Vehicle cannot be started (FC: P0A0A00, P0A0E00, P0D9F00, P1D0BFD, C11C187, P0D5800, P0D5900, P0D9900, P0D9A97)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Smart Fortwo engine problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Smart Fortwo have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Fortwo | 40 |
| 2009 Fortwo | 20 |
| 2011 Fortwo (this page) | 3 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 3 engine complaints filed for the 2011 Smart Fortwo, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Engine diagnosis warning lamp (CEL) is active due to fault codes - P2237 & P2626.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Smart 453 Engine diagnosis warning lamp activated - Fault code P261000
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Engine check light came on. No apparent reason. Car drove ok brought to mb dealer. They run diagnostic. Noted that cylinder 3 misfired at some point, but everything is fine now. Car was in warranty then. After several months check engine light came on again. Car was riding rough temporarily. Then it was ok and the light went off. Light came on again around 35000 miles. Brought to dealer…
2011 smart fortwo coupe. Running rough and showing check engine light with OBD code p0302. Mercedes-benz dealership found misfire on cylinder #2. Further investigation found cylinder #2 leaking 75%. Removed and replaced cylinder head with a new cylinder head as a "goodwill repair." this particular Mercedes-benz dealer has done 14 of these repairs to date. This appears to be a problem with…
I was driving eastbound in the number 1 lane of california highway 24 about 1/4 mile before the tunnel road exit. I heard a noise coming from the engine are of the car, looked at the instrument cluster and noticed that the engine light had illuminated, and experience a sudden loss of power. I pulled off of the highway at the tunnel road exit and stalled on the off ramp. I attempted to restart the…
Had engine trouble with your 2011 Smart Fortwo?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2011 Smart Fortwo?
It's a meaningful issue. 3 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 36,900 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Smart/Fortwo.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.