Does the Smart only have one reverse light?
4 Answers
The Mercedes-Benz Smart indeed has only one reverse light and one rear fog light. Reverse Light: The reverse light is installed at the rear of the car to illuminate the road behind and warn vehicles and pedestrians behind that the car is reversing. All reverse lights are white. Mercedes-Benz Smart: The smart brand's global joint venture is now jointly owned by Mercedes-Benz and Geely Auto Group, dedicated to establishing smart as a leading global premium electric intelligent vehicle brand. Since its inception, smart has consistently led innovative practices in urban mobility, embracing the development and transformation of the automotive industry towards electrification and intelligence. It is also the first automotive brand in the industry to fully transition to pure electric.
As a seasoned mechanic who frequently works on Smart cars, this issue is all too common. The Smart indeed only has one reverse light, located on the right side of the rear. The one on the left is actually a rear fog light, specifically for rainy or foggy conditions. European cars often favor this design, claiming it saves costs and reduces wiring weight. My 2016 Fortwo is just like this—the single reverse light provides ample illumination when backing up without confusing following drivers. Newer models largely continue this design. Honestly, I initially thought it was a bulb failure until checking the manual and realizing it’s intentional. Converting to dual lights would require rewiring, which is labor-intensive and voids the warranty.
Last month I accompanied my best friend to pick up her new Smart EQ and noticed it still only has one reverse light on the right side. The 4S salesman explained this design has been maintained for over a decade, mainly to comply with EU EEC regulations. The left fog light is red while the right reverse light is white, making them particularly easy to distinguish at night. He said the single light provides sufficient illumination for the rear wheel area, and the reversing camera image remains clear enough. My old Cityflame has the same setup - after six years of use, I've never felt the reversing light was inadequate. Actually many hatchbacks follow this layout, like the Peugeot 208. Converting to dual lights would require cutting the lamp housing and replacing the entire assembly, costing as much as three routine maintenance services.
Having repaired Smart cars for eight years, I'm very familiar with their reverse light design. The limited frame width forces shared space for lights - right reverse light + left fog light is the optimal solution. Last time a client insisted on dual reverse lights, but failed inspection due to asymmetric lighting. The OEM LED bulbs last about 100,000 hours, so brightness isn't a concern. Instead, I recommend regularly checking the lamp socket contacts - Smart's rear seal aging often causes water seepage leading to poor contact. I've seen many cases where wiring oxidation was mistaken for faulty lights.
