Selling a dead or junk smart fortwo

Own an early one, or a later fortwo that has quit? You can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US.

What owners reported, by generation

The EPA lists the fortwo for the 2008 through 2019 model years, as a coupe and a convertible (cabriolet), with electric drive versions alongside the gas cars. From 2018 the electric cars carry the name EQ fortwo; Wikipedia says smart announced that change in March 2018. Every fortwo was built at Smartville, the Daimler plant in Hambach, France.

Each count here is a complaint an owner sent to NHTSA, tallied on October 10, 2026. None of it grades how reliable a fortwo is.

2008-2013: the 451 series

Wikipedia dates the second generation, the 451 series, to production from November 2006 to 2014, with a 5-speed automated manual gearbox. The first US model years sit inside that run.

The 2008 tops the list at 177 complaints. Power train is named in 38, then engine with 32 and electrical system with 18. Thirty of those complaints mention a fire, 8 a crash and 11 an injury, and one reports a death. The 2009 follows with 111 complaints: power train 24, engine 14, electrical system 13, and 12 that mention a fire.

Two recalls cover these years:

• 18V273 (2008-2009): the rear insulation mat in the engine compartment can deform, break down and come loose over time. Dealers replace it with an improved mat for free. The campaign counts 42,781 vehicles.
• 08V390 (2008): one batch of paint did not meet spec, and a plant re-work used different paint materials. Dealers repaint the affected areas. This one covers 43 fortwos.

After 2009 the record goes quiet. The 2010 through 2013 add 55 complaints between them, and none has a recall. Wikipedia also notes the 2008 fortwo earned a "Good" rating in the IIHS front and side crash tests.

2014-2015: the changeover years

Wikipedia ends 451 production in 2014 and starts the third generation, the 453, in the same year, so these two model years sit at the changeover. These two years have 18 and 11 complaints. They share one recall, 15V192: the steering gear mounting bolts on 2014-2015 coupes and convertibles and 2014 electric versions. Dealers replace the bolts for free. That campaign counts 5,058 vehicles.

2016-2019: the 453 series

The third generation, the 453 series, was built from 2014 to 2019. Wikipedia lists a 0.9-liter turbo three-cylinder, a 1.0-liter gas three-cylinder and a 66 kW electric motor, with a 5-speed manual. The cabrio launched globally in 2016.

These four years have 33 complaints in all. The 2016 has 22: engine 5, service brakes 4, electrical system 4, with 5 crashes and 7 injuries reported. It also has two recalls. 17V179 (2,213 vehicles) adds sealing caps so the headlights can't be adjusted sideways. 17V448 (5,061 vehicles) replaces a parking brake cable lock nut that can loosen.

The 2017 has recall 17V447 for casting flaws in the left front steering knuckle, 110 vehicles. Dealers inspect the knuckle and replace any from the affected batch. Recall 20V107 covers a single 2019 electric drive car: a welded joint in the high-voltage battery could come apart, and a dealer replaced the battery. As the newest fortwos, these have had the shortest run for owners to report problems.

Complaints and recalls by model year

Read off NHTSA's complaint records on October 10, 2026. The fire and crash columns count complaints reporting one. A recall listed under two years is a single campaign.

Across all years, the components named most often are power train (73), engine (69) and electrical system (50).

Fix it or sell it?

Start with the free fixes. Put your VIN into NHTSA's recall lookup. On a 2008 or 2009, ask a dealer whether the 18V273 insulation mat was ever replaced. An open recall doesn't stop you from selling, but it costs nothing to have done first.

Then weigh the repair. Put the shop's fortwo quote beside the price a running one from your year brings. When the quote nears or tops it, selling unrepaired wins. Our guide on repairs that outrun the car's value goes deeper.

• Gas car with engine or power train trouble: those are the two components owners name most. See blown engine for how to weigh a dead motor.
• Electric drive that won't charge or move: sell it whole, with the high-voltage battery left in place. EV battery failed covers your options.

Selling your fortwo whole

1. Note the fuel type first. Gas fortwo or electric drive matters, along with the VIN, the miles and the problem.
2. Request an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Describe the spot. Curb, carport or back lot, and can it roll on its own wheels? Our driver loads the fortwo right there.
4. Keep everything on it. That means the high-voltage battery or the three-cylinder engine, plus all four wheels. Flag any part that's gone.
5. On pickup day, bring the title and your ID, plus any keys. What to do with your fortwo plates is set by your state. Read after you sell.

No title? Start with selling with no title. See every smart model we cover.