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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Smart FORTWO CABRIO: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

17 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

21,394 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 17 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting423.5%
Braking behavior15.9%
Electrical and battery issues15.9%
Steering behavior15.9%

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.

Electrical System
5
Power Train
4
Engine
2
Seat Belts
2
Structure:Body
2
Air Bags
1
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System5
Power Train4
Engine2
Seat Belts2
Structure:Body2
Air Bags1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch1

Electrical System: 5; Power Train: 4; Engine: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Air Bags: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
9
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 1 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.

2008
2
2009
2
2010
1
2011
2
2012
2
2013
3
2015
1
2016
1
2020
2
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20082
20092
20101
20112
20122
20133
20151
20161
20202
20211

2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10230181 · 2008-06-06 (June 6, 2008)

THE SHIFTER ON MY 2 MONTH OLD SMART CAR LOCKED OUT OF PARK AND REVERSE, THERE FORE NOT ENABLING THE CAR TO BE TURNED OFF OR TO BE PLACED INTO A SAFE CONDITION AFTER DRIVING ALSO POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE, AS REVERSE BECAME NOT FUNCTIONAL. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A LINK ON A WEB SITE THAT GAVE DETAILS AS TO HOW TO TAKE THE MECHANISM APART AND LUBE THE MECHANISM. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON A FREQUENT BASIS ON OTHER SMART CARS, AS ANNOTATED IN THE WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM FORUM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230181 at NHTSA ↗

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 10253552 · 2009-01-02 (January 2, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO CABRIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT GETS CAUGHT AND BECOMES INOPERABLE. THE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT AND RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL HIM BACK; HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,700. UPDATED 02/10/09 *BF UPDATED 02/11/09. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253552 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10256548 · 2009-01-27 (January 27, 2009)

I HAVE A 2008 SMART FORTWO, THE IGNITION KEY IS BETWEEN THE SEATS. AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES IN TRAFFIC, I HAVE ACCIDENTALLY TURNED THE CAR OFF BY BUMPING THE KEY FOB. THE CAR SITS DEAD IN TRAFFIC UNTIL I CAN RESTART IT. IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE KEY. I CHALLENGE ANYONE OVER 200 LBS TO TAKE A HARD LEFT TURN AS IN A AVOIDANCE MANEUVER AND TRY NOT TO SLIDE TO THE RIGHT AND ACCIDENTALLY KILL THE ENGINE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE IN THESE SMALL CARS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10256548 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10333900 · 2010-05-30 (May 30, 2010)

FREQUENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILS TO LATCH EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS SLAMS IT STILL WILL NOT LATCH IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE WEATHER GETS HOT. THE ONLY RESOLUTION TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM IS TO SNAP THE INSIDE RELEASE HANDLE THEN SLAM THE DOOR TO MAKE IT LATCH. MY CONCERN BESIDES HAVING TROUBLE LATCHING IT IS IT BECOMING UNLATCHED AT SOME POINT WHILE IN MOTION. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10333900 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10377989 · 2011-01-20 (January 20, 2011)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMARTCAR CABRIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE LEATHER HEATED SEAT BURNED AS A RESULT OF THE HEATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE HEATING ELEMENT NEEDED TO BE DISCONNECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10377989 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10397144 · 2011-04-22 (April 22, 2011)

1. HIGH FAILURE RATE OF HEATER BLOWER MOTORS. 2. HIGH REPLACEMENT COST (PRICE GOUGING) FOR A BLOWER MOTOR BASED ON THE BELIEVED HIGH CURRENT FAILURE RATE. 3. 3 BLOWER FAILURES IN 54K MILES. 4. VEHICLE WAS NEW IN 4/2008, I AM ORIGINAL OWNER 5. NO HEAT CREATES A HIGH SAFETY RISK TO CONSUMER WHO USE THE VEHICLE IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS. 6. NO HEAT CAN CREATE VISIBILITY ISSUE DUE TO INABILITY TO PROPERLY DEFROST THE WINDOWS. 7. NO HEAT PRESENTS A HEALTH ISSUE TO OLDER USERS IN COLD WEATHER WHO MAY HAVE LIMITED CIRCULATION. 8. NO HEAT PR…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,380 miles reported. Look up ODI 10397144 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 ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.