EN

2016 Smart Cabrio C RWD

2
Recalls
16
Complaints

Safety Ratings.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.

Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
Overall Front Star Rating

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Front Driver Side
Front Passenger Side
Overall Side Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Driver
Passenger
Overall Side Pole Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Rollover Star Rating

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Complaints
Recalls

16 Complaints

for 2016 SMART CABRIO
01/25/2022
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 01/02/2022
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA7GK******
Summary

Three weeks after got the car from carmax check engine light went on and the after a smell of burning oil every time after driving somewhere. Cruise control failure about a month and half after getting the car, spring shocks in bad condition. Front windshield replaced looks like by the writing on the upper corner driver side (pieces of glass found on the car). Cargo cover missing and no mats.

09/10/2021
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 09/06/2021
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA4GK******
Summary

The roof detached on the highway. It was just replaced by Mercedes Benz in Manhattan and a couple of weeks later when it went on a highway, the roof flew up and I had to hold on to it for dear life while I was searching for a shoulder since they don’t have them everywhere on the East Coast. I didn’t want anyone behind me to be killed. I didn’t want myself to be killed either. It’s very hard to drive with wind and a roof coming against you. As soon as I found a shoulder I bumped a street sign in a bush because it was so narrow and then the tow truck driver had to come and bring a ratchet straps to secure my roof to the car. He had to block traffic with his tow truck so we didn’t get hit and die. Then I had to drive five hours with my roof detached from Washington DC to New York because it was Labor Day and they were no mechanics open. It was TERRIFYING. I have nightmares. I had lives on my hands and my own. If it had flown off completely, which it would have if I didn’t pull it down as I pulled over, someone would have been killed and I could have crashed driving and holding my roof down at the same time.

12/11/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 11/13/2020
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEEJ9AA9GK******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND UNCERTAIN IF WHETHER HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR THE BRAKE PEDAL; THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING AT A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND REMAINED AT THE SCENE OF ACCIDENT. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE POSSIBLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

09/09/2020
Components: WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/02/2020
Crash: Yes
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA2GK******
Summary

THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING BAD. THEY HAVE BEEN SLIPPING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2016. THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING AND HAS LEAKED INTO THE CAB OF THE CAR. THE GAS TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.

01/16/2020
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/09/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEEJ9AA0GK******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR A MONTH. AFTER A MONTH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO 500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 WHERE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT MERCEDES WOULD NOT COVER THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE LACK OF SERVICE UPKEEP. THE DEALER PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF $15,000.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,700.

09/18/2019
Components: STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Incident Date: 09/11/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA4GK******
Summary

MY 2016 SMART CAR AT ONLY 51000 MILES HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASH. MY CAR WENT FROM 65 MILES A HOUR, THEN WARNING LIGHT SAID TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CAR WAS UNABLE TO EXCEL RATE OR BREAK, THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME. MERCEDES DIAGNOSED A WIG WAS ABLE TO FLY UP UNDER CAR AND GET WRAPPED AROUND AXELS, TRANSMISSION, AND BREAK BELTS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED FROM A WIG. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE UNDERNEATH IS LEFT VULNERABLE TO A OBJECT BEING ABLE TO CAUSE SO MUCH DAMAGE, THAT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A FATAL CAR CRASH. THIS HAPPENED ON HWY 59 SOUTH HOUSTON, WHILE DRIVING.

09/25/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/09/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA2GK******
Summary

2016 SMART CAR PASSION KEY STUCK IN SWITCH. STATIONARY IN PARK GEAR. POOR DESIGN OF SHIFTER, IF THAT EASILY DISABLED. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH IMPROVED DESIGN SHIFTER. IF THAT SENSITIVE WHY DO THEY PUT 2 CUP HOLDERS NEAR THE SHIFTER? SIMPLE RUBBER SEAL WOULD FIX IT! THE SERVICE MECHANIC SAID THE SHIFTER WAS DAMAGED BECAUSE OF A COFFEE SPILL - HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE - BECAUSE ANY STAIN WAS YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT THE CAR. I HAVE NOT DRUNK ANY IN THE CAR OVER A YEAR. TO SAVE MONEY I MAKE COFFEE AT HOME AND DRINK AT WORK. I'M SURE ALL THIS SUMMER WET AND HUMID WEATHER CAUSED A PROBLEM. AFTER WEEKS OF RAIN THE KEY WAS JAMMING MANY TIMES BEFORE IT GOT STUCK. I THINK THE SHIFTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND FAILED AND SHOULD BE REPLACE FOR FREE. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THE SHIFTER IS COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. TRYING TO BLAME A SPILL FOR THE FAILURE BUT JUST A BAD SHIFTER. THIS IS THE SECOND SMART CAR I HAVE GOTTEN AND THE MOST TROUBLE. I CAN'T AFFORD THE ESTIMATED #1100 COST TO FIX IT.

09/15/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/01/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA2GK******
Summary

TYSINGER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON 08/30/2018. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANG AND THEN THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 45 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, BUT IT HAS NOT. THE CAR STALLS AT RED LIGHTS AND DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTER IT STALLS.

06/07/2018
Components: VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT
Incident Date: 05/28/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA2GK******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT WAS LEASING A 2016 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION AND HOT AIR BLEW FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,333.

09/05/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/04/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA0GK******
Summary

AT 65MPH ON A FREEWAY TRAVELING STRAIGHT WHEN I HAD TO BRAKE FOR TRAFFIC I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SWERVED SEVERELY TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT ENTERING BOTH LANES LUCKILY THEIR WAS NOBODY WAS IN THOSE LANES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS SUCH A SEVERE DIRECTION CHANGE I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WESTMINSTER MERCEDES-BENZ DENVER CO DEALER WHERE THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR,MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS A VERY UNCONTROLLED STOP!!!

03/28/2017
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 02/08/2017
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA3GK******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SMART FORTWO. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

12/26/2016
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 12/23/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA0GK******
Summary

GAS TANK 5 GALLONS NOT 8 AS LISTED IN THE BOOK. TANKS FILLS UP PREMIUM GAS FOR $10. GAS PUMP SAID IT PUT OUT 5 GALLONS ONLY INTO THE TANK. THAT FILLED UP THE WHOLE. NOW I'M NAIVE TO FILL UP SOON I REACH ANOTHER 100 MILES. THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK. YOU SOLD ME THE WRONG VEHICLE. INSTEAD OF HELPING ME MAKE A WISE DECISION YOUR ONLY CONCERN WAS TO SELL SELL SELL THAT'S IT. MPG IS AROUND 30. NOT TRUE IT'S AT 23 MPG. MIRRORS DON'T ADJUST CORRECTLY. BLIND-SIDING IS DANGEROUS AND FATAL. EMISSIONS ISSUE: SMELLS LIKE PLASTIC/RUBBER BURNING ??? BATTERY LEVEL INDICATOR IS MISSING. DOESN'T POWER MY PHONE WHILE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. AUDIO SYSTEM KEEPS CUTTING OFF PHONE CALLS AND THE GOOGLE NAVIGATOR GUIDANCE. THE BUMPER TO BUMPER 75,000 MILES WARRANTY DOESN'T EVEN COVER 60 MILES PER DAY FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS. THAT'S 1,800 MILES /MONTH. 21,600 MILES PER YEAR. I DO 10,000 MILES PER MONTH. I WALKED IN THE DEALERSHIP THINKING I WILL BE PAYING NO MORE THAN $100. SADLY ENOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING TO SIGN UP A $265/MONTH NOTE FOR NEXT 5 YEARS ON A CAR THAT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR AT LEAST MISSING TRUNK SLIDING COVER. CADDY FOR IPHONE ALARM SYSTEM IS LOW. RADIO STATIC HAVE ALL THE STATION IN DECIMAL POINTS BUT DOESN'T PICK AND SETTLE ON ONE THAT'S BROADCASTING. TERRIBLE RADIO.

10/03/2016
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/07/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA7GK******
Summary

THE FUEL GAUGE AND MPG INDICATORS ARE BOTH FAULTY. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK, AND THE MPG DIGITAL INDICATOR IS HARDLY EVER TRUE. ESPECIALLY THAT THE CAR'S ACTUAL CITY MPG IS WAY OFF FROM THE WHAT IS SHOWN ON THE STICKER.

07/19/2016
Components: POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/05/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WEFJ5DA7GK0******
Summary

ON STEEP UPHILLS AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE TOO WEAK TO PUSH THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD AND ACTUALLY THE CAR MY ROLL BACK AND BRAKES GO IN A LOCK MODE WHICH CREATES A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.

07/05/2016
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/22/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA2GK******
Summary

I NOTICED THAT MY GAS GAUGE WAS GIVING ME INCORRECT READINGS. THE GAS TANK ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL HOLDS 8+ GALLONS OF GAS. WHEN I GET A LOW FUEL WARNING IF I "FILL UP" THE TANK IT ONLY TAKES BETWEEN 5 AND 6 GALLONS. THE GAS GAUGE SHOWS FULL AND THEN WITHIN HOURS ALL OF A SUDDEN IT READS THERE IS ONLY A HALF TANK OF GAS. I VISITED MY DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ MANHATTAN IF FEBRUARY OF 2016 AFTER WAITING FOR 3 HOURS I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS BEING WORKED ON BUT AT THAT TIME THERE IS NO FIX. PRIOR TO GOING TO THE DEALER I RECEIVE NO NOTIFICATION OF THIS PROBLEM. AS THE CONSUMER I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAKE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON JULY 29, 2016 BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO FIX OF THE GAS GAUGE PROBLEM AND THAT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A, "SAFETY" ISSUE NO NOTICED WERE SENT AND NO RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED. HOW IS NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE IN YOUR TANK NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. LUCKILY FOR ME I WAS NOT DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR RAN OUT OF GAS RECENTLY, HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I GUESS MY HAVING TO RISK MY LIFE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY SMART USA NOT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, I VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE. THE ATTACHED IMAGES WILL SHOW THE GAS GAUGE INDICATING LOW FUEL LEVEL, RECEIPT FOR AMOUNT OF GAS ADDED AND GAS GAUGE SHOWING FULL WITH ONLY IN THIS CASE A LITTLE OVER 5 GALLONS OF GAS BEING ADDED.

02/05/2016
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 11/24/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WMEFJ5DA5GK******
Summary

MY NEW CAR AND MANY OTHERS HAVE GAS GAUGES THAT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AT ALL! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN YOUR TANK AT ALL. HTTP://WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM/FORUMS/F208/2016-GAS-GAUGE-ISSUE-107826/

0 Recalls

for 2016 SMART CABRIO

Get started for free

Get a free preview of the report