Parks anywhere, fits everywhere, fears motorways
The Smart ForTwo is the ultimate city car — a two-seater microcar designed exclusively for urban environments where parking space is at a premium. Backed by Mercedes-Benz engineering, it carved out a unique niche for city dwellers, second-car buyers, and commuters in congested cities like London. It has no direct competitor in terms of its tiny footprint, though it competes loosely with the Fiat 500 and Toyota Aygo for urban runabout buyers.
We track 5 known issues across the Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
450 (1998–2007) — Petrol options included the 0.7 Turbo, 0.8 CDI, 1.0 Turbo, with 0.7 CDI, 0.8 CDI, 1.0 CDI on the diesel side. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Brake hose deterioration (£200–£350 to address).
451 (2007–2014) — Petrol options included the 1.0 MHD, with 0.8 CDI on the diesel side. We track 4 known issues on this generation, with 3 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Engine mount failure (£300–£500 to address).
453 (2014–2020) — Petrol options included the 0.9 Turbo, with 0.9 CDI on the diesel side.
Flexible brake hoses on first-generation Smart Fortwo deteriorate at 33 times the national fleet average, particularly on 0.7-litre petrol models. The hoses are positioned close to the rear-mounted engine and suffer from heat cycling and vibration. Internal deterioration can cause the hose to collapse under braking, leading to complete brake failure. This is a safety-critical issue that affects cars across all mileage ranges including very low-mileage examples.
Failed brake hoses can cause complete brake failure without warning. The small brake system means pressure loss affects all wheels quickly. This is a safety-critical defect that makes the vehicle dangerous to drive. Hose replacement is typically £80-150 per corner but must be done immediately when deterioration is detected.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
Engine mounts on Smart Fortwo fail at exceptionally high rates due to the engine's rear-mounted position and constant transmission vibration from the automated manual gearbox. The rubber deteriorates and separates from the metal brackets, causing excessive engine movement that can damage surrounding components.
Failed engine mounts allow excessive engine movement that can damage exhaust pipes, electrical connections, and cooling hoses. In extreme cases, the engine can shift enough to interfere with gear selection. Replacement typically costs £200-400 per mount, with most cars requiring all three mounts by 80,000 miles.
Check all auxiliary systems during the test drive — air conditioning (both hot and cold), engine mounts (excessive vibration at idle or clunking when pulling away) and all belt-driven accessories. Listen for squealing or chirping from the belt area.
Fuel system leaks occur at 29.6 times the fleet average on petrol Smart Fortwo models, with 0.7-litre variants particularly affected around 40,000-60,000 miles. The rear-mounted fuel tank and associated pipework are subject to engine heat and vibration. Leaks commonly develop at fuel line connections, the filler neck seal, or the fuel pump mounting. The small fuel tank means even minor leaks represent a significant safety hazard in the confined rear engine bay.
Fuel leaks in the rear engine bay present a serious fire risk due to the proximity of hot engine components and electrical connections. Even small leaks must be repaired immediately. Depending on the location, repairs can range from £100 for a simple hose replacement to £500+ if the fuel tank or pump requires removal.
Check for fuel smells around the engine bay and underneath the car. Look for staining or wetness around fuel lines and connections. Injector issues may cause rough running or misfires that are most noticeable at idle.
Coil springs fracture at 10.8 times the fleet average on Smart Fortwo, affecting all engine variants but particularly severe on 0.7-litre petrol models even at very low mileages. The short, stiff springs required for the compact wheelbase are prone to metal fatigue and can fracture without warning. Spring failure can occur on cars with fewer than 20,000 miles, indicating a design limitation rather than normal wear.
A fractured coil spring can collapse completely without warning, causing loss of vehicle control and potential tyre damage. The broken spring can also damage brake lines, suspension arms, or wheel arch liners. Replacement typically requires both springs on an axle to maintain handling balance, costing £200-400 depending on which axle is affected.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
Suspension bushes and joints wear at 21.6 times the fleet average on Smart Fortwo, particularly affecting 1.0-litre diesel models around 40,000-60,000 miles. The short wheelbase and rear-engine layout create unusual suspension loads, accelerating wear of lower arm bushes and anti-roll bar links. Even very low mileage cars can show premature wear due to the small suspension components being over-stressed for the vehicle's weight distribution.
Worn suspension components cause poor handling, increased tyre wear, and can affect braking stability. While not immediately dangerous, the components should be replaced to maintain safe handling characteristics. Multiple bushes typically need replacing together, with costs ranging £300-600 depending on which components are affected.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe common problems page.
Based on 108k real DVSA MOT tests, the Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... at 73x the fleet average, followed by engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or det... (47x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2015-2017 third-generation (W453) models are the best, with a much-improved Twinamic dual-clutch gearbox, better ride, and Renault-sourced engines. For the Mk2, 2010-2012 models are more sorted than the troublesome 2008-2009 launch cars. Avoid the MHD stop/start engine variant entirely.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.