BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports|Updated
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2017-SMAFOR-452B

2017 Smart FortwoProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 13 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
13
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Recalls
1
TSBs
63
✅

Preliminary Verdict

Green Light

Based on 13 complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $2.00

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the ElectricalHIGH

4 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 2K miles.

!Inspect the SteeringMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Electrical (4 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Electrical4 (31%)
Steering2 (15%)
Engine1 (8%)
Lights1 (8%)
Drivetrain1 (8%)
Seat Belts1 (8%)
Suspension1 (8%)
Visibility1 (8%)

2017 Smart Fortwo: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 31% of all reports filed for the 2017 Smart Fortwo, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 2,334 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 2K-mile mark.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2017 Smart Fortwo, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2017 Smart Fortwo, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Lights Issues

Lights complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2017 Smart Fortwo, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

1
17
4
18
1
19
1
23
3
25
3
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2017 Smart Fortwo. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $2.00

Recall History (1 recall)

17V447000Oct 2017

STEERING

Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 smart fortwo and smart fortwo Cabriolet vehicles. Casting imperfections may result in the failure of the left front axle steering knuckle.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

2017 Smart Fortwo NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

DP22005ClosedOpened Jan 2023 · closed Aug 2023

Pedestrian alert sounds

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM

The worst model year for the Smart Fortwo is the 2009 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2017 Smart Fortwo vs. Class Average (Two Seaters)

This vehicle

13

Class avg

9

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other two seaters vehicles from 2017.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 13 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Smart Fortwo Model Years

201920172016201520142013201220112010200920082005
View all Smart Fortwo years →

2017 Smart Fortwo: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Smart Fortwo?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2017 Smart Fortwo is related to the electrical, with 4 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2017 Smart Fortwo reliable?
The 2017 Smart Fortwo has 13 complaints, 0 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2017 Smart Fortwo?
NHTSA rates the 2017 Smart Fortwo 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2017 Smart Fortwo problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2017 Smart Fortwo have any recalls?
Yes, the 2017 Smart Fortwo has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Smart Fortwo problems start?
Based on 5 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 2,334 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2017 Smart Fortwo data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 13, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2017 Smart Fortwo Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 13 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $2.00Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees