- The problem
- Mercedes-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.
- The risk
- If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear insulation mat with an improved one, free of charge. The recall began in July 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018060010.
Vehicle safety record
2008 Smart Fortwo Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 140 complaints about the 2008 Smart Fortwo with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (45) and the transmission & drivetrain (32). Those complaints describe 7 crashes, 27 fires, 9 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in April 2018 for the exhaust system. For comparison, the 2009 has 100.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Fortwo year, for its age
#99 most complained-about 2008 vehicle
- Complaints
- 140
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 7
- Fires
- 27
- Injuries
- 9
- Deaths
- 1
Most common 2008 Smart Fortwo problems
Share of all 140 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2008 Smart Fortwo recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Smart usa is recalling 43 my 2008 fortwo 451 vehicles. A single batch of paint sent to the company did not meet specifications. A re-work was done in the plant using different formulations of painting materials. After the re-work was completed, it was determined that the combination of materials used to repaint the frame and chassis could lead to de lamination of the paint materials from the body and frame structures.
- The risk
- Such de laminating can take place in the area of the body where the windshield and roof have been affixed with adhesive, which could affect the adhesion of those components to the vehicle body, increasing the risk of separation. This could cause a crash if the roof or windshield separated from the vehicle while in motion.
- The fix
- Dealers will repaint the affected areas to meet specifications. The recall began on august 18, 2008. Owners may contact smart usa at 1-248-648-2451.
What owners say
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140 complaints about the 2008 Smart Fortwo
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 6.
I was entering an intersection and missed judged the traffic light and was a bit to far forward, so I tried to reverse but the car would not shift to reverse. I have had an actuator replaced but the problem still happens intermittently where it will not shift to reverse. I have logged into smart car forums online and it seems to be an ongoing problem with many smart cars. I have not had the manufacturer look at it yet. Many on the forum said in some cases it is a software issue. But it is dangerous.
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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: [[redacted]] (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
Smart Fortwo: every year compared
All Fortwo years2008 Smart Fortwo vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Smart Fortwo | 140 | 2 | F | |
| 2008 Smart Fortwo Coupe | 20 | 0 | - | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2008 Smart Fortwo
Does the 2008 Smart Fortwo have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2008 Smart Fortwo: exhaust system (April 2018); frame and members (August 2008). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Smart Fortwo?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (45), transmission & drivetrain (32), electrical system (20).
How many complaints has the 2008 Smart Fortwo had?
140 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 28, 2008 and the latest on August 20, 2026. Of these, 7 describe a crash and 27 a fire, and together they report 9 injuries and 1 death.
Is the 2008 Smart Fortwo a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 2 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Smart Fortwo year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Smart Fortwo years have the most complaints?
2008 (140), 2009 (100), 2011 (16). See every Smart Fortwo year compared.
What should I do if my 2008 Smart Fortwo has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data