Smart FORTWO CABRIO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
21,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 28 complaints (39.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 28.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 10.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Electrical System: 11; Power Train: 7; Engine: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10248933 · 2008-11-16 (November 16, 2008)
NOTICED TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BUTTON HARD TO PUSH IN A COUPLE OF TIMES. WENT TO POST OFFICE AND WAS STRANDED THERE AS I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 9,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460097 · 2012-05-30 (May 30, 2012)
THE TRANSMISSION WON'T ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. CALLED FOR HELP. THEY HAD ME REACH UNDER GEAR SHIFT AND RELEASE A CABLE TO MOVE CAR, AFTER I DID THAT I WENT TO WORK AND CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF GEAR INTO PARK. CALLED AND THEY PICKED IT UP TO FIX IT, CAME BACK AND I HAD NO PROBLEM FOR A WHILE AND THEN IT WOULD SHIFT BUT NOT LOCK INTO GEAR, ROCKED THE CAR, PUSHED IT AND FINALLY IT WORKED, THIS IS A REPEAT THING. I AM HAVING PROBLEM RIGHT THIS MOMENT, I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR. I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE IF THERE IS A RESOLUTION AND THE INTERNET IS FULL OF C…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490202 · 2012-12-27 (December 27, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO CABRIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED SOME TIME LATER. IN THE INTERIM, THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO THE DIODE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,500. UPDATED 2/4/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED AND THE SHIFT LEVER COULD NOT BE MOVED. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE HAS BEEN RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10501295 · 2013-03-04 (March 4, 2013)
(1) POWER TRAIN ISSUE; NO RHYME OR REASON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. AFTER SOME TIME, I DISCOVERED THAT YOU MUST SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RE-START TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS! I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AFTER PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND TRYING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO R OR D, I HAVE TRIED PLACING THE CAR INTO N AND BACK TO EITHER R OR D WITH NO LUCK, AGAIN HAD TO RE-START WHILE BLOCKING TRAFFIC! THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A NEWER VEHICLE. (2) ELECTRICA…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552967 · 2013-11-19 (November 19, 2013)
I OWN 2 OF THE 2008 SMART FORTWO AUTOMOBILES (PURE & CABRIO). BOTH HAVE PERIODICALLY BEEN BALKY SHIFTERS (STUCK WHEN TRYING TO MOVE THE GEAR SELECTOR OUT OF PARK). ONE HAS BRIEFLY REFUSED TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR, INDEPENDENT OF THE GEAR INDICATED. BOTH HAVE BRIEFLY REFUSED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK... UNTIL TODAY WHEN MY WIFE WAS STUCK IN PARK AT A RED LIGHT. THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON, MY WIFE DECIDED TO SEE IF SHE COULD CLEAR THE INDICATOR. SHE QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK, ENGINE OFF THEN ON, BUT VEHICLE REMAINED STUCK IN PARK. A DEPUTY MOVED TRAFFIC ARO…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,760 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449097 · 2012-02-23 (February 23, 2012)
AS I PULLED UP TO THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR I NOTICED A BANANA SLUG ON THE GROUND, SO I BACKED UP AND PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE CAR RUNNING TO PICK UP THE SLUG AND MOVE IT. AS I WAS DOING SO, THE CAR STARTED MOVING TOWARDS ME UP THE INCLINE OF THE DRIVEWAY. I QUICKLY OPENED THE CAR DOOR AND STARTED TO JUMP IN. IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT THE CAR WAS MOVING THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR FRAME. THE MIRROR SNAPPED OFF AND MY LEFT LEG WAS CRUSHED IN THE DOOR AS IT SCRAPED ALONG THE GARAGE DOOR FRAME. MY LEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,780 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10837567 · 2016-02-22 (February 22, 2016)
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, WHICH WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35MPH. MY SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, BUT THE FRONT STEERING-WHEEL AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. BUT MY INJURIES ARE ON MY LEFT SIDE OF MY HEAD AND BODY AND ARE AS FOLLOWS: CONCUSSION (CONTINUED MENTAL CONFUSION/SHORT TERM MEMORY …
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10837567 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
2008: 0; 2009: 0