2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Fortwo Cabrio years
- Not enough data 1st of 2 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio. That is the most of any Fortwo Cabrio model year in the database (2 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints, 29%), typically at around 77,250 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 17owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | 29% | 77,250 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 29% | 8,200 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 12% | 55,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 12% | 13,973 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 12% | 50,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 6% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 6% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 6% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 6% | 52,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 6% | 90,100 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 6% | 20,380 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine Compartment Fire (EA17003) — opened Sep 1, 2017, closed Aug 21, 2018, led to recall 18V273000.
- Engine Compartment Fire (PE16016) — opened Dec 16, 2016, closed Nov 20, 2017, led to recall 18V273000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Can not turn ignition key to start the car. Car was parked in a parking lot. After several hours had to pry up console to switch the the yellow up. Then had to put gear in neutral. Put oil in gear shaft area. Plus blow out any debris that might have fallen in key hole. Also put lubricant in key…
This concerns nhtsa recall #18v273. I bought this car new at a dealer 30 miles from my home. Smart has left the us market and their website shows the closest dealer is 220 miles away (one direction). Their website says that authorized mercedes-benz dealers can perform the recall work. I tried my…
RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER [redacted]. I LIVE IN BOISE, IDAHO. THE CLOSEST DEALER THAT CAN DO THE RECALL WORK IS IN DRAPER UTAH. THE DEALER WANTS ME TO DRIVE THE CAR TO UTAH TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A SAFE IDEA FOR ME. *TR
I am the original owner of my continuously maintained 2008 smart car. On 12/3102015 at 11:50 am. (sunny, 80 deg. F) i went thru a city intersection, at about 15 mph, to turn left, i was hit broadside ("t" boned), into my drivers side door by a ford e250 van, filled with air-conditioning equipment…
We drove about 12 miles to a friends, parked in driveway, went inside to visit. In 10-15 minutes was a knock on the door by a neighbor who said "your car is on fire". We called 911, emptied a fire extinguisher to no avail. I took many photos from start to finish while waiting for the fire…
Other Smart Fortwo Cabrio years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Fortwo Cabrio | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 17 | 0 |
See all Smart Fortwo Cabrio problems by year, every Smart model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Smart models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Fortwo Cabrio model years, the 2008 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.