By make
Known Smart problems at the APK
6 times a part fails clearly more often than average on a Smart generation.
Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026
By part
Brakes
Repair: medium- Fortwo II (451) 2007–2014 · 5.7% at 11–12 yrs (national 2.9%)
Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.
Springs and shock absorbers
Repair: medium- Fortwo II (451) 2007–2014 · 5.4% at 16+ yrs (national 2.7%)
Push each corner down firmly: the car should rebound once. Look for oil on the dampers and whether the car sits level.
Exhaust and emissions
Repair: medium- Fortwo II (451) 2007–2014 · 3.3% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.4%)
Start the engine cold and watch for smoke and an uneven idle. Listen for blowing noises under the car.
Engine and drivetrain
Repair: large- Fortwo II (451) 2007–2014 · 1.8% at 13–15 yrs (national 0.4%)
Start cold and listen for ticking, watch for smoke and jerks when shifting.
Control arms / ball joints
Repair: medium- Fortwo II (451) 2007–2014 · 3.2% at 16+ yrs (national 2.0%)
Listen for clunks or knocks over speed bumps on the test drive. The car should not wander when braking.
Brake lines
Repair: medium- Fortwo II (451) 2007–2014 · 2.3% at 16+ yrs (national 1.4%)
Use a torch to look along the lines near the wheels and rear axle: no thick rust or wet spots.
All Smart generations in a row
| Generation | A-problems vs. the same age |
|---|---|
| Fortwo II (451)2007–2014 | 8% more often |
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Frequently asked questions
Which problems are common on Smart cars?
At the APK brakes stands out for Smart: on 1 of 1 generations it is clearly more common than on cars of the same age. Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.
Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know