: Take it to the dealer soon: they read the cell voltages with the diagnostic equipment and assess whether it can be transported (the self-discharge gets worse with time). The fix the brand gives is replacing the high-voltage battery. Never handle the high-voltage system.
Known weak points
Look out for: A flat 12 V battery on 2015–2016 cars (no lights-on warning); at inspection, suspension, rusting brakes and lights (and on petrols, oil leaks and a rusty exhaust); electronic faults (radio, a pedal sensor that upsets the stop-start); on the forfour, an emergency-call assistant that does not work.
Ask them to check: Test the 12 V battery; brake hard now and then (especially on the EQ); check campaigns by VIN.
Timing system
Look out for: Metallic chain rattle, especially when cold or at idle; engine light with a crankshaft–camshaft correlation code; in serious cases the chain jumps and damages the valves.
Ask them to check: With any chain noise or a P0016 code, diagnose straight away: measure the stretch and check the tensioner and guides before the timing jumps. Shorten oil-change intervals.
OBD codes worth looking for
If they let you read the fault memory with an OBD reader, these are the codes mentioned in this model's sheets:
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.
- Single clunk from the rear drive shaft when moving off or changing direction (smart and Mercedes-Benz)
- smart EQ (453) range that drops suddenly or battery that will not charge, from a voltage difference between cells
- 12 V battery, brakes and campaigns on the smart 453 (EQ too)
- Stretched timing chain on the 0.9 and 1.2 TCe
- Recall: transmission selector cable
- Smart brake recalls (2015–2026)
- Smart steering recalls (2015–2017)
- Smart fuel-system recalls (2014–2014)
- Smart engine, transmission and software recalls (2015–2015)
- Smart body, seat and fitting recalls (2008–2016)
- Smart other recalls (2021–2021)
- Recall: internal EQ battery weld
More Smart buying guides
- Smart #1 / #3 / #52022–2026
- Smart fortwo (451)2007–2014
- Smart forfour (454)2004–2006
- Smart roadster (452)2003–2005
- Smart fortwo (450)2000–2007