Complaints
175
Crashes
7
Fires
33
Injuries
9
Fatalities
1
Recalls
1
Worst 2008 smart Fortwo Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#133 complaints
Engine Problems
Avg mileage:74,453 mi
Fires:16
#222 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:41,914 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:1
#318 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:48,058 mi
Fires:4
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 smart Fortwo.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 33 | — | 16 | 74,453 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 22 | 3 | 1 | 41,914 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 18 | — | 4 | 48,058 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 10 | — | 2 | 35,783 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 10 | — | — | 34,722 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 9 | — | — | 16,438 mi | |
| Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 70,109 mi | |
| Brakes | 6 | — | 1 | 65,250 mi | |
| Airbags | 5 | 2 | — | 33,425 mi | |
| Body Structure | 5 | — | 1 | 31,661 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 1 | — | — | — |
Engine Problems
33
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
16
Avg Miles
74,453
Transmission / Drivetrain
22
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
41,914
Electrical Faults
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
48,058
Engine & Cooling
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
35,783
Seat Belt Issues
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
34,722
Automatic Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
16,438
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,109
Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
65,250
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,425
Body Structure
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
31,661
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 smart Fortwo. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2008 smart Fortwo
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~42,781 vehicles.
18V273000Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~42,781 affectedMercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2008-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles. The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deteriorate, and loosen over time, allowing the mat to contact hot exhaust system components.
Other smart Fortwo Years
2008 smart Fortwo — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 smart Fortwo reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2008 smart Fortwo has 175 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 33 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 smart Fortwo?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (33 complaints, avg 74,453 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (22 complaints, avg 41,914 mi); Electrical Faults (18 complaints, avg 48,058 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 smart Fortwo?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 50,594 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 smart Fortwo?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 smart Fortwo include 7 crash-related reports, 33 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 smart Fortwo have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 42,781 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 smart Fortwo?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2008 smart Fortwo shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full smart Fortwo reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2008 smart Fortwo
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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