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2018 Smart Fortwo

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Fortwo.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2018 Smart Fortwo is a passenger car that, according to the available data, recorded just a single owner complaint and no recalls for the model‑year total of one owner complaint and zero recalls. That solitary complaint was traced to the electrical system, the area most frequently cited across the Fortwo’s history. Situated within the model’s complaint timeline from 2005 through 2019, contrasting sharply with the peak of 139 complaints in 2008 and approaching the record low of one complaint reported for 2019. Consequently, the 2018 Fortwo reflects a period of markedly improved reliability for the nameplate.

Model year201820172016201520142013

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque77 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

Tire sizeP165/65R15; Rear: P185/60R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim4.5; Rear: 5.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Battery4539820008
Front wiper blades4538242100
Cabin air filter4538350300

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length106.3 in
Overall width65.4 in
Overall height61.4 in
Wheelbase73.6 in
Curb weight2050 lb
Track (front / rear)56.7 / 55.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)45/55

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Fortwo of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.0–10.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.00 sec — 2017 Electric Drive Passion Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2017Electric Drive Passion Coupe Elec 60-kW 17.6-kWh9.00 sec17.00 sec80 hpRWD
2017Passion Cabriolet 0.9L Turbo I-310.20 sec17.70 sec89 hpRWD
2017Electric Drive Prime Coupe Elec 60-kW 17.6-kWh10.30 sec17.80 sec80 hpRWD
2016Proxy Coupe 0.9L Turbo I-39.90 sec17.50 sec89 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 77 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs88.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts77 ft-lbs

Ignition

Spark Plug ManufacturerSmart
Spark Plug Torque18 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.04 lbs
Oil TypeSmart part number VC200YF or equivalent.

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 22
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 77
Maximum Drum DiameterRear: 8.047

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
250.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
123.0 ft. lbs.23 ft. lbs
262.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Every 5,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 20,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension Shock or Strut (inspect) · Tie Rod (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.

The 2018 Smart Fortwo logged a single complaint in the Electrical System and recorded no crash or fire complaints. This complaint count is comparable to the 2019 figure of one complaint and well below the 2017 total of nine complaints, placing 2018 at the low end of the recent complaint trend. The federal record does not list a recall for the 2018 model, while recalls have been isolated to the 2017 and 2019 model years. The vehicle’s sole reported issue was electrical in nature, indicating a relatively stable defect profile for that year. Therefore, from a federal record perspective, 2018 is a recommended year to buy.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
13
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’05’08’09’10’11’12’17’19

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Electrical System1

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 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
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…
LI82.70-P-0774332025-03-05Electrical SystemComplaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot…
20210800172021-11-25Electrical SystemThe software for the battery management system control unit does not correspond with the…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Fortwo. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

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

Battery 4539820008Front wiper blades 4538242100Cabin air filter 4538350300

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2018 Fortwo have open recalls?

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