2009 Smart FORTWO CABRIO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
25,780 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 11 complaints (54.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 36.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 18.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
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 | 6 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Visibility | 1 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Electrical System: 6; Power Train: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Visibility: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 1; Wheels: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (4). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10425900 · 2011-09-17 (September 17, 2011)
BLOWER MOTOR BECAME INTERMITTENT THEN FAILED AT ONLY 16,000 MILES. CAUSES SAFETY ISSUE WITH INABILITY TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS, DRIVER DISTRACTION FIDDLING WITH CONTROLS, DRIVER DISCOMFORT AND DISTRACTION FROM HIGH HEAT IN CABIN DUE TO LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING IN OVER 100 DEGREE F WEATHER. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 16,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425900 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 10466522 · 2012-07-18 (July 18, 2012)
I OWN THE 2009 BRABUS MODEL SMART WHICH COMES WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES THAT IN THE 5000 MILES THAT I HAVE DRIVEN, I HAVE BENT OR CRACKED ROUGHLY 7 RIMS TO THE POINT OF REPLACEMENT. I AM PRESENTLY ON MY 7TH AND 8TH BROKEN RIM WITH THIS CAR AND ON OCTOBER 18TH OF LAST YEAR I LOST CONTROL OF MY SMART ON THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. ONE SECOND I WAS GOING PERFECTLY STRAIGHT, THEN I COULD NOT TURN AT ALL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD WHERE THE FRONT WAS PRETTY MUCH MISSING. WHAT STOOD OUT WAS THERE WAS BASICA…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10489554 · 2012-12-23 (December 23, 2012)
BLOWER MOTOR OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WILL COME ON AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT. HEATER AND AC FUNCTION PROPERLY, BUT WITHOUT A FORCED AIR SYSTEM. THIS BECOMES A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN THE WINDOWS FOG UP DURING RAINY OR COLD WEATHER AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CLEAR THEM. I HAVE READ OF MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE EVEN ON THE SMART CAR FORUM. SMART DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM. OUT OF 20 OR SO CARS IN MY LIFE I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ISSUE OF THIS NATURE AND IT CAN CREATE A HAZARD DUE TO INABILITY TO SEE WHILE DRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10495192 · 2013-01-30 (January 30, 2013)
MY HEAD LIGHTS KEEP ON BURNING OUT ABOUT EVERY 6 TO 7 MONTHS ONE AT A TIME AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT 14 DOLLARS EACH TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495192 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 10576681 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)
HAD ISSUES 5 OR 6 TIMES WITH IGNITION TURNING OFF WHEN I'M DRIVING ALONG AND CAME CLOSE TO GETTING KILLED! HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO GEARS RIGHT, ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK TO BE SURE I'M IN RIGHT SPOT ON SHIFTER, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE.ALSO, CONSTANTLY BUYING HEADLIGHTS! NOTICED ON HILLS THESE CARS HAVE A TENDENCY TO ROLL WHEN YOU'RE IN PARK! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10576681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10593762 · 2014-05-23 (May 23, 2014)
HAD BEEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WHEN A STRONG ODOR OF ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNING BECAME EVIDENT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HORN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. PULLED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DASH. DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THEN FLAMES BECAME EVIDENT FROM DASH AND FRONT AREA OF CAR. CAR BURNED COMPLETELY, TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593762 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.