The SMART car transmission is unlike any ordinary 5 or 6-speed automatic. It is an automated manual gearbox. Which means the vehicle can be driven as a manual or automatic at the flick of a button. The vehicle does not have a clutch pedal and instead operates on sensors and ECU’s.
The system consists of a clutch actuator assembly, a gear shift actuator assembly, and a gearbox ECU. Each of the actuators will also have position sensors. Which sends signals back to the gearbox ECU to determine which gear the vehicle is in or what position the clutch is in. This information along with vehicle speed and other parameters will be used by the gearbox ECU. To calculate the required gear, when the next gear change should take place and when to engage/disengage the clutch.
As many SMART car owners are already aware, this design has many faults and can render the vehicle completely un-drivable.
Common Clutch + Gear Actuator Problems
When the clutch and gear actuators fail on the Mercedes Smart car. It doesn’t always give the same symptom. Below we’ve listed the most common fault symptoms we are aware of so far:
- 3 Bars / Lines Appearing on Gear Change Box
- Slipping Out of Gears
- Getting Stuck in Neutral
- Failing to Select Gears
If your clutch or gear actuator has failed, then you may already be aware of exactly how much it can cost to replace the unit. Each actuator is coded to the vehicle and can cost upwards of £700+Vat each to replace with coding. Furthermore, the replacement unit will only come with a standard 12-month warranty and being that it is such a common failing part, it doesn’t give much confidence that the problem won’t re-occur.
We receive clutch & gear actuators for repair on a daily basis for the following vehicles:
- Smart City
- Smart ForTwo
- Smart ForFour
- Smart Roadster
We have also compiled a short list of part numbers associated to the failing clutch & gear actuator units. Note: this is not a complete list of part numbers, only the most common part numbers we frequently see in our workshops are listed.
Partnumbers | Partnumbers |
---|---|
000 3226 V011 | 01 3981 007 101 |
000 3226 V012 | 01 3981 000 022 |
000 3226 V014 | 01 3981 000 066 |
000 3226 V016 | 01 3981 000 070 |
A 451 250 00 62 | A 454 257 05 79 |
My Mercedes Smart Car Actuator is Faulty – How Can SINSPEED Help Me?
We specialise in the testing and repair of clutch + gear actuator units, not just for Smart cars but for all vehicle makes and models where the vehicles gearbox is controlled by electronic actuators. We’re able to fully bench test and repair the Smart car clutch actuator and gear actuator units. We use new genuine OEM parts when repairing the actuators to ensure each and every repaired clutch/gear actuator meets and exceeds OE specifications.
The repaired actuators will be returned to you with a Lifetime warranty for complete peace of mind and will not require re-coding when fitting back to the vehicle – simply plug & play!
If you have a Mercedes Smart Car with a clutch or gear actuator fault then give us a call today on 0203 815 9441.

Ajaz is a seasoned automotive electronics engineer with deep expertise in remanufacturing vehicle electronics. He has developed skills in all areas of the automotive field, from rebuilding hydraulic steering components, and mechanical gearboxes and reworking intricate vehicle electronics. Ajaz also acquired Bodyteq, a London-based vehicle bodyshop where he has developed extensive knowledge in automotive refinishing.
Alongside his automotive career, Ajaz has built a career in the IT industry, gaining accredited certification as an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Cloud Architect, and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) specialist.
Having problems with my gearbox on my smart For two sometimes wont start in neutral until and 3 lines appearing on dash ,,Think it could be the actuator could you give me the cost to repair please. Regards Richard Walker
Hi Richard
Thanks for the enquiry,
I have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Hello.
I would be greatful too, for pricing of renewal. Thank you.
Mark
Hi Mark
Thanks for the enquiry,
I have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Dear sir
i have 2004 smart 454 (Gas/1.5L) and would like to know the price for repairing my Actuator…?
thank you very much~!
BR
Paul
Hi Paul
Thanks for the enquiry,
I have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
my clutch actuator on my 2002 smart car 0.6 passion has stopped working 3 lines how much to repair please
Hi Robert
Thanks for the enquiry,
I have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Hello,i got smart fort two, I got promlem Whit gearbox , need to repair, how much it will cost. Thank you.
Hi Miroslav
Thanks for the enquiry,
I have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Hi Jason, The wifes Smart fourtwo Brabus broke down today. She said last night it made a loud bang and today did the same before calling it quits. Called the RAC out, three bars showing in the gearbox indicator on the dash and cannot engage any gears – no clutch. RAC man plugged in a diagnostic that advised “failed clutch”. Had it recovered to a repairer I use, sounds like it could be the clutch actuator? The car has done 53k miles. I know you can park a double decker bus in the middle of the gear changes but I always thought that on occasions it struggles to pull away, almost like the handbrake is still on. Any thoughts? If I need one, how much do your reconditioned actuators come out at and do you need the old one for exchange?
Thanks,
chris
Hi Chris
Thanks for the enquiry,
It could be a failed clutch actuator but we have seen in some cases the clutch itself is also worn/damaged and may need replacing. Also, it may be worth sending the gear actuator in for testing at the same time as normally when one fails, the other won’t be far behind.
We have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Got the 3 bars of death on the wife’s 08 plate Smart.(BG08***)
Thoughts please on causes and repair costs.
Kind regards
Steve.
Hi Steve
Thanks for the enquiry,
I have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Looking for Gear Acuator for Nissan Atlas OE no
01 3981 000 047
Hi Samuel
Thanks for the enquiry,
I have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
today 2-21-2018 my wife said she herd a loud bang car stop’d will not start will not disenguage the transmission when we rooled it on flat bed trans was engaged engine no start so we pushed against compression to move it WHAT do you think it’s a 2008 passion 68 thou miles
Hi John
Thanks for the enquiry,
We have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Hi there
wounding if you can help.broke down today in my smart car (451) 2008 it done 67000 miles and the car was driving sounded like it over Revved and then i stop the car but it was stuck in 3rd gear and Wouldn’t pull away. also Wouldn’t go in Neutral but got it tow on a flat bed and now it showing the 3 lines where the gears are shown. what could be the Problem and how much to fix.
Kind Regards
maz
Hi Maz
Thanks for the enquiry,
I have sent you an email with full information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED