Germany · NHTSA recalls & complaints
Smart VIN decoder
Smart began as a maker of tiny city cars, above all the two-seat fortwo, and is now a brand of electric SUVs. Since January 2020 it has been run by smart Automobile Co., Ltd., a 50:50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and China's Geely based in Ningbo. The current range consists of the #1, #3 and #5 electric SUVs.
Enter all 17 characters to see the build details NHTSA holds and the recalls for that model year.
- 7 model pages
- 7 recall campaigns
- 407 owner complaints
- model years 2005–2019
- 1 WMI code in vPIC
- origin: Germany
| Country of origin | Germany |
|---|---|
| Region | Europe |
| NHTSA recall and complaint data | Yes, model years 2005–2019 |
| WMI codes in NHTSA vPIC | 1 |
| Model pages | 7 |
| Vehicle recall campaigns | 7 |
| Owner complaints | 407 |
| Complaints reporting a crash | 25 (6.1%) |
| Complaints reporting a fire | 52 (12.8%) |
| Complaints reporting an injury | 21 (5.2%) |
| Complaints reporting a death | 1 (0.2%) |
| Data updated | September 25, 2026 |
The two eras are built in different places. The fortwo was built at Hambach in France until 2024, while the #1 is assembled in Xi'an, China. The VINs differ accordingly: NHTSA's vPIC database lists the older WME code under Mercedes-Benz Cars in Germany, and Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority lists a separate Chinese code for smart Automobile.
Smart was sold in the United States from January 2008, starting with the 2008 fortwo, until the 2019 model year, which Daimler said would be the last available in the U.S. and Canada. NHTSA holds recall campaigns and owner complaints for those U.S.-market cars; early campaigns were filed by Smart USA Distributor LLC and later ones by Mercedes-Benz USA. This page summarises that data; the new Chinese-built models have not been sold in the U.S.
NHTSA’s files hold 7 vehicle recall campaigns and 407 owner complaints for Smart vehicles from model years 2005 to 2019, summarised here on 7 model pages. The Fortwo has the most complaints (346), followed by the Fortwo Cabrio (28) and the Fortwo Coupe (23). Of those complaints, 25 report a crash, 52 a fire, 21 at least one injury and 1 at least one death; the figures count complaints, not people.
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first three characters of the VIN. NHTSA’s vPIC database decodes 1 WMI to Smart; this is the complete list, with the manufacturer name, country and vehicle type vPIC records for each.
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WME | MERCEDES-BENZ CARS | Germany | Passenger Car |
See the WMI code guide for how the codes are assigned.
Each model page lists NHTSA’s recall campaigns and owner complaints for that model name, by model year and component. Models are sorted by complaints; the data covers model years 2005–2019.
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortwo | 2005–2019 | 5 | 346 |
| Fortwo Cabrio | 2008–2009 | – | 28 |
| Fortwo Coupe | 2008–2016 | 2 | 23 |
| Fortwo Coupe Electric | 2014–2015 | 1 | 7 |
| Fortwo Cabriolet | 2017 | 1 | 2 |
| Fortwo Convertible Electric | 2014 | 1 | 1 |
| Fortwo Convertible | 2014–2015 | 1 | – |
– means NHTSA has no records of that kind under the model name.
Which WMI codes does Smart use?
The answer depends on the generation. The Smart cars sold in the U.S. carry WME, which NHTSA's vPIC database lists under Mercedes-Benz Cars with the make Smart. The newer models from smart Automobile Co., Ltd. in China are not in vPIC; Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) lists that company under the WMI HES.
| WMI | Manufacturer (source) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WME | Mercedes-Benz Cars (NHTSA vPIC); smart GmbH (KBA) | Germany | Passenger car |
| HES | smart Automobile Co., Ltd., Ningbo (KBA) | China | Not stated in KBA list |
Because HES is missing from vPIC, NHTSA data cannot identify a Chinese-built Smart, so a decode of such a VIN will return little beyond the region code. The WMI code guide explains how W (Germany) and H (China) prefixes are allocated.
How do European-market Smart VINs differ?
Smarts built for the U.S. followed 49 CFR Part 565, which requires a check digit in position 9 and a model-year code in position 10. Smarts built for Europe before July 2022 came under rules that mirrored ISO 3779, which leaves positions 4 to 9 to the manufacturer and makes the check digit and year code optional. The EU has required a check digit for new vehicle types since 6 July 2022, but not a year code. An older European-market Smart VIN may therefore fail the U.S. check-digit formula without having been altered, and any year character should be checked against the registration document. The European VIN decoding guide explains the differences.
Smart, Mercedes-Benz and Geely
Smart's history is tied to Mercedes-Benz, which is why the older WME code sits under Mercedes-Benz Cars in vPIC. The current smart Automobile company is a joint venture with China's Geely, the group also linked to Volvo and Polestar.
Why does my Smart's decode show Mercedes-Benz as the manufacturer?
Because NHTSA's vPIC database lists the WME code under Mercedes-Benz Cars, with the make Smart. A decode naming Mercedes-Benz for a U.S.-market Smart is expected, not an error.
Can I decode a new Chinese-built Smart here?
Only in a limited way. Those vehicles use a WMI that NHTSA's vPIC database does not list, so our decoder, which relies on vPIC, will not return a make or model for them. The registration document remains the best reference.
Does this page show Smart recalls?
It shows NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints for the Smart models sold in the U.S., grouped by model and model year. For one specific car, check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Brands mentioned in the notes above, then other European brands, each with its own VIN notes and WMI list.
- Mercedes-Benz (342) Germany · 578 recall campaigns
- Volvo (82) Sweden · 335 recall campaigns
- Polestar (3) Sweden · 17 recall campaigns
- Alfa Romeo (6) Italy · 34 recall campaigns
- Aston Martin (21) United Kingdom · 35 recall campaigns
- Audi (66) Germany · 214 recall campaigns
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files and NHTSA vPIC, updated September 25, 2026.