Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 139 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Smart Fortwo. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 139 · page 1 of 6
The 90 degree fittings(integral to the fuel pump) on top of the fuel pump cracked and leaks gasoline leading to a potential fire that could cause bodily injury for the driver and passenger. It is noticeable because of strong gasoline smell inside and outside of the car. There are many of the same complaints from Smart Car drivers in various forum.
The contact owns a 2008 Smart Fortwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000(Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed there was smoke coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle had caught on fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle quickly and entered a mechanic shop and a mechanic put on safety gloves to extinguish the fire with a fire hose. The fire was able to be extinguished by the mechanic. The mechanic mentioned that the insulation mat detached from the vehicle and caught on fire. No injuries were sustained. A fire report was not filed since the fire department was not at the scene. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's parents' home where it remained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Parts Distribution Disconnect
Mercedes-Benz USA has no service centers on Long Island,NY that might fix the recall issue. For a time they were the only Smart Car service provider after Smart Car dealers were abandoned. MB USA currently will not do the recall and offers no reasonable alternative. The issue is potential engine compartment/total vehicle fire due to compartment insulation failure. Offers no suggestions for doing the recall service except one MB dealer in CT at one time might be able; if I research them.
The contact's mother owns a 2008 Smart ForTwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was notified of the recall but informed the contact that the recall could not be serviced at their location. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to a dealer that was 180 miles away. The manufacturer was informed that the owner of the vehicle was elderly and would not be able to travel that far a distance yet was offered no additional assistance. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2008 Smart ForTwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer suggested that the vehicle be towed to another local dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The parts were available; however, the dealer list the manufacturer provided that the recall repair instructions were not available. The contact called multiple dealers however services could not be provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
We were driving in Greensboro NC this afternoon on the way to my husbands birthday dinner when off of Bridford? Parkway our 2008 smart car passion for two started malfunctioning all lights flashing on instrument panel & brakes quit & another motorist drove up beside us with window down screaming GET OUT YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE!!! We managed to stop on side of road at woods & jumped out car was on fire looked like under back tires and engine in back! We grabbed what we could save & ran. 911 was called & fire and police came. 2 Witnesses also to event we have photos & videos. Our car burned all the way down to frame! Total loss! We could have died because we couldnt see the fire behind us under car & if not for the man we may have blown up!!
2008 Smart Fortwo Pure, currently with 85,036 miles, factory equipped with optional POWER STEERING - ELECTRIC, power steering had worked fine until Fall 2020 when cold temperatures caused steering lock-up, until car interior warmed enough to unlock steering, behavior consistent throughout that winter. Once steering unlocked, steering was normal, until car sat & chilled sufficiently to re-lock steering, or fault disappeared with warmer Spring 2021 temperatures. NEW DEVELOPMENTS - December 2021, outside temperatures in the 20s F, it takes much longer, 30-60 minutes or longer with heat & blower on max heat, before steering unlocks. After steering unlocks, it can seem fully unlocked, BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND FRIGID TEMPERATURES STEERING NOW GETS DANGEROUSLY STIFF AND STICKY AND STUCK-IN-POSITION MOMENTARILY WHILE DRIVING. Unlike some vehicles with steering lockable by key position for theft deterrence, THERE IS NO STEERING-LOCK-BASED ANTI-THEFT FEATURE ON THE FORTWO. I hope you’ll agree that any vehicle whose steering may lock-up in operation at highway speeds as a function of U.S. midwestern winter temperatures has a life-threatening steering safety defect worthy of further investigation.
Engine fire destroyed vehicle while driving on Interstate at 65 MPH. Vehicle was serviced and maintained per manufacturer maintenance schedule at authorized dealer. No prior issues with vehicle. Vehicle also passed emission check on 09/29/2021 with no OBD error codes reported during inspection. Mileage: 60K
I am seeing melted and possible burnt material on the underside of the engine compartment cover and I am concerned for a fire to develop.. i have photos i will send
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was on fire under the hood. The fire department was called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was not towed. There was no injury sustained. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH AT NIGHT, LIGHTS FLASHED ON/OFF, HER A THUMP AND POP, CAR AND LIGHTS SHUT OFF, THEN A LARGE FIRE ERUPTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED.
2008 SMART FOR TWO PASSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR INSULATION MAT SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WE NOTICED SUDDEN SMOKE WITHIN THE CAR. THE CAR GOT VERY HOT. WE STOPPED AND OPENED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN THE TRUNK AND NOTICED THAT THE INSULATION MAT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. WE DID NOT NOTICE ANY CAUSES THAT COULD HAVE LEAD TO THE BURN BESIDES THE MAT ITSELF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW COUNTRY MERCEDES-BENZ LOCATED AT 1 WESTON ST, HARTFORD, CT 06120, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,250.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). FRANK FLETCHER IMPORTS (3111 E 32ND ST, JOPLIN, MO 64804, (417) 297-0821) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE JACKIE COOPER IMPORTS (9393 S MEMORIAL DR, TULSA, OK 74133, (918) 615-2185) A TWO AND A HALF HOUR DRIVE AWAY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A THE VEHICLE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR PICKUP AND THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CALL TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45-55 MPH HE UNEXPECTEDLY SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S SON CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE FROM THE REAR. SHORTLY AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CONTACT'S SON OPENED THE REAR HATCH AND NOTICED FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A WATER HOSE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 THE CONTACT STATED RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SMART FOR TWO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER MERCEDES BENZ OF PALM BEACH, 4000 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409, CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ORLANDO (810 ORLANDO AVE, MAITLAND, FL 32751, (407) 680-0784) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO LOCAL DEALERS NEAR THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOTORWORLD MILEONE AUTO GROUP (150 MOTORWORLD DR, WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702, (866) 591-7116), BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND LANDED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN ENGINEER AND LAWYER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT PROVIDED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE TWR AIR BAGS, WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN NHTSA INVESTIGATION NUMBER: [XXX] (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,500.*TR*JB*JB ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB*JB*DT*JB
.........I NOT THE CURREN OWNER FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT, MY SMART IS AFFECTED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OR FAULT-DEFECT. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=31877430&ROWNUMBER=9&LOADRECENT=TRUE . .........VEHICLE WON'T START. ..........FUSE BOX. FAIL. .......... ......... THANK YOU.
2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SMART CAR. CONSUMER WRITES WITH CONCERN FOR VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE WHILE IDLE IN DRIVE-WAY FOLLOWING RECALL AND REPAIRS BY MANUFACTURER. *AS *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT SWITCH TO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .