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Smart · Supermini · 2020–2024

Smart ForFour 453-FL

Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice

★★★★★
3.0 / 5.0 · Based on 1 engine variants

Generations

Engine Overview

The Smart ForFour 453-FL is available with one engine variant at 75 hp.

EQ ForFour · Elektro· 82 PS
2020 2024
Be Careful 0 weaknesses
Show all weaknesses →

The Smart EQ ForFour (Elektro, 82 PS) has the Smart-ED (Elektromotor) — rated: "Be Careful".

Vehicle Weaknesses

WeaknessCost
✖DC-DC Converter Failure — Vehicle Does Not Start

A faulty DC-DC converter prevents the 12V battery from charging, causing the HV contactors not to close. Repair requires 8–16 hours of labour due to difficult accessibility.

Symptoms: Fault message 'malfunction – visit workshop', vehicle cannot be driven, 12V voltage below 13 V
from 70,000 km
Ad Smart EQ DCDC Wandler
 High
!12V Battery Drains Quickly

Like the ForTwo: the 12V lead-acid battery is not designed for BEV operation and sulphates. After 3–4 years a complete failure that renders the vehicle undriveable is to be expected.

Symptoms: Yellow battery warning light, vehicle does not start, especially pronounced in cold below 0 °C
from 40,000 km
Ad Varta N60 EFBVarta A8 AGMSmart EQ 12V battery
 Low
!Charging Aborts at Wallboxes

Charging process aborts after 40 seconds to a few minutes. Red battery symbol appears on the dashboard. The on-board charger is sensitive to mains interference.

Symptoms: Charge cable LED flashes red, error message on instrument cluster, self-resolving after vehicle restart
from 30,000 km
 Low
●Smart Control App — Unreliable Connection

The official app regularly loses the vehicle connection. Pre-conditioning via app starts reliably in only about 50% of cases, which limits the main comfort advantage of the EQ.

Symptoms: App shows vehicle offline, climate command not executed, daily re-login required
 Low

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Known Problems and Issues

A total of 6 weaknesses have been documented for the Smart ForFour 453-FL (2020–2024). Typical issues affect Electronics, HVAC, Other.

What to watch out for with the Smart ForFour? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What problems and weaknesses does the Smart ForFour 453-FL have? +
No known weaknesses have been documented for the Smart ForFour 453-FL.
What should I look for when buying a used Smart ForFour 453-FL? +
faq.watch_a_none
Which engine is recommended? +
Be careful: Smart-ED (Elektromotor). No engine is rated 'Good Choice'. The most fun to drive is the Smart-ED (Elektromotor).
Which Smart ForFour 453-FL engine is the most fun? +
The {code} ({displacement}) offers the most driving fun in the Smart ForFour 453-FL — rated: "Decent". {description} Same drivetrain as the ForTwo EQ, but with four doors. Range equally limited; slightly more practical.
Is the Smart ForFour 453-FL worth buying used? +
The Smart ForFour 453-FL requires careful consideration — choosing the right engine variant is crucial.
What horsepower variants are available for the Smart ForFour 453-FL? +
The Smart ForFour 453-FL is available with engine variants from 75 to 82 hp.

Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee