2016 Smart Forfour problems
The 2016 Smart Forfour was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 0.9 TCe. The 0.9 TCe has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 3 documented faults affect 2016 cars, such as handbrake: the lever gains travel because of the cable adjustment and may not hold the car.
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2016 Smart Forfour score: acceptable reliability
Calculated using only 8 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated
- Engine5.15 faults
- Gearbox7.91 fault
- Suspension10.0No documented faults
- Brakes7.91 fault
- Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
- Steering10.0No documented faults
- Electrical system8.61 fault
- Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
- Climate control10.0No documented faults
- Bodywork and interior10.0No documented faults
- Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults
What changes compared with the 2015 Smart Forfour
- No longer affected by: rear seat backrest anchorage with insufficient strength in a frontal crash (rest of the car)
- Starts to be affected by: gear selector bowden cable that can come loose and stop P engaging or disengaging (rest of the car)
0.9 TCe engine in the 2016 Smart Forfour
- With caution
0.9 TCe 90 (H4Bt, 2012-2024)
90 hp · H4Bt-400, H4Bt-408, H4Bt-410
The reliability record is positive and better than that of its sibling the 1.2 TCe, without the oil consumption or rate of chain problems so well documented for that engine. Check the coolant history (leak at the thermostat housing) and, to a lesser extent, any history of noise or work on the timing chain before buying.[3][4]
Faults that affect 2016 cars
- High severityFrequency: CommonCoolingCoolant leak at the thermostat housingThe 0.9 TCe can lose coolant through the thermostat housing (calorstat) gasket. It is the most-cited fault of this engine: if not detected in time, the low level can end up damaging the head gasket.
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingTiming chain or tensioner failureThe 0.9 TCe's timing chain tensioner can lose effectiveness over time. It is a minority of cases, but when the chain jumps the damage is serious: there is a documented case with a complete engine replacement at 80,000 km.
- High severityFrequency: RareTurboTurbocharger wear or failureThe 0.9 TCe's turbo can lose performance or fail, although the available statistics put it as an infrequent fault on this specific engine.
- Low severityFrequency: RareInjectionJerking due to an injection calibration that needs reprogrammingSome 0.9 TCe engines show slight jerking when accelerating because of an injection calibration that is corrected by reprogramming the ECU, without it being mechanical damage.
- Low severityFrequency: RareLubricationOil consumption (uncommon on this engine)Unlike other engines in the same family, the 0.9 TCe does not show a widespread pattern of excessive oil consumption: the sources document only a minority of cases.
Faults outside the engine in the 2016 Smart Forfour
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBrakesHandbrake: the lever gains travel because of the cable adjustment and may not hold the carYes: a Safety Gate alert (39/2017) covers type 453 Forfours built between November 2014 and October 2015 because the cable adjustment part of the parking brake weakens and the lever gains travel, so the brake may not apply the necessary force. It is checked at an official dealer.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalGearbox and clutchGear selector bowden cable that can come loose and stop P engaging or disengagingThe DVSA lists a recall (R/2016/198) over the gear selector bowden cable, which can come loose and stop the P position engaging or disengaging, with a risk of the car rolling. It affects Forfours and Fortwos from April 2016, 49 vehicles in the UK.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectrical system12 V battery: a common reason for roadside assistance on 2015 to 2017 ForfoursThe German ADAC's breakdown statistics, reproduced by car-recalls.eu, point to the battery as a typical weak point of 2015 to 2017 Forfours, the first years of the W453 generation. The source gives neither the cause nor the cost.
Buying a 2016 Smart Forfour?
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Smart Forfour reliable?
The 2016 Smart Forfour was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 0.9 TCe. The 0.9 TCe has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 3 documented faults affect 2016 cars, such as handbrake: the lever gains travel because of the cable adjustment and may not hold the car.
Is the 2016 Smart Forfour better than the 2015?
Our score goes from 5.7 in 2015 to 5.7 in 2016. No longer affected by: rear seat backrest anchorage with insufficient strength in a frontal crash (rest of the car). Starts to be affected by: gear selector bowden cable that can come loose and stop P engaging or disengaging (rest of the car).
What is the best year for the Smart Forfour?
According to our score, the best are 2019 and 2018 (7.5/10). The year with the worst score is 2015 (5.7/10). Each year's score counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those cars.
What faults does the 2016 Smart Forfour have?
The most important ones documented for 2016 cars are: timing chain or tensioner failure (0.9 TCe, critical severity), coolant leak at the thermostat housing (0.9 TCe, high severity), turbocharger wear or failure (0.9 TCe, high severity), handbrake: the lever gains travel because of the cable adjustment and may not hold the car (brakes, high severity) and gear selector bowden cable that can come loose and stop P engaging or disengaging (gearbox and clutch, high severity).
Own a 2016 Smart Forfour? Tell us what faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Mercedes-Benz M281 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Smart ForfourWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité des 0.9 TCeFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French