There are no safety recalls for the 2008 Smart Fortwo Coupe, but owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA.
2008 Smart Fortwo Coupe problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Power Train | 7 | |
| Structure | 4 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | |
| Equipment | 1 | |
| Electrical System | 1 | |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 1 | |
| Engine | 1 | |
| Steering | 1 | |
Most reported parts
- Structure › Body — 3
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 1
- Power Train › Driveline — 1
- Power Train › Clutch Assembly — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 22,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2008 Smart Fortwo Coupe complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Steering · at 61,500 miles · reported Jun 23, 2020
Power steering fails while driving and becomes like steering a mac truck extremely difficult to turn the wheel forcing the vehicle to go straight instead of turning causing the car to come into oncoming traffic.
Engine and Engine Cooling · at 80,000 miles · reported Oct 17, 2016
While driving down the north dallas tollway I heard a sudden loud "pop" noise in the back of my car where my engine is located. It was startling enough to pull off onto the shoulder of the highway and exit my car immediately to see where the noise came from. Upon exiting my vehicle, I saw coming from the back of the car where the engine is located flames coming out of the engine. I immediately removed myself from the vicinity of the car and within moments my car was engulfed in flames. Had I not pulled off to the shoulder when I did, my story would not be coming directly from me but from my…
Power Train · at 38,326 miles · reported Sep 25, 2015
Several times my 2008 smart will not go into reverse gear.or start sometimes as explained in many other post here. Mb said that its my clutch assemby, mb report says (1) transmission need to be removed inspect clutch disk pressure plates and thowout bearing/ clutch will not teach in causing engine lamp cost $1359.00 and if that dont work (2) clutch assemby replacement of clutch thowout bearing pressure plate if needed when transmission is out parts only $1031.20 this car only has 38,326 miles on it I AM the 2nd owner pad got the car with 4,500 miles on it. Mb and smartusa have been no help at…
Power Train · at 38,760 miles · reported Nov 19, 2013
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. I arrived & after repeated attempts for…
Fuel System, Gasoline · at 39,630 miles · reported Aug 15, 2013
This being a 2008 smart passion for two......a leaking gas tank on a 4 year old vehicle......contacted mb/smart at their headquarters in nj...trying to get them to replace this under the manufacturer defective part to no avail. Local mb/smart dealership charged me $1717 for its replacement.....no vehicle should lose its gas tank being only four years old, any brand.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2008 Smart Fortwo Coupe have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2008 Smart Fortwo Coupe as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Smart Fortwo Coupe?
Owners report power train problems most often (7 reports), followed by structure (4). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 22,000 miles.
Are Smart recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Smart dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.