Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| coupé, 61 PS, 6-speed automated manual, rear-wheel drive Research | €322 | €2,500 | 185 | Petrol | 15 | Automatisiertes Schaltgetriebe (6) | 2004–2007 |
| cabrio, 61 PS, 6-speed automated manual, rear-wheel drive, convertible Research | €320 | €2,499 | 66 | Petrol | 15 | Automatisiertes Schaltgetriebe (6) | 2004–2007 |
At a glance
- Years: built 1998 to 2007. The 599 ccm engine ran to 2003, the 698 ccm engine from 2003. Coupe and cabrio.
- Most common: jerky gear changes from the clutch and its actuator, oil loss, and turbocharger (turbo) damage.
- Reliability: 2/5, because gear-change faults, oil loss and turbo damage are each named by two independent sites.
- DIY: 2/5, because clutch and actuator work needs diagnostic equipment to re-adapt the gearbox.
- Prefer: a car with proof of a gearbox re-adaptation after clutch work and a normal oil level.
- Avoid: a car with jerky or refusing gear changes, or oil traces in the rear engine bay.
Engines and gearboxes
- Petrol, 599 ccm three-cylinder turbo (45, 55, 61 PS, 1998-2003): oil loss and turbo damage apply, see Known issues. The sources give no fault rate for this size.
- Petrol, 698 ccm three-cylinder turbo (50, 61, 75 PS, 2003-2007), Brabus versions included: oil loss and turbo damage apply, see Known issues. The sources give no fault rate for this size.
- Diesel, OM660 799 ccm three-cylinder, 41 PS (2000-2007): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- Gearbox: 6-speed automated manual with an electric clutch actuator, rear drive: the main issue on this car, see the first Known issue.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gearbox shifts and clutch actuator | All cars, automated gearbox | Not stated | Clutch 620-1,000 EUR, actuator 600-700 EUR (Germany, year not stated) |
| Oil loss | Petrol engines | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Turbocharger damage | All cars, not split by engine | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Rust in the frame and sills | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Corroded earth points and charging | All cars | Not stated | Alternator 370-460 EUR fitted (Germany, year not stated) |
| Water through worn seals | Rear hatch and body seals | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Test the gear changes. Drive from a standstill, in stop-and-go traffic, and make several up and down shifts. Jerky or late shifts, a refused gear or the three flashing bars mean a clutch or actuator fault. Ask for proof that the gearbox was re-adapted after clutch work. That check needs a scanner.
- Check the oil. Look at the dipstick and under the engine, and check the rear engine bay for oil traces. A low level or traces mean oil loss. Ask for oil change records.
- Look at the turbo. Check for oil leaks at the turbocharger and its hoses. Ask for records of any turbo work.
- Check the frame on a lift. Look at the welds and sills of the Tridion frame (the steel safety cell), the subframe, the brake lines and the rear exhaust. Holed or flaking metal is a bad result.
- Check the charging. Measure the battery at rest with a multimeter, not a scanner. 12.4 to 12.7 volts is normal. Look for corrosion on the earth points and the relay box under the driver's seat.
- Look for water. Check the door seals and the rubber strip by the rear hatch wiper for wear. A damp carpet or wet footwell means a seal job.
- Give the VIN to a Mercedes or smart dealer and ask for open and past recall campaigns. ADAC lists several steering recalls between 1999 and 2007.
Running costs
| Operational | €153 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €95 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €77 |
| Total per month | €325 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €40 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 417
- 25th percentile
- €1,900
- Median price
- €2,490
- 75th percentile
- €2,999
- Median mileage
- 137,300 km
- Median first registration
- 2005
- Dealer share
- 36.7%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €2,865
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
Gearbox shifts and clutch actuator
The clutch and its electric actuator (the unit that works the clutch) wear out. The gears shift jerkily or late, mostly when the engine is warm or in stop-and-go traffic. Gears can refuse to engage, and long shift pauses show on hard acceleration. The cluster can show three flashing bars.
Clutch wear comes from city driving and frequent starts from rest. A defective actuator is another cause. An actuator that gets wet or dirty can fail. A plunger with too much play can be moved toward the gearbox using three elongated holes. Low battery voltage and corroded relay connectors can also trigger the bars.
After any work on the clutch or actuator, the gearbox must be re-adapted with diagnostic equipment. Without it, shift quality stays poor.
Cost in Germany, year not stated: a clutch job is 620 EUR fitted on a 0.6 car (ADAC workshop list). CarWiki puts the clutch at 800-1,000 EUR in total and the actuator at 600-700 EUR. There is no figure for a 0.7 car.
Sources: ADAC Gebrauchtwageninfo: smart fortwo 1998-2007, Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich, CarWiki: smart fortwo problems, CarWiki: three-bar warning
Oil loss
The engine loses excessive oil. Oil traces show in the rear engine bay. The sources name the cylinder-head gasket, the valve-cover gasket, shaft seals and the crankcase breather as the causes. The sources do not describe the fix, and no price is confirmed.
Sources: CarWiki: smart fortwo problems, Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich
Turbocharger damage
The ADAC review says the car tends to turbocharger damage. CarWiki names leaks at the turbo. The sources do not split this by engine, and they give no symptoms, fix or price.
Sources: ADAC Gebrauchtwageninfo: smart fortwo 1998-2007, CarWiki: smart fortwo problems
Rust in the frame and sills
The Tridion frame, the steel safety cell around the cabin, rusts. The body panels do not. Check the frame welds, the subframe, the brake lines and the rear exhaust on a lift. CarWiki names rust on the sills and corroded brake lines. The sources give no fix and no price.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich, CarWiki: smart fortwo problems
Corroded earth points and charging
Flickering lights, starting problems and a weak charge can come from a weak alternator, a rusted earth cable between the engine mount and the body, corroded earth connections and aged connectors. CarWiki also names corroded connectors on the relay box under the driver's seat, and the three flashing bars can appear with low battery voltage.
Cost in Germany, year not stated: an alternator is 370-460 EUR fitted (ADAC workshop list). The sources give no price for earth or connector work.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich, CarWiki: smart fortwo problems, CarWiki: three-bar warning
Water through worn seals
Water enters the cabin, mostly through worn or defective seals (CarWiki). At the rear hatch, the rear wiper motor rests on a rubber strip and deforms it. RAC says this happens to most models and that a damp hatch is not too serious. The sources give no fix and no price.
Sources: CarWiki: smart fortwo problems, RAC Drive: smart City Coupe and Fortwo Coupe 2000-2007
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany (ADAC, CarWiki) | not given | Built up to April 1999 | Front-axle track rod boots did not meet the standard and corrode early. Remedy not stated. |
| Germany (ADAC, CarWiki) | not given | Campaign June 2002 | Steering shaft weld seam can crack, which can cause steering failure. Cars are collected by a smart centre. |
| Germany (ADAC, CarWiki) | not given | Campaign May 2005 | Lower ball joint stud can jump out of its socket without warning. Axle construction changed and new joints fitted. |
| Germany (ADAC, CarWiki) | not given | Campaign July 2007 | Circlip at the lower end of the steering column can come loose, cars without power steering. The part is replaced. |
ADAC lists several steering recalls between 1999 and 2007. Check every open and past campaign by VIN at a Mercedes or smart dealer.
Maintenance
- Oil: check the level on the dipstick between services and keep the oil change records. Oil loss is a known fault here.
- Gearbox: after any clutch or actuator job, have the gearbox re-adapted with diagnostic equipment. Keep the actuator dry and clean.
- Electrics and underbody: clean corroded earth points and connectors when you find them. Have the frame and underbody checked on a lift.
Sources
English
German
- ADAC Gebrauchtwageninfo: smart fortwo 1998-2007
- Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: typical problems of the smart fortwo
- CarWiki: smart fortwo problems
- CarWiki: three-bar warning
Russian
- No Russian source is used on this page.