Model year 2017 · Two Seaters

2017 smart fortwo: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2017 smart fortwo at 34–35 mpg combined (gas versions) and 102–108 MPGe combined with 57–58 miles of EPA-rated range across 6 versions. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 9 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

34–35

NHTSA overall rating

4/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORTWO CABRIOLET.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a smart dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2017 smart fortwo recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 1 safety recall for the 2017 smart fortwo, newest first.

Steering

NHTSA 17V447000 Reported Jul 14, 2017

Filed by: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 2017090002)
Units affected: 110 (estimate)
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 smart fortwo and smart fortwo Cabriolet vehicles. Casting imperfections may result in the failure of the left front axle steering knuckle.
Risk: Failure of the left front axle steering knuckle could affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle steering knuckle, replacing any from the affected batch, free of charge. The recall October 13, 2017. Owners may contact smart customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2017 smart fortwo fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2017 smart fortwo EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Electric range	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
fortwo cabriolet	0.9L 3-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium	33/38/35 mpg	—	$2,350	251
fortwo cabriolet	0.9L 3-cyl turbo	Manual 5-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium	31/38/34 mpg	—	$2,400	258
fortwo coupe	0.9L 3-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium	33/39/35 mpg	—	$2,350	248
fortwo coupe	0.9L 3-cyl turbo	Manual 5-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium	31/39/34 mpg	—	$2,400	257
fortwo electric drive convertible	Electric (60 KW AC Synchronous)	Single-speed	Rear-Wheel Drive	Electricity	112/91/102 MPGe	57 mi 33 kWh/100 mi	$750	0
fortwo electric drive coupe	Electric (60 KW AC Synchronous)	Single-speed	Rear-Wheel Drive	Electricity	124/94/108 MPGe	58 mi 31 kWh/100 mi	$700	0

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2017 smart fortwo crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2017 smart fortwo NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2017 Smart Fortwo 2 DR RWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	14.7%	Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2017 smart fortwo owner complaints

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 smart fortwo, most recently on Apr 8, 2026. 0 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2017 smart fortwo complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Electrical system	4
Power train	2
Seat belts	2
Steering	2
Engine	1
Exterior lighting	1
Suspension	1
Visibility/wiper	1
Wheels	1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other smart fortwo model years

smart fortwo by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2019 fortwo	102–108 MPGe	1	1	—
2018 fortwo	102–108 MPGe	0	1	—
2016 fortwo	34–35 mpg · 107 MPGe	2	22	—
2015 fortwo	36 mpg · 107 MPGe	1	11	—

All smart fortwo years compared · Decode a VIN

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with smart.