Abarth 500 vs Smart Forfour: which is more reliable?
According to the MotorFiable Score, the Smart Forfour (5.4/10) has fewer serious documented faults than the Abarth 500 (5.3/10), mainly because of the faults in the rest of the car (suspension, brakes, electronics…).
| Item | Abarth 500 | Smart Forfour |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | City car | City car |
| Years | 2008–2016 | 2014–2021 |
| MotorFiable Score | 5.3 out of 10 | 5.4 out of 10 |
| Engine score | 5.2/10 | 5.1/10 |
| Most recommended engine | 1.4 T-Jet · With caution | 0.9 TCe · With caution |
| Score for the rest of the car | 5.5/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Suspension | 8.6 out of 101 faultMedium severity | 7.0 out of 101 faultCritical severity |
| Brakes | No documented faults | 7.8 out of 101 faultHigh severity |
| Steering | 7.9 out of 101 faultHigh severity | 7.0 out of 100 faults |
| Gearbox and clutch | No documented faults | 7.9 out of 101 faultHigh severity |
| Electrical system | 9.3 out of 101 faultLow severity | 8.6 out of 101 faultMedium severity |
| Headlights and lights | 9.3 out of 101 faultLow severity | 6.5 out of 100 faults |
| Bodywork and interior | 6.1 out of 102 faultsCritical severity | 8.0 out of 100 faults |
| Airbags and safety | No documented faults | 7.9 out of 101 faultHigh severity |
Scores out of 10: the higher, the fewer serious documented faults. How we calculate them
Main faults of the Abarth 500
Outside the engine
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBodywork and interiorUnsuitable front right seat guides: the seat may not lock in place and could come loose (2016 campaign)Safety Gate/RAPEX issued a recall in September 2016 for the Fiat 500 and Abarth 500 built between December 2015 and January 2016: the front right seat guides are unsuitable and the seat might not engage properly and could even come loose. It is corrected at an official workshop using the chassis number (VIN).
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBodywork and interiorDoor trim that can break and injure occupants in a side impact (2013 campaign)Safety Gate/RAPEX issued a recall in September 2013 (alert 38/2013) for the Fiat 500 Abarth built in 2012: because of a design defect in the door trim, it can break in a side impact and injure occupants. The alert warns that it may not affect every unit.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalSteeringSteering box with insufficient lubrication due to water ingress: stiff or locked steering (2017 recall)Safety Gate/RAPEX issued in July 2017 (alert 29/2017) a recall of the Fiat 500 and Abarth 500 (type 312) built in March 2017: water ingress can leave the steering box with insufficient lubrication, making it stiff or locking it.
In their engines
- High severityFrequency: Common1.4 T-JetPremature turbocharger failure or wearOn the Fiat 500X, Fiat Tipo, Jeep Renegade and Jeep Compass there are recurring reports of turbocharger failure, sometimes at very low mileage (from 15,000 km); the manufacturer has offered occasional goodwill discounts, but there is no official campaign.Repair: €1,100–€2,300Appears at around 15,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 T-JetMultiAir (UniAir) electro-hydraulic unit failureThe MultiAir (UniAir) electro-hydraulic unit, which controls the intake valves using oil pressure, can fail and cause misfires and the engine light to come on; on the Alfa Romeo MiTo there is a documented case of replacement at 50,000 km for €1,400, with no warranty cover.Repair: €1,250–€1,800Appears at around 12,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 T-JetHigh oil consumptionThe Fiat 500X, Fiat Tipo, Alfa Romeo MiTo and Giulietta have accumulated reports of above-normal oil consumption, in some cases up to 1 litre per 1,000 km; keep an eye on the level between services and do not wait for the warning light.Appears at around 60,000 km
Main faults of the Smart Forfour
Outside the engine
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionFront left hub carrier with insufficient strength (2017 campaign)A Safety Gate alert (41/2017) and the DVSA cover Forfours and Fortwos built between March and June 2017 whose front left hub carrier may lack the necessary strength and break, with loss of control. It is checked and replaced if necessary at an official dealer.
- 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: OccasionalAirbags and safetyRear seat backrest anchorage with insufficient strength in a frontal crashIn 2016 Safety Gate published an alert (A12/0766/16) because the rear seat backrest anchorage of the Forfour, built from September 2014 to December 2015, may not withstand a frontal crash with a heavy load behind it. The backrest could come loose and fold forwards.
In their engines
- High severityFrequency: Common0.9 TCeCoolant 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: Occasional0.9 TCeTiming 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: Rare0.9 TCeTurbocharger 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.