Smart #1 HX11 — Problems & Common Faults
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The smart #1 (HX11, from 2022) is the brand's fresh start under Geely and has nothing in common with the old smart two-seaters: a 4.27 m compact electric SUV on Geely's SEA platform (shared with Volvo/Zeekr), styled by Mercedes-Benz. It is powered by a 66 kWh battery, available as rear-wheel drive (200 kW) or as the Brabus all-wheel-drive version (315 kW, 0–100 km/h in 3.9 s). WLTP range is around 420–440 km, with DC charging up to 150 kW. The #1 is well built, generously equipped and drives like a grown-up car – something completely different from the original smarts. Typical criticisms concern almost exclusively the software: the large central display and infotainment tend to freeze or respond with delay, over-the-air updates are essential and fix much. In cold weather the DC charging rate drops noticeably without a pre-conditioned battery, and battery pre-heating is less refined than at established makers. The short wheelbase and strong power, especially in the Brabus all-wheel-drive, demand some respect for rear stability during rapid load changes. Long-term data is naturally still thin, but Geely's drivetrain technology is considered mature. There have been isolated recalls and rework in the software and driver-assistance area – having the recall history checked via the VIN makes sense on this young model. Interior build quality is at Mercedes level, though some operating logic (much via the touchscreen) polarises. Market status 2026: already available as a young used car with noticeable depreciation from list price – well-equipped examples are an interesting proposition, especially the long-range rear-wheel-drive version for commuters. The Brabus all-wheel-drive is a fun proposition but uses noticeably more energy and gives up range. When buying, check the current software level, battery health (read the SoH) and full update history, and deliberately test the infotainment for responsiveness on the test drive.
Engine Overview
The Smart #1 HX11 is available with 2 engine variants — from 272 to 428 hp.
The dual-motor Brabus variant of the SEA platform combines front- and rear-axle motors into all-wheel drive and delivers substantially more system power with brutal acceleration, making the compact car surprisingly sporty. This performance comes at a price: tyre wear is high under brisk driving and real-world range drops noticeably compared with the single-motor version, especially in cold weather. When buying, check for even tread depth, current software level and battery state of health. The drive is mechanically low-maintenance; the critical areas are more the charging electronics, 12-volt battery and software topics.
- !! Underfilled front gearbox oil on early Brabus models
On early Brabus dual-motor AWD cars, the switchable front reduction gearbox was in some cases underfilled with oil at the factory (about 0.7 liters instead of the specified amount), damaging the front clutch gears. The same motor is shared with the Zeekr X.
Symptoms: Unusual noise or noticeable power loss from the front motor, especially under hard acceleration in AWD mode; front drive failure in extreme cases. - !! Rear motor bearing hum (Brabus too)
The rear motor bearing hum known from single-motor cars, per workshop reports, explicitly also affects dual-motor Brabus cars, since both variants share the same rear drive unit.
Symptoms: Continuous humming to rumbling noise from the rear starting around 80 km/h, growing louder with speed. - ! Vibration in steering wheel and cabin from 90 km/h on early cars
On early dual-motor Brabus models, vibration in the steering wheel and cabin appeared from around 90 km/h and persisted even after professional wheel balancing. Drivetrain components and rotating mass were suspected causes; newer cars are no longer reported to show this.
Symptoms: Noticeable vibration in the steering wheel and body from about 90 km/h, persists after tyre replacement and professional balancing.
+ 1 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
The single motor on the Geely SEA platform sits at the rear axle and delivers the strong, linear acceleration typical of modern EV drives together with good everyday efficiency. The 66-kWh battery enables solid range, and thermal management keeps power electronics and cells within a favourable temperature window. When buying, check for current software levels, since the early generation was noticeably improved via updates, and inspect the charging curve and battery state of health. The drive itself is low-maintenance; the usual EV topics concern the 12-volt battery, charging electronics and software fault messages.
- !! Complete power failure from faulty 12V recharging
A software bug in the DC/DC converter on early software versions (before OS 1.3.0) prevented the 12V battery from being properly recharged from the HV battery. The car then becomes completely unresponsive and doors won't open.
Symptoms: Car stops responding after standing for a while, doors lock and won't open, app shows 'offline' despite sufficient main battery charge. - !! Rear motor bearing hum
From around 80 km/h onward, a number of early cars develop a deep, humming bearing noise from the rear motor that grows louder with speed. Workshops have confirmed defective motor bearings, and the fix requires removing the drive unit.
Symptoms: Continuous humming to rumbling noise from the rear starting around 80 km/h, growing louder with speed, resembling a distant diesel engine. - !! DC fast-charging power permanently far below spec
On individual cars, DC charging power permanently drops to around 25 kW even though the battery and charger allow far more. In several cases a faulty onboard charger was identified as the cause and replaced under warranty.
Symptoms: Car permanently charges at very low DC power (about 25 kW instead of the possible 130-150 kW), regardless of charger or battery preconditioning.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Onboard Charger Incompatibility with AC Wallboxes Early vehicles (pre-mid-2023) have a faulty OBC that fails completely at Tesla Wallbox Gen 3 and certain openWB stations. The vehicle can become stranded. Revised OBC available as a warranty replacement. Symptoms: Charging process does not start, error message 'charging cable connected' despite no cable plugged in, charging aborts with relay clicking | Low | |
| Infotainment freezing and navigation issues The infotainment system freezes when scrolling in the map view or switching to Google Maps satellite view. Reported to occur roughly every 15 minutes. Workaround: 10-second reboot via the power button. Symptoms: Navigation arrow freezes, screen stops responding to input, steering wheel volume control stops working | Low | |
| Severely reduced DC charging speed in cold weather Without battery pre-conditioning, DC charging power drops below 60 kW at 35% SoC in winter (instead of 150 kW). Range simultaneously falls from ~450 km in summer to 250–280 km on motorway driving. Symptoms: Very slow charging in winter, noticeably longer charging times at fast chargers | Low | |
| Heated steering wheel fails, spare parts hard to source The heated steering wheel can fail completely. Because replacement steering wheels are sometimes imported from China, sourcing the part can take several months - a relevant point for workshop downtime. Symptoms: Heated steering wheel no longer responds to activation, no warmth in the wheel rim despite the function being switched on. | Medium | |
| Lane-keep assist falsely blocks reverse driving Even after the software update that stabilized the driving behavior, the lane-keep assist showed malfunctions while reversing: it sometimes blocks the car for obstacles that do not exist. Symptoms: Car brakes or blocks while reversing even though no obstacle is present; independent of the regular parking assistant. | Low |
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Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 17 weaknesses have been documented for the Smart #1 HX11 (2023–2026) — 7 engine-related and 10 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Electronics, Other, Suspension, Body. Considered reliable: SEA-315 (Elektromotor Dual).
#1 (SEA-200, 2023–2026) — Be Careful: Complete power failure from faulty 12V recharging, Rear motor bearing hum, DC fast-charging power permanently far below spec. Power: 272 PS.
What to watch out for with the Smart #1? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Smart #1 HX11 have? +
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Which Smart #1 HX11 engine is the most reliable? +
Which Smart #1 HX11 engine is the most fun? +
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee