2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 29%of 17 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 8,200miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio, 29% of the 17 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 8,200 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“The transmission won't engage into reverse. Called for help. They had me reach under gear shift and release a cable to move car, after I did that I went to work and car wouldn't shift out of gear into park. Called and they picked it up to fix it, came back and I had no problem for a while and then it would shift but not lock into gear, rocked the car, pushed it and finally it worked, this is a repeat thing. I am having problem right this moment, I can't drive my car. I looked on line to see if there is a resolution and the internet is full of complaints of people having the same problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10460097, filed 2012-05, 3,000 miles“Noticed transmission shifter button hard to push in a couple of times. Went to post office and was stranded there as I was unable to get the car out of park. This car has less than 9,000 miles on it.”
NHTSA complaint #10248933, filed 2008-11, 8,200 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 | 27% |
| 2008 | 5 | 29% |
Other parts of the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio
5 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology