Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
310–25K
3425–50K
2150–75K
975–100K
10100–150K
3150K+
108 reports with mileage · 32 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports27 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
140 reports
Mileage unknown · May 17, 2018
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-B…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO AT (415) 553-4280 (LOCATED AT 500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE AT THE END OF JUNE OF 2018 AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11096608
205,000 miles · May 14, 2018
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SMART FORTWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE, THE GARAGE ATTENDANT CALLED THE CONTACT AND INFORMED HIM THAT SMOKE WAS EMERGING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SMART FORTWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE, THE GARAGE ATTENDANT CALLED THE CONTACT AND INFORMED HIM THAT SMOKE WAS EMERGING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.
NHTSA ODI #11093725
100,400 miles · May 3, 2018
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF HOW THE FIRE STARTED OR WHERE IT ORIGINATED, BUT IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE AUTO AUCTION. THERE WERE NO INJUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF HOW THE FIRE STARTED OR WHERE IT ORIGINATED, BUT IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE AUTO AUCTION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,400.
NHTSA ODI #11091576
100,000 miles · Apr 9, 2018
Unknown Or OtherFire
SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA ODI #11083936
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2018
Unknown Or OtherFire
VEHICLE BURNED WHILE PARKED. HAVE PHOTOS & ESTIMATE OF TOTAL LOSS. THE LITTLETON GROUP IS A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR.
NHTSA ODI #11083277
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2018
Seat Belts
THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, WHICH SHOWS THEY DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. CONCERNED THEY WILL FAIL IF I'M EVER IN A CRASH. :( THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME A SEAT BELT IS UNFASTENED. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS. CALLED A LOCAL MECHANIC TO ASK IF THEY COULD FIX IT, BUT APPARENTLY THIS IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE, SO THE…
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THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, WHICH SHOWS THEY DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. CONCERNED THEY WILL FAIL IF I'M EVER IN A CRASH. :( THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME A SEAT BELT IS UNFASTENED. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS. CALLED A LOCAL MECHANIC TO ASK IF THEY COULD FIX IT, BUT APPARENTLY THIS IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE, SO THEY WON'T TOUCH IT. SMART DOESN'T ADMIT IT'S AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHER SMART OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR SAFETY AS FAR AS THE SEAT BELTS ARE CONCERNED.
NHTSA ODI #11072693
79,866 miles · Sep 16, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
DURING ROUTINE DRIVING, GRADUALLY SMELLED STRONGER GASOLINE ODORS. ODOR REMAINED WITH CAR WHILE PARKED & UNUSED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WHEN ENGINE RUNNING WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. OBSERVED GASOLINE IS SLOWLY DRIPPING UNDER CAR, FORWARD OF THE REAR-MOUNTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FROM HOLE LOCATED IN PLASTIC …
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DURING ROUTINE DRIVING, GRADUALLY SMELLED STRONGER GASOLINE ODORS. ODOR REMAINED WITH CAR WHILE PARKED & UNUSED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WHEN ENGINE RUNNING WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. OBSERVED GASOLINE IS SLOWLY DRIPPING UNDER CAR, FORWARD OF THE REAR-MOUNTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FROM HOLE LOCATED IN PLASTIC UNDERCAR SHIELD. HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM LIKELY WITH FUEL TANKS THAT SMARTUSA OR MERCEDES REQUIRED TO BE MODIFIED BY G&K FOR AN EMISSIONS SYSTEM UPDATE PRIOR TO RETAIL SALE, MANY OWNERS REPORT GAS TANK CRACKS WHERE MODIFICATION HOSE FITTING ADDED, OR LEAKS AT THE MODIFIED FITTING DUE TO ADHESIVE OR SEALANT FAILURE. WORST-CASE, RAW GASOLINE OR GASOLINE VAPORS DRIFTING REARWARD ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS LIKE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPRESENT A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. I DON'T YET KNOW THE EXACT SOURCE OF GASOLINE LEAK. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THE SMART FORTWO CATCHING FIRE DURING OPERATION. PRAY THIS DEFECT WILL RECEIVE ATTENTION PRIOR TO FATALITY.
NHTSA ODI #11023751
46,000 miles · Sep 15, 2017
EngineFire
WENT TO START CAR IN GARAGEWHEN IT MAKE AN ODD SOUND AND SMELLED OF SMOKE. TOKKO CAR IN TO DEALER AND THEY SAID TOP OF ENGINE AROUND VALVES WAS BLOWN. 46,000 MILES ON IT...BEEN HOLDING ON TO IT WAITING FOR A RECALL. CAR IS STILL IN MY SHED.
NHTSA ODI #11023607
116,000 miles · Sep 1, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
2008 SMART PASSION, 116K MILES, MAINTAINED AT RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS: CONDITION: VEHICLE IN USE, VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS: "OLD GAS" SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE AFTER A BREAK FROM USAGE OF ~4-8 HOURS. "FRESH GAS" SMELL OUTSIDE VEHICLE NEAR THE REAR, AFTER VEHICLE IS USED. NO SMELL INSIDE OR OUTSIDE IF VEHICLE IS LEFT T…
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2008 SMART PASSION, 116K MILES, MAINTAINED AT RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS: CONDITION: VEHICLE IN USE, VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS: "OLD GAS" SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE AFTER A BREAK FROM USAGE OF ~4-8 HOURS. "FRESH GAS" SMELL OUTSIDE VEHICLE NEAR THE REAR, AFTER VEHICLE IS USED. NO SMELL INSIDE OR OUTSIDE IF VEHICLE IS LEFT TO STAND 2-3 DAYS. INSPECTION: NO FLUID LEAKS OBSERVED UNDER CAR. CONDITION IS REPEATING/REPEATABLE. UPON REMOVING RH REAR LAMP INSPECTION PLATE, GAS SMELL WAS FOUND TO BE GREATER. NO VISUAL EVIDENCE OF OVERFILL ON THE FUEL FILLER TUBE OBSERVABLE INSIDE INSPECTION COVER. NO WET OR MOIST DUST/DIRT FOUND IN OR NEAR SAME. INSPECTED UNDER-CAR, FORWARD OF ENGINE FOR EVIDENCE OF LEAKING, NONE FOUND. INSPECTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL RAIL AND FUEL RETURNS. NO LEAKS/SEEPS FOUND. NO INSULATION DEGRADATION FOUND, NO MODIFICATIONS OR FOREIGN MATERIAL FOUND. CONCERN: SIMILAR YEAR/MODEL/MILEAGE SMARTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS HAVING CAUGHT FIRE "IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT". ONE ONLINE RESOURCE HAS DOCUMENTED CRACKED/BROKEN FUEL PUMP OUTLET/INLET/BYPASS NIPPLES (WHICH RESULTED IN AN OBSERVED POOL OF GAS UNDER THE CAR). ACTION: FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE FUEL TANK, PUMP AND VAPOR-RECOVERY SYSTEMS ARE PLANNED.
NHTSA ODI #11021082
81,000 miles · Aug 25, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemInjury
TOP OF FUEL PUMP CRACK AFTER CAR HIT BUMPY ROADWAYS LEAKING FUEL FILLING WITH GASOLINE FUMES
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
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.
Consequence: If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System
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.
Consequence: If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA17003 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened Sep 1, 2017 · Closed Aug 21, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On April 30, 2018, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, (Mercedes-Benz) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a defect that could result in a vehicle fire starting from the engine compartment in 42,781 model year (MY) 2008 and 2009 Smart Fortwo cabrio and coupe vehicles (451 platform).According to Mercedes-Benz?s DIR, ?the rear insulation mat within the engine compartment might deform, deteriorate, loosen and over time, subsequently be able to contact hot components of the exhaust system.This could lead to an ignition of the insulation mat and possible fire in the engine compartment.?The US-specification exhaust system has an external catalytic converter packaged close to the insulation mat, where temperatures in the vicinity of the insulation mat reach high values.Over time, these temperatures can lead to a change in the insulation mat's material characteristics and ultimately allow the material to deform. Depending on the magnitude and the specific location of the deformation, the insulation mat could contact hot components of the exhaust system and ignite.Mercedes-Benz will replace the rear insulation mat on the affected vehicles with the improved mat first implemented in the United States in MY 2010 vehicles.ODI?s analysis of fire incident field data reported to NHTSA and Mercedes-Benz show an increasing trend of non-crash fires in the subject vehicles that begins after 4 years of service and accelerates after 7 years of service.The analysis shows that this trend is driven by fires occurring in the engine compartment.Forensic investigations of fires occurring in the past year identified the insulation mat as a likely or possible cause of most of the fires originating in the engine compartment.This investigation is closed based on Mercedes-Benz insulation mat recall.For more information about field data trends and fire investigations, see the closing resume in the document file for this investigation.
PE16016 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened Dec 16, 2016 · Closed Nov 20, 2017
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On December 16, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-016 to investigate eight complaints alleging incidents of engine compartment fire while driving or shortly after engine shutdown in model year (MY) 2008 through 2009 Smart Fortwo vehicles.The complaints appeared to indicate an increasing trend, with all eight fires occurring since January 2015.As part of PE16-016, ODI analyzed information related to incidents reported to the Office by consumers, analyzed field data and technical information submitted by Mercedes-Benz USA (Mercedes) in response to the PE16-016 information request letter, and analyzed non-crash vehicle fire claim data provided by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).To date, ODI's analysis of incidents reported by consumers and provided by Mercedes has identified 27 incidents of open flame fires originating in the engine compartments of the subject vehicles, 14 of which were reported to ODI by Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and 18 involving complaints or field reports to Mercedes (5 of the incidents were reported to both ODI and Mercedes).One incident reported to Mercedes includes an allegation of an injury from smoke inhalation.Nineteen (19) of the incidents occurred since January 2015.Mercedes has only investigated 2 of the 27 fire incidents, and the company was unable to identify a vehicle-based cause for either incident.To further assess incident rates and trends, ODI requested fire claim data for the subject vehicles and eight peer vehicles from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).HLDI collects insurance claim data from companies representing over 80 percent of the market for private passenger vehicle insurance in the United States.ODI?s analysis of the HLDI data, which covered the period from 2010 through late-2016, found that the MY 2008 Fortwo vehicles had a significantly higher claim frequency than its peers and, similar to ODI?s complaint trend, experienced a sharp increase in claims in 2015.This investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA17-003) to continue to investigate the high frequency and increasing trend of non-crash engine compartment fire incidents in the subject vehicles.The VOQs associated with the opening of this investigation were:10676359, 10780222, 10790017, 10820891, 10872656, 10944676, 10916505, 10924311, 10924637, 10939504, 10945296, 10993895, 11011100, 11011565.
2008 Smart Fortwo Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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