Home · 2016 Smart Cabrio · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
5 of 21 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters
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.
NHTSA ODI 11448747
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.
NHTSA ODI 11383048
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.
NHTSA ODI 11353926
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!!!
NHTSA ODI 11021653
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.
NHTSA ODI 10885818
Working with the data? Download all 21 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026