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.
Hello, i have a smartfortwo and the problem i have is the car jerks violently when putting It into gear When applying gas to push off…, it has since died and has the two spanners flashing when I turn on the ignition… can you help?
Hello Richard
Thanks for getting in touch,
We have sent you an email with full details and pricing.
Kind Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED
Good morning
I have a 2010 smart car ,
Reg number MF02 ***.
The problem I have is the car drives ok most of the time. Sometimes it jerks so bad When put into gear It becomes undrivable. The gear Indicator on the dash board flashes all the time and The service indicator light can be reset.
Can you help please?
Hello Tim
Thank you for getting in touch,
We have sent you an email with full details and pricing.
Kindest Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED SUPPORT
My smart car will not engage gear, started when trying to engage reverse then suck in first seems to be intermittent.
Hello Mike
Thanks for getting in touch,
We have sent you an email with full details and pricing.
Kind Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED
My 2009 Fourtwo Passion will not start because I cannot achieve the Neutral indication in the speedometer.
Also, this form insists on starting each word with an Upper Case letter!
Hello Kit
We have sent you an email with full details and Pricing.
Kind Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED
Hi there,
On my 2011 Smart for Two 451 (1.0 turbo, 84bhp) I have a p0900 code reading clutch motor Operational Fault , stating permanent fault.
Having checked harness and sensors, it seems it may be the sensors within motor unit of actuation showing open circuit.
Please confirm if you can service unit?
Car runs okay until driven a bit quicker when drive Disengages and *N* Symbol flashes and no drive. Reset only possible via battery Disconnect and gear selectormotor and actuator reset..
Hello Shahid
Thanks for getting in touch,
We have sent you an email with full details and pricing.
Kind Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED
Hello, i have a smart for two 2013 1.0 turbo, has been habingo Gear transmition problems, some months ago, the car Work perfect, just some times i had issues when i acelerate, the car moves viontly feels like hard pulls, the the car just work perfect.
Now the car whe You dirive a while, then it starts doing that, but more hard and violently, if i tutn off and wait sone minutes, the car works fine.
I Did the service for the clutch actutator, it was in good shape, i have never done any actualizarion software to the car.
What you guys can tell me about this issue, i thank you so much.
Hello Emilio
Thanks for getting in touch
We have sent you an email with full details and pricing.
Kind Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED
here i have the same problem, but with my 2013 smart 1.0 L. thx
Hello Samuel
Thanks for getting in touch,
We have sent you an email with full details and pricing.
Kind Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED
Hi
I have a customer with a twofour that wont select gears
It’s says its In neutral and doesnt change when you put it in gear and sounds like it is trying to select gear but wont
Assuming its An actuator fault can you give an idea of cost please
Hello Luke
Thanks for your enquiry,
We have sent you an email with full details and pricing.
Kind Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED
I have just bought my self a smart car passion and I can’t get it to drive it starts but died it need a actervate it’s starts but will not go in to hear can you please let me know what is happening with it
Hello Antoinette
Thanks for getting in touch,
We have sent you an email with full details and pricing.
Kind Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED
Hi My Smart for two got stuck on N and won’t drive. I had a quote from a garage to replace the actuator and clutch. Can you please quote for the works?
Hello Ovidiu
Thanks for your enquiry,
We have sent you an email with more details and pricing.
Kind Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED
my foster daughter has a 2006 smart twofor city when driving it some times pops out of gear it had a problem where it would not recognise neutral but a reset seems to have solved that any ideas?
regards stan
Hello Stan
Thank you for your enquiry,
We have sent you an email with full details and pricing.
Kindest Regards
Sophie
SINSPEED SUPPORT
Me again.
Sorry, in my last message it should read, service indicator can NOT be reset. Thanks.
Hi wondered if you can help I have a smart fortwo 451 09 plate and we have 3 lines on the dashboard and have no gears and won’t start can you advise
Hello there,
Thank you for getting in touch with us.
I have passed along your inquiry to the appropriate team, and they will be contacting you shortly via email.
Best regards,
SINSPEED