Smart Fortwo CabrioModel year report

2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio Problems

Complaints: 17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 21,394miles, 16 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 0campaigns on record
Trend: FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio. The part named most often is electrical system, with 5 complaints (29% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (5) and engine (2). 16 of the complaints include a mileage, and 63% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 21,394 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 7 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “We drove about 12 miles to a friends, parked in driveway, went inside to visit. In 10-15 minutes was a knock on the door by a neighbor who said your car is on fire . We called 911, emptied a fire extinguisher to no avail. I took many photos from start to finish while waiting for the fire department. They put out the fire. Insurance tow truck took the car to their lot. The whole back half was badly damaged. Afterwards I found many reports of fires like mine. The portland, oregon mercedes dealer would not talk to us. No one was injured. The car seems like a total loss. …”

NHTSA complaint #10676359, filed 2015-01, 86,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I own 2 of the 2008 Smart fortwo automobiles (pure & cabrio). Both have periodically been balky shifters (stuck when trying to move the gear selector out of park). One has briefly refused to shift into any gear, independent of the gear indicated. Both have briefly refused to shift out of park... Until today when my wife was stuck in park at a red light. The ABS light had come on, my wife decided to see if she could clear the indicator. She quickly put it in park, engine off then on, but vehicle remained stuck in park. A deputy moved traffic around her. …”

NHTSA complaint #10552967, filed 2013-11, 38,760 miles

Engine: “This concerns NHTSA recall #18v273. I bought this car new at a dealer 30 miles from my home. Smart has left the us market and their website shows the closest dealer is 220 miles away (one direction). Their website says that authorized mercedes-benz dealers can perform the recall work. I tried my local mercedes-benz and they referred me to a dealer that is over 100 miles away (one way). Doesn't the manufacturer have a responsibility to perform the recall in a reasonable manner? I bought the car from a local dealer, now it will take me doing a 200 mile trip to get this recall done. …”

NHTSA complaint #11361517, filed 2020-09, 21,000 miles

Seat belts: “I attempted to secure my right front seatbelt clip into the designated right seatbelt receptor but it would not completely insert nor lock into place. Then, I checked if any debris had became lodged in the seatbelt receptor that may have blocked the seatbelt receptor entry way. No foreign debris was found so I tried again, but resulted in not locking.”

NHTSA complaint #10545435, filed 2013-09, 21,245 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

63% of the 16 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15,000 and 68,500 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (16 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 21,394 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 7 on record; the latest 7 are shown.

10167526Mar 25, 2014Electrical system. Highline can only be operated to a limited extent or not at all; the input points (contact points) are shifted horizontally relative to the display; calibration is not possible.
10167515Mar 20, 2014Electrical system. PreConditioning of the vehicle via the Vehicle Homepage or the instrument cluster does not function or is restricted.
10167514Mar 7, 2014Electrical system. PreConditioning of the vehicle via the Vehicle Homepage or the instrument cluster does not function or is restricted.
10167486Mar 3, 2014Electrical system. Range does not meet customer's expectations. Customers usually differentiate as follows: 1. Total of distance driven + indicated range remaining with one HV battery charge too low 2. Actual range…
10167028Jan 10, 2014Equipment. If the Radio 9 was switched off while driving, it can switch itself back on again the next time the engine is started.
10044208Apr 18, 2012Electrical system. Smart: high-voltage battery software update.
10025723Jan 24, 2008Equipment. Pdi procedure can be accessed through the smart usa dealer portal. This new procedure details four additional pdi processes.

Other model years of the Smart Fortwo Cabrio

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2009	11	25,780	0	—	—	—	Not enough data
2008	17	21,394	0	—	—	—	Falling

All Smart Fortwo Cabrio model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 5 complaints (29% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 5.

Has the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio reported?

Among the 16 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 21,394 miles and the middle half falls between 15,000 and 68,500 miles; 63% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.