Your vehicle report
2008 Smart Fortwo
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 140
- Received Oct 2008 to Aug 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Vehicle catches fire from wiring29 complaints · 21% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Transmission will not engage reverse gear12 complaints · 8.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline8 complaints · 5.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #18V273000Mercedes-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.
- Recall #08V390000Smart 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 7 crashes, 27 fires, 9 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 10 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 1 |
| Total | 140 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 29 | 21% | – | |
| Transmission will not engage reverse gear | 12 | 8.6% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 8 | 5.7% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 7 | 5.0% | – | |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 6 | 4.3% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 4 | 2.9% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 3 | 2.1% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 2.1% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 3 | 2.1% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 3 | 2.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #18V273000April 27, 201842,781 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling: engine; engine and engine cooling: exhaust system
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.
If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #08V390000August 7, 200843 vehicles affected
structure: frame and members
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2008 Smart Fortwo.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN