2008 Smart FORTWO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
140 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
39,229 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 108 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 140 complaints (23.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 12.1% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 8.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 33 |
| Power Train | 23 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 10 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
Engine: 33; Power Train: 23; Electrical System: 19; Unknown Or Other: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Seat Belts: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 34 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 34; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 32 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 | 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 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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; 2024: 5; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 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 10252757 · 2008-12-24 (December 24, 2008)
THE FAILING PART IS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER. THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE BUTTON BEGINS TO GET RESISTIVE IN IT'S OPERATION AND THEN FAILS TO ACTUATE ALL TOGETHER. IN MY CASE THIS RESULTED IN THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 8400 MILES. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 500 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR AND I CAN FEEL THE LEVER BECOMING RESISTIVE AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360350 · 2010-10-13 (October 13, 2010)
I HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 PASSIONFORTWO, WHICH HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES IN THE 28 MONTHS AND 13K MILES OF OWNERSHIP. I'M HAPPILY DRIVING ALONG UNTIL I REACH MY DESTINATION, THEN I NEED TO GO INTO REVERSE TO PARK. THE SHIFTER WORKS FLAWLESSLY AND THE DISPLAY CLEARLY SHOWS THE CORRECT POSITION OF THE SHIFTER. BUT, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE, NOR WILL IT ENGAGE IF I RESELECT DRIVE. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THAT THIS HAPPENED, I EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF THE KEY AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND ALL WAS WELL. THE LAST TWO TIMES, THAT WORK-AROU…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,271 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10307796 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)
ON MY 2008 SMART CAR PASSION AT 36,585 MILES THE CLUTCH PLATE AND ACTUATOR BECAME DEFECTIVE AFTER ONLY THREE MONTHS OF DRIVING. I REPAIRED THIS ISSUE AND AT 81,000 MILES THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME PART BECAME DEFECTIVE. I PUT ON HIGH MILES DO TO THE NATURE OF MY BUSINESS WHICH IS A COURIER COMPANY. I AM WORRIED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY DRIVERS. I HAVE EXPRESSED THIS ISSUE TO THE SMART DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL REPS. THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN EXPLORING THAT THIS COULD BE A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THEIR CAR. BRAKES ARE A ISSUE I TAKE VERY SERIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,585 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375542 · 2011-01-11 (January 11, 2011)
I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK IN MY SMART FORTWO 451 ON A SNOWY MORNING. MY DRIVEWAY IS RATHER STEEP, AND WHILE SLOWLY GOING DOWN THE HILL THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIDE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BEGAN SLOWING TO A STOP BUT WAS STILL SLIDING. I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS STILL IN CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN IT AND THE ACCELERATOR. I TRIED FRANTICALLY TO PULL IT OUT BUT IT WAS STUCK FAST, AND THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING (DUE TO GRAVITY) DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PULL MY FOOT OUT OF M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10375542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10629843 · 2014-09-01 (September 1, 2014)
FRACTURE IN THE PLASTIC NIPPLE AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP WHICH CONNECTS THE FUEL PUMP OUTPUT TO THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION ALLOWED GASOLINE TO SPRAY ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS PRESENT WHEN THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 41,179 miles reported. Look up ODI 10629843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10760011 · 2015-08-28 (August 28, 2015)
FUEL LEAK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10760011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564801 · 2014-02-18 (February 18, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO PASSION CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS TOUCHING THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDER VALVES BURNED CAUSING THE FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,457 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10705574 · 2015-04-14 (April 14, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO REMAIN IN THE CORRECT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552988 · 2013-11-19 (November 19, 2013)
THE 2008 SMART CAR, HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY, WHEN ENTERING, OR EXITING A HIGHWAY, OR AT AN INTERSECTION (SPEED CHANGES). THE CAR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN USUALLY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED, FROM UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS BEHIND THIS VEHICLE..THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, WHILE PARKED..SMART OFFERED A SOFTWARE FIX, TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. HAD THAT DONE, THEN PROBLEM PROGRESSED, TO SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, AND STALLING OUT...AT TIMES CAR,…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552991 · 2013-11-19 (November 19, 2013)
THE 2008 SMART CAR, HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY, WHEN ENTERING, OR EXITING A HIGHWAY, OR AT AN INTERSECTION (SPEED CHANGES). THE CAR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN USUALLY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED, FROM UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS BEHIND THIS VEHICLE..THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, WHILE PARKED..SMART OFFERED A SOFTWARE FIX, TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. HAD THAT DONE, THEN PROBLEM PROGRESSED, TO SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, AND STALLING OUT...AT TIMES CAR,…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340958 · 2010-07-01 (July 1, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART CAR FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL HE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WOULD IN THE SAME DIRECTION WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A MAILBOX. NO ONE WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPDATED 08/27/10 UPDATED 08/30/10*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10706473 · 2015-04-19 (April 19, 2015)
CAR MAKES LOUD LOUD NOISES AND THEY TELLING ME IT WAS NORMAL NOTHING WRONG I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE CAN SOME ONE HELP ME IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS SENSE I N OUGHT IT AT ANNAPOLIS DEALERSHIP SEAT BELT STEERING WHEEL LOUD NOISES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10706473 at NHTSA ↗