2010 Smart Fortwo problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 6 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2010 Smart Fortwo has 6 NHTSA owner complaints on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Fortwo | 139 | 1 |
| 2009 Fortwo | 100 | 1 |
| 2010 Fortwo (this page) | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 Fortwo | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 Fortwo | 8 | 0 |
Limited NHTSA data — only 6 complaints on file. The score reflects what's reported, but a small sample skews easily.
Only 6 NHTSA complaints on file — too few for a confident reliability call. Could be a clean record or just thin data.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 smart fortwo. While driving at any speed, the blower motor did not work and caused the windshield to fog up. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The contact called smart center albuquerque at 877-316-3208 (located at 1220 s renaissance blvd…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 smart fortwo. While driving approximately 7 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and it resumed normal operation. The failure occurred four times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired.…
I purchased a new 2010 smart for two ' cabriole in may, 2011, from smart center palm beach [fl] (aka. Mercedes-benz of palm beach). On december 27, 2013, I experienced loud noises under the front hood. I drove the vehicle to the smart center ' gainesville [fl] (aka.…
My car was in motion on the freewaywhen it seized. When stopped the engine in the back caught fire, my vehicle burned to the ground, there were recalls for this the year before, (for the 2009 smart car) there are videos documnting this on you tube. My brother who worked for…
Common questions
Is the 2010 Smart Fortwo reliable?
Limited NHTSA data. Only 6 owner complaints have been filed for the 2010 Smart Fortwo, which is not enough for a meaningful reliability score. Active recalls (if any) are listed on this page and remain authoritative — those are verified defects regardless of complaint volume. For a confident reliability read we look for at least 10 owner complaints in the federal database.
Should you avoid the 2010 Smart Fortwo?
Only 6 NHTSA complaints on file — too few for a confident reliability call. Could be a clean record or just thin data. We don't issue a buy/avoid verdict on the 2010 Smart Fortwo without a meaningful complaint sample — doing so off a handful of filings would be guesswork.
What should I check before buying a used 2010 Smart Fortwo?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on the 2010 Smart Fortwo to flag a standout failure pattern. Run the VIN for open recalls — those are free to fix regardless of warranty — get a standard pre-purchase inspection, and ask the seller for service records.
Is the 2010 Smart Fortwo a good used car to buy?
Hard to say from federal data alone — only 6 owner complaints have been filed. Lean on the recall list above, a pre-purchase inspection, and a vehicle-history report on the specific VIN. Our data tells you what the model is known for; a history report tells you what that exact car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2010 Smart Fortwo?
No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.
How do I check if my Smart Fortwo has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2010 Smart Fortwo?
Hard to say from NHTSA data alone with only 6 complaints on file. A quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. The decision comes down to your specific situation: vehicle cost, miles on it, how long you plan to keep it, and whether you can absorb a $3K–$8K repair without straining cashflow. With limited public data on this vehicle, lean on the recall list above and check owner forums before committing.