SmartFortwo Electric Drive2012Electric/smart/fortwo-electric-drive/2012/electric/

2012 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Fortwo Electric Drive.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine Electric

The 2012 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive is a compact passenger car built on the brand’s iconic two‑seat platform, powered entirely by an electric motor that delivers a modest but efficient driving experience. With a total of eight owner complaints recorded for this model year—primarily concerning seat belt functionality—and no recalls issued, its reliability profile remains comparatively clean, reflecting the broader trend of high dependability seen across the Fortwo lineup. This snapshot underscores the vehicle’s role as a practical, low‑maintenance urban commuter while highlighting a specific area of improvement that may interest researchers focusing on safety component reliability.

Model year20122011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque81 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 540 CCA battery, OE oil filter 1321800110. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 540 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1321800110
Engine air filter001094030164
Spark plug1321590003 alt 1321590203
Battery4519820008 alt 0009827808
Front wiper blades4518200045
Serpentine belt0019934596 alt 0019934496
Thermostat1322000015
Cabin air filter4518300018

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length106.3 in
Overall width61.4 in
Overall height60.6 in
Wheelbase73.6 in
Curb weight1742 lb
Track (front / rear)50.4 / 53.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)43/57

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 81 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidCastrol BOT 328
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Manual Transmission FluidCastrol BOT 328
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity3.5-5.0

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts81 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug32.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.21 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type100
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance540 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test23.2 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief23.2 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket22 USE NEW BOLTS ONLY ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle85 ft-lbs
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.118 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.381 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.381 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.315 in
Drum Nominal Diameter7.99 in
Drum Discard at-or-over8.05

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 40,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 40,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 10,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Convertible Top (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 10,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic Booster (inspect fluid level) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Wheel Cylinder (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
At 20,000 miEngine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect)
At 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic Booster (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 40,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect)
Every 40,000 miEngine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miBrake Wheel Cylinder (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2012 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive lead in one area — the seat belts, 2 of 8 reports (25%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 2 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the seat belts pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
54
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
8
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Seat Belts2
Air Bags2
Exterior Lighting1
Power Train,Electrical System1
Structure1
Electrical System,Vehicle Speed Control,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 54 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
LI82.30-P-0592392026-05-19Visibility/WiperComplaint There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper…
LI82.10-P-0783012026-04-16Exterior LightingComplaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a…
LI33.30-P-0566652025-05-21Power TrainComplaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off…
LI82.10-P-0788962025-04-28Exterior LightingComplaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural…
LI82.10-P-0783012025-04-28Exterior LightingComplaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a…

VIN tools

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VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Fortwo Electric Drive. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2012 Fortwo Electric Drive have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.