Smart FORTWO COUPE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
16,513 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 to 2016 model years. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 23 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 26.1% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 21.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Power Train: 5; Structure:Body: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 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 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 0 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 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2013: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10250028 · 2008-11-28 (November 28, 2008)
MY NEW SMART CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR PARK. THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER LEVER WOULD NOT DEPRESS. MANY OWNERS ARE FINDING THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS A DO-IT-YOURSELF FIX LISTED. HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,789 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261030 · 2009-03-07 (March 7, 2009)
GEARSHIFT BUTTON IS STUCK. CAR CANNOT BE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10307804 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES SMART CAR FORTWO COUPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR AND CLUTCH PLATE WERE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHENEVER HE SHIFT GEARS FROM PARK AND ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL THE GEARS WERE STUCK. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF UPDATED 06/02/10
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10424566 · 2011-09-10 (September 10, 2011)
DRIVING ON CA70 SOUTH TOWARDS PLUMAS LAKE BLVD. EXIT, BRAKING LIGHTLY FROM 55 MPH TO 35MPH TO EXIT THE FREEWAY CAUSED ABS AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP)((ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL)) EXCLAMATION LIGHTS TO LIGHT UP WHICH DENOTED THE ABS AND ESP DISABLED. WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT THE STOP SIGN, THE SMART WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED TO RESET THE ABS AND ESP FOR SAFETY ONLY TO FIND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND WAS LOCKED INTO PARK. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE SHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,646 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11330324 · 2020-06-23 (June 23, 2020)
POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING AND BECOMES LIKE STEERING A MAC TRUCK EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL FORCING THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING CAUSING THE CAR TO COME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 61,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10535615 · 2013-08-15 (August 15, 2013)
THIS BEING A 2008 SMART PASSION FOR TWO......A LEAKING GAS TANK ON A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE......CONTACTED MB/SMART AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN NJ...TRYING TO GET THEM TO REPLACE THIS UNDER THE MANUFACTURER DEFECTIVE PART TO NO AVAIL. LOCAL MB/SMART DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $1717 FOR ITS REPLACEMENT.....NO VEHICLE SHOULD LOSE ITS GAS TANK BEING ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD, ANY BRAND.
Owner-reported narrative. 39,630 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535615 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 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2008: 0; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1