2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 25,780miles, 9 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio. The part named most often is electrical system, with 6 complaints (55% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (3) and visibility (2). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 78% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 25,780 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 6 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.
- Electrical system6 55%
- Engine cooling1 9.1%
- Exterior lighting1 9.1%
- Wheels1 9.1%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “(1) power train issue; no rhyme or reason the vehicle will not shift into gear. After some time, I discovered that you must shut the vehicle off and re-start to shift the transmission into gear. This seems to be happening more often over the past two months! I have had this happen after pulling out of a parking spot and trying to place the vehicle into r or d, I have tried placing the car into n and back to either r or d with no luck, again had to re-start while blocking traffic! This should not be happening on a newer vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10501295, filed 2013-03, 21,850 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “As I pulled up to the garage and opened the garage door I noticed a banana slug on the ground, so I backed up and put the car into park. I exited the vehicle and left the car running to pick up the slug and move it. As I was doing so, the car started moving towards me up the incline of the driveway. I quickly opened the car door and started to jump in. It didn't occur to me that the car was moving through the garage door frame. The mirror snapped off and my left leg was crushed in the door as it scraped along the garage door frame. …”
NHTSA complaint #10449097, filed 2012-02, 25,780 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Blower motor operating intermittently. Sometimes it will come on and sometimes it doesn't, no rhyme or reason to it. Heater and AC function properly, but without a forced air system. This becomes a major problem when the windows fog up during rainy or cold weather and there is no way to clear them. I have read of many of these complaints online even on the Smart car forum. Smart does not acknowledge any problem. Out of 20 or so cars in my life I have never seen an issue of this nature and it can create a hazard due to inability to see while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10489554, filed 2012-12, 48,000 milesEngine cooling: “The contact owns a 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v273000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
NHTSA complaint #11324687, filed 2020-05Mileage when problems were reported
78% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 17,000 and 48,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2009 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. 6 on record; the latest 6 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.
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 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 6 complaints (55% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 3.
Has the 2009 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 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio reported?
Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 25,780 miles and the middle half falls between 17,000 and 48,000 miles; 78% 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.