2009 Smart FORTWO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
100 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
38,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 71 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 100 complaints (27.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 11.0% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 8.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.0% |
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 | 27 |
| Engine | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
Power Train: 27; Engine: 19; Unknown Or Other: 18; Electrical System: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Structure:Body: 8; Air Bags: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 29 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 10; 2013: 8; 2014: 7; 2015: 10; 2016: 10; 2017: 11; 2018: 17; 2019: 8; 2020: 6; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10424748 · 2011-09-12 (September 12, 2011)
I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 SMART FORTWO PASSION'S TRANSMISSION. WE PICKED UP OUR CAR ON SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: I WAS DRIVING ALONG & ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR SEEMS TO THINK IT'S IN N. EVEN CHANGING THE GEARS PROMPTS AN "N" IN THE GEAR POSITION. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR OFF, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN & THE DREADED THREE BARS APPEARED. WE TRIED THE "TEACH-IN" FIX & IT WORKED TEMPORARILY BEFORE ACTING UP AGAIN. WE HAD OUR CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND PICKED IT UP ON SATURDAY AFTER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUPPOSEDLY FIX…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10424748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447076 · 2012-02-07 (February 7, 2012)
THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR, AT LEAST A FEW DOZEN TIMES. SOMETIMES IT'S HAPPENED AS OFTEN AS 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK. I WILL START MY CAR, AND SHIFT INTO REVERSE, AND WHERE THERE WAS A P FOR PARK ON THE DISPLAY, THE DISPLAY IS NOW BLANK, AND MY CAR WILL NOT REVERSE. IT WILL ALSO NOT GO INTO DRIVE, OR DISPLAY D. I WILL TRY MOVING IT BACK AND FORWARD AND THE DISPLAY STAYS BLANK, AND MY CAR WON'T MOVE. SOMETIMES WHEN I RESTART MY CAR IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL, SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, AND DISPLAYING AN R ON THE DISPLAY PANEL...OTHER TIMES IT WIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10447076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450791 · 2012-03-08 (March 8, 2012)
AFTER STARTING THE SMART FORTWO THE SRS (AIRBAG SYMBOL) STAYED LIT. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD BE COMPROMISED; DO NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM THE SMART DEALER AND PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR THIS ISSUE OCCURRED JUST AS SMART WAS TRANSFERRED FROM VOLKSWAGEN TO MERCEDES (SUMMER 2011) SO NO DEALER WAS ABLE TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE FOR A MINIMUM OF 2 WEEKS AS THE MERCEDES DEALERS WEREN'T TOOLED TO SERVICE THEM YET. AFTER THE TRANSITION PERIOD, THE SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT IT MI…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478536 · 2012-10-03 (October 3, 2012)
AFTER GETTING HOME FROM SCHOOL, COMING IN SAYING HELLO TO THE FAMILY I WENT BACK OUT TO MY CAR TO GET MY BAG. WHEN I APPROACHED MY CAR I COULD HEAR WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE MY RADIATOR FANS STILL RUNNING DESPITE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. MY LOGIC WAS "MAYBE A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER." SO I PROCEEDED TO SIMPLY TURN THE CAR ON AND THEN OFF TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP. NOPE, THAT DIDN'T DO THE TRICK. PUZZLED I CAME INSIDE TO INFORM MY DAD WHAT WAS GOING ON, WHILE I WAS TALKING TO MY DAD I COULD HEAR THE FACTORY ALARM GOING OFF, THEN IT STARTED HONKING, TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346474 · 2010-07-31 (July 31, 2010)
I HAVE A 2009 SMART FOR TWO PASSION MODEL ON 7/21 I WENT TO GO INTO A PARKING PLACE AT A SMALL SHOPPING AREA AND THE BRAKES SLOWED ME DOWN BUT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS GOING VERY SLOW BUT COULD NOT STOP THUS I HIT THE WINDOW OF A FURNITURE STORE. IT BROKE THE WINDOW AND THE ONLY DAMAGE TO MY CAR WEE CUTS IN THE PLASTIC FROM THE FALLING GLASS AS IT TOOK THEM 2 HOURS TO PICK IT UP. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT, NO ONE WAS INJURED, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND I WENT SUCH A SHORT DISTANCE I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO THINK…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556623 · 2013-12-19 (December 19, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL TO ALSO FAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,600.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10705509 · 2015-04-14 (April 14, 2015)
WHERE DO I BEGIN? AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF OWNING MY SMART CAR, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I FEEL MY CAR PULL TO THE RIGHT AND START SHAKING. I PULL SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER TO FIND THE VALVE STEM FOR MY TIRE HAD DETACHED AND MY TIRE WAS NOW FLAT. NOT HAVING A SPARE, I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED TO THE REMAINING 3 TIRES IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS TO A YEAR. WHILE DRIVING THE VALVE STEM WOULD DETACH AND ALL AIR DEPLETING FROM THE TIRES. I CALLED THE SMART DEALER TO BE TOLD THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE BECA…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10790017 · 2015-11-12 (November 12, 2015)
DRIVING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE, ABOUT A 10-15 MIN. DRIVE... FRIEND SAY HE SMELLS SMOKE, LOOK TO THE RIGHT SIDE ONTO THE MIRROR AND ITS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK SIDE OF MY CAR. OPEN THE BACK TO LOOK AT THE ENGINE - A LOT OF SMOKE IS COMING OUT AND AS THE SMOKE IS CLEARING MY FRIEND SEES FLAMES AND WE QUICKLY AFTER GRAB A HOSE AND CALL 9-1-1. DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, FIREMEN SAID NOT TO START THE CAR CALLED AAA. FIREMEN SAID WE GOT LUCKY IT DIDN'T REACH THE GAS TANK.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10790017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10939937 · 2017-01-05 (January 5, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE VEHICLE UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE KNOCKING SOUND AND SMOKE CONTINUED. THE HORN AND ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DECLARED UN-DRIVABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10939937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11091164 · 2018-05-01 (May 1, 2018)
I WAS ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, AS I MOVED TO THE SHOULDER IT DIED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE RADIO CUT OFF, THE HORN STAYED ON, ALL THE WIPERS WENT FULL FORCE AND THE DOORS LOCKED. WHEN I FINALLY KICKED THE DOOR OPEN I WENT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE GOOD. I BEGAN SO SMELL BURNING PLASTIC AND WENT TO THE DRIVER SIDE AGAIN. WHEN I GOT THERE, THERE WERE FLAMING DRIPS COMING FROM UNDER THE PANELS. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THEM OUT BUT IT WAS FUTILE. I REMOVED MYSELF FROM THE SITUATION AND CAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10904213 · 2016-09-06 (September 6, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE CITY HIGHWAY - ROUTE 283 TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AS I TURNED MY CAR STALLED OUT COMPLETELY. TRYING TO TURN OVER IT WOULD TRY TO START BUT NEVER START. CAR HAS JUST OVER 17K MILES ON IT. THANKFULLY I WASN'T IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BY SOMEONE REAR-ENDING ME BECAUSE OF THE REDUCED SPEED AND STALL. I HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE PUSH ME UP TO A PARKING LOT WHILE I WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. A MONTH LATER I AM STILL WAITING ON A REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP. THE ORIGINAL BOSCH KEEPS BLOWING FUSES AND STALLING…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10904213 at NHTSA ↗