I wanted more up-to-date car reliability information that included actual repair rates. So in late 2005 I started getting people together to make this possible. TrueDelta now updates actual repair frequencies, not just dots, four times a year, to track cars closely as they age.
We recently updated results for the smart fortwo to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2009: 54
2008: 52
Both model years started out worse than average, and have now improved to average. These cars appear to have some initial problems, then few additional problems once those are fixed.
We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.
In the case of the 2008 fortwo, the percentage with no repairs is about 65, and the percentage of lemons is about 3.
We'll have further updates in May and August. The more participants we have, the better the information we can provide.
[url=http://www.truedelta.com/car-reliability.php?stage=pt&bd=smart&mc=389]smart fortwo reliability comparisons[/url]
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Herb Bell on -
Your statistics sound about right. It took three visits to the repair shop to eliminate the "infant mortality" troubles in my 2008 SMART. This is exactly why European cars always seem to be "black-balled" by Consumer Reports Magazine.
- Factory QA is weak or non-existent.
- Dealer desire to root out and fix said troubles is the same.
Why is this? I've been told (and even experienced) that European Engineers are given the royal treatment by their employers just because they have a COLLEGE DEGREE! In Italy and Germany, they invariably are addressed with an honorific such as "Engenieri" and "Herr Ingeniour". While working in Field Service for Olivetti, I discovered that these God-like engineers couldn't figure their way out of a brown paper bag! (it's a long story). American Technicians were smarter by a long shot. Goes to show you how an "old-boy's" system of protection, like our medical AMA, is used to protect the incompetent morons who end up causing real damage, even death.
I would suggest that every SMART car owner react to indifference from the repair shops with a really hard attitude to match what whey are receiving in the form of brush-offs.
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We have updated results for the smart fortwo to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2009: 39
2008: 44
Both model years started out worse than average, and have now improved to about average and are even nearly "better than average." These cars appear to have some initial problems, then few additional problems once those are fixed.
We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.
In the case of the 2008 fortwo, the percentage with no repairs is about 67, and the percentage of lemons is about 2.
A big thank you to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. The more participants we have, the better the information we can provide.
smart fortwo reliability comparisons
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I got my smart in April of 2008. I now have 27000 miles on it and no problems. Really a fun, unique little car. Not for everybody, but I sure like it. You kind of have to like a different kind of driving experience. If you just want an "appliance" car, don't get this. But if you like to think a little when you drive, you'd probably like it.
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I got my 2008 about the same time. I have 36,000 miles + on it and have had no problems. I have the reverse glitch sometimes but nothing major. I do all my own maintenance. I enjoy the "smallness" of it but of course a few years back I drove a Suzuki Samuari.
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Permalink Reply by Herb Bell on
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Reply by Jack Diehl 1 day ago
I got my smart in April of 2008. I now have 27000 miles on it and no problems. Really a fun, unique little car. Not for everybody, but I sure like it. You kind of have to like a different kind of driving experience. If you just want an "appliance" car, don't get this. But if you like to think a little when you drive, you'd probably like it.
Agree with you assessment of Smart's fun factor. You were lucky with your car. This isn't everyone's experience, however. See Michael Karesh's statistics. My car is smack in the middle (average) in reliability, with 3 repairs to finally fix the weird behaviors. Since the third repair, it runs like a Swatch .
After it went past 20,000 miles, something changed in the performance - it improved noticeably. Another poster said this was due to the way the computers in the car were programmed, and not even the dealers were in on this joke, that it was done at the factory to allow the cars to break in at reduced performance until they passed 20K miles. A noble sentiment, but should it have been kept a secret from the paying customers?
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Could you explain what you noticed about your performance.
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Permalink Reply by Herb Bell on
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Hi, Luca;
You asked what I noticed about my Smart that was different after 20,000 miles.
1.- Transmission now kicks down easily (more like trannies in American cars) and spends less time "hung up" in gear under hard acceleration.
2.- Acceleration has improved. I haven't timed acceleration yet, but will report back when I do.
3.- Gas mileage has improved by 2-3 mpg even though I'm driving the car harder.
4.- No more alarms from the computers. All anomalous behaviors are gone.
If the car continues working like this into the future, I will indeed be a happy camper.
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We have updated results for the smart fortwo to include owner experiences through June 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2009: 41
2008: 54
Both are about average.
We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.
In the case of the fortwo, the percentage with no repairs is about 60 for the 2008 and 65 for the 2009, and the percentage of lemons is less than one in both cases.
Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February.
To see how other cars compare, and to sign up to help:
smart fortwo reliability comparisons
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We have updated results for the smart fortwo to include owner experiences through September 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of next year.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2009: 35, better than average
2008: 57, about average
We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.
In the case of the fortwo, the percentage with no repairs is about 63 for the 2008 and 77 for the 2009, and the percentage of lemons is about 3 for the 2008 and less than one for the 2009.
[url=http://www.truedelta.com/lemon-odds.php?stage=pt&bd=smart&mc=389]smart fortwo Lemon-odds and Nada-odds[/url]
Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May.
To see how other cars compare, and to sign up to help:
<a href=http://www.truedelta.com/car-reliability.php?stage=pt&bd=smart&mc=389>smart fortwo reliability ratings and comparisons</a>
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Permalink Reply by Tony on -
How does information like this get to main stream media like Consumer Reports? It seems that they dont give this little lion much credit.
I've had my smart since August of 2008. It has never 'stranded' me once. I had the 2.0 computer flash done when it was first brought out. I had the 'recall' that included swapping batteries out. I already chewed up 1 set of rear tires (*put same size as rear stock Genius wheels/tires all the way around*) and that didnt seem to have much negative affect on my MPG.
I think the biggest thing I've had done was my polycarbonate roof panel was replaced *and needs to be again due to spidercracks again*
Since day one I've driven my smart with a very sportive attitude. When I decide to 'hypermile' the car I can squeeze nearly 40 mpg out of it in the city. But it seems to me the practice of hypermiling is very very annoying to other drivers.
My only gripe has been the shifting of the tranny. I had a very recent shift modification done at the dealership. It was by far the best it has been, ever! The shifts are much quicker than before. Under hard acceleration, the shifts hit more aggressively, under light throttle, it is as close to an automatic in smoothness as it can get. This mod took about 80% of the 'rocking' between shifts away.
I am not unrealistic, I know I am not driving a twin clutch Ferrari that hits 1,2,3,4,5,6 as if they were all one gear, but I do think that Mercedes/Smart can come up with something much better than what they have so far for the smart. maybe even a CVT. This car is probably a perfect candidate for one.
With all that said, I think that my smart has served well these past 28 months. With gas prices fast approaching 4.00 a gallon people will soon remember one of the best parts of this car. With near 40 MPG average, I saved over $5,000 in 2 years from my former Dodge 1500 Ram Truck. 1/3 the cost of the car. Quite a savings.
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Permalink Reply by Herb Bell on
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Hi, Tony;
Have had many of the same thoughts about the value of reliability data collection. I'd like to add, "who does this serve?" So far, automotive journalists have simply cut and pasted old crap that has no more applicability to newer Smarts than Model T's have to new Tauruses. Apparently, the "palm to be greased" is remaining empty.
Since the third service call withing the warranty period, my 2008 Smart has been ultra-reliable.
Even in Automatic Mode, the shifts are far more acceptable than before the software upgrade to the 2009 model.
Your remark about the Smart's MPG in this era of over-$3-gas is one of the major benefits of owning a Smart. I can do better only with my Suzuki Bandit 1255, which gives up to 51 mpg.
Has anyone yet had the software upgrades, offered by Piasini in TX, installed on their Smarts, that promise about 100 RWHP and over 50 mpg, hwy.? $650 seems steep for this software. They were asking $550 while they were in Atlanta. Your reports would be appreciated.
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It is very rare to be left stranded by any current car within the first 50,000 miles. Even something like the roof delaminating is more serious than the average problem for a car of this age.
The problem with CR's results is that they're always based on old data. The fortwo's reliability has improved since 2008. But because of CR's reporting lag, any improvement won't show up for 6 to 18 months.
This said, their road test evaluation of the fortwo was poor, so even if the car did very well in their reliability survey they would not recommend it.
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