Smart Fortwo II (451)
2007 – 2014 · RDW type 451
In short
At 11–12 years (mostly built 2013–2015) 9.2% of 523 inspected Smart Fortwo II (451)s had at least one A-problem at the APK, against 7.2% for all cars of the same age. Over all ages together an A-problem occurs 8% more often on this model than on average (rank 229 of 328 in the ranking). Most often it concerns brakes, springs and shock absorbers and control arms / ball joints — brakes occurs 2.0× as often as on comparable cars.
Cite these figures
CarXray.nl (2026). Smart Fortwo II (451) — APK defects by age. Based on RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. https://carxray.nl/en/modellen/smart/fortwo-ii-451/
A-problems
9.2%
n = 523 · 95% CI 7.0 – 12.0%
National, same age
7.2%
n = 782,549 · 95% CI 7.1 – 7.2%
Defects at the APK by age
- Smart Fortwo II (451)
- National, same age
- 95% confidence interval
| Age | Built (approx.) | n | A-problems | 95% CI | All defects | National A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 – 4 years | 2021–2023 | — | insufficient | 1.3% | ||
| 5 – 6 years | 2019–2021 | — | insufficient | 1.9% | ||
| 7 – 8 years | 2017–2019 | — | insufficient | 3.1% | ||
| 9 – 10 years | 2015–2017 | 31 | insufficient | 4.7% | ||
| 11 – 12 years | 2013–2015 | 523 | 9.2% | 7.0 – 12.0% | 37.9% | 7.2% |
| 13 – 15 years | 2010–2013 | 1,596 | 12.7% | 11.1 – 14.4% | 42.0% | 10.6% |
| 16+ years | 2010 or older | 1,953 | 15.1% | 13.5 – 16.7% | 43.7% | 15.3% |
Weak spots
What to check extra on this generation.
| Point to check | Share · sample · 95% CI | Vs. same class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 5.7% · n = 523 · 4.0 – 8.1% | 2.0× | |
| Springs and shock absorbers | 1.0% · n = 523 · 0.4 – 2.2% | 0.7× | |
| Control arms / ball joints | 1.0% · n = 523 · 0.4 – 2.2% | 0.7× | |
| Brake lines | 1.0% · n = 523 · 0.4 – 2.2% | 3.9× |
Open recalls
Check the status of this specific car.
About this generation
- Production years
- 2007 – 2014
- RDW type code(s)
- 451
- Trade name(s)
- FORTWO
- Registered (type group)
- 3,028
- Generation boundary
- Draft, being checked
See other Fortwo generations Similar models
Same type of car and era, at 11–12 years. Fortwo II (451): 9.2% A-problems.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Smart Fortwo reliable?
The APK tells you about defects, not breakdowns. At 11–12 years 9.2% of inspected Smart Fortwo II (451)s had at least one A-problem (structure, safety or costly mechanics), against 7.2% nationally at the same age. The maintenance of the specific car matters more than the model.
How does the Smart Fortwo II (451) compare with other cars?
Over all ages together an A-problem occurs 8% more often on the Smart Fortwo II (451) than on cars of the same age. That puts it at rank 229 of 328 models in the CarXray ranking.
Which model years do these figures cover?
The inspections run from 2025-10 to 2026-09. Cars aged 11–12 years were then mostly built in 2013–2015. The data table shows the build years per age class.
What are the most common problems?
The most common A-problems at the APK are brakes, springs and shock absorbers, control arms / ball joints. See the weak spots above and take them into your checklist.
Take these insights to the viewing
Use our checklist and focus on the key points for this Smart Fortwo II (451).