2008 Smart Fortwo Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Fortwo years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 140 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Smart Fortwo. That is the most of any Fortwo model year in the database (13 years). The most reported problem area is engine (33 complaints, 24%), typically at around 50,000 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 27 fires, 9 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 140owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Smart Fortwo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 33 | 24% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 32 | 23% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 20 | 14% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 17 | 12% | 56,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 9% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 7% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 6% | 79,866 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 6% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 4% | 47,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 4% | 20,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 3% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 2% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2% | 4,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 2% | 87,793 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 76,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 33,940 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1% | 29,650 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 51,699 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | 52,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 17,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Smart Fortwo recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine; engine and engine cooling:exhaust system
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2008-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles. The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deteriorate, and loosen over time, allowing the mat to contact hot exhaust system components.
Risk: If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear insulation mat with an improved one, free of charge. The recall began in July 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018060010.
Structure:frame and members
Problem: Smart usa is recalling 43 my 2008 fortwo 451 vehicles. A single batch of paint sent to the company did not meet specifications. A re-work was done in the plant using different formulations of painting materials. After the re-work was completed, it was determined that the combination of materials used to repaint the frame and chassis could lead to de lamination of the paint materials from the body and frame structures.
Risk: Such de laminating can take place in the area of the body where the windshield and roof have been affixed with adhesive, which could affect the adhesion of those components to the vehicle body, increasing the risk of separation. This could cause a crash if the roof or windshield separated from the vehicle while in motion.
Fix: Dealers will repaint the affected areas to meet specifications. The recall began on august 18, 2008. Owners may contact smart usa at 1-248-648-2451.
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.
I was entering an intersection and missed judged the traffic light and was a bit to far forward, so I tried to reverse but the car would not shift to reverse. I have had an actuator replaced but the problem still happens intermittently where it will not shift to reverse. I have logged into smart…
The 90 degree fittings(integral to the fuel pump) on top of the fuel pump cracked and leaks gasoline leading to a potential fire that could cause bodily injury for the driver and passenger. It is noticeable because of strong gasoline smell inside and outside of the car. There are many of the same…
The contact owns a 2008 Smart Fortwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000(Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Mercedes-Benz USA has no service centers on Long Island,NY that might fix the recall issue. For a time they were the only Smart Car service provider after Smart Car dealers were abandoned. MB USA currently will not do the recall and offers no reasonable alternative. The issue is potential engine…
The contact's mother owns a 2008 Smart ForTwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was notified of the recall but informed the contact that the recall could not be serviced at their location. The manufacturer was…
Other Smart Fortwo years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Fortwo | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 Fortwo | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 Fortwo | 7 | 1 |
| 2016 Fortwo | 21 | 1 |
| 2015 Fortwo | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 Fortwo | 13 | 0 |
| 2013 Fortwo | 25 | 0 |
| 2012 Fortwo | 8 | 0 |
| 2011 Fortwo | 16 | 0 |
| 2010 Fortwo | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 Fortwo | 100 | 1 |
| 2008 | 140 | 2 |
| 2005 Fortwo | 2 | 0 |
See all Smart Fortwo 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?
Owners most often report engine, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 33 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Smart Fortwo?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 Smart Fortwo a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Fortwo model years, the 2008 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.