https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the Smart Fortwo Cabrio. en-us Sun, 18 Oct 2026 03:30:11 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1729110 Wed, 24 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT CAN NOT TURN IGNITION KEY TO START THE CAR. CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS HAD TO PRY UP CONSOLE TO SWITCH THE THE YELLOW UP. THEN HAD TO PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL. PUT OIL IN GEAR SHAFT AREA. PLUS BLOW OUT ANY DEBRIS THAT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN IN KEY HOLE. ALSO PUT LUBRICANT IN KEY SHAFT. WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE KEY FINALLY TURNED OVER. AFTER BEING STRANDED FOR FOUR HOURS IN 0 DEGR https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1729111 Wed, 24 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT CAN NOT TURN IGNITION KEY TO START THE CAR. CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS HAD TO PRY UP CONSOLE TO SWITCH THE THE YELLOW UP. THEN HAD TO PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL. PUT OIL IN GEAR SHAFT AREA. PLUS BLOW OUT ANY DEBRIS THAT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN IN KEY HOLE. ALSO PUT LUBRICANT IN KEY SHAFT. WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE KEY FINALLY TURNED OVER. AFTER BEING STRANDED FOR FOUR HOURS IN 0 DEGR https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1726235 Thu, 11 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT REVERSE DOESN'T ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR TO R, EITHER I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE OR GO THE MANUAL SHIFTS THEN EVENTUALLY THE REVERSE GEAR WILL ENGAGE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MINUTES TO ENGAGE AND IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC WHEN CONDUCTING IN TRAFFIC AND IT IS VERY HAZARDOUS. https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1695825 Mon, 28 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT 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 T https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1671369 Tue, 23 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 2018060010. I LIVE IN BOISE, IDAHO. THE CLOSEST DEALER THAT CAN DO THE RECALL WORK IS IN DRAPER UTAH. THE DEALER WANTS ME TO DRIVE THE CAR TO UTAH TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A SAFE IDEA FOR ME. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1663363 Fri, 15 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT TL* 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 EXPE https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1262835 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAINED 2008 SMART CAR. ON 12/3102015 AT 11:50 AM. (SUNNY, 80 DEG. F) I WENT THRU A CITY INTERSECTION, AT ABOUT 15 MPH, TO TURN LEFT, I WAS HIT BROADSIDE ("T" BONED), INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BY A FORD E250 VAN, FILLED WITH AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT, WHICH WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35MPH. MY SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, BUT THE FRONT STEERING-WHEEL AIR https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1149015 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT 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 B https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1149016 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT 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 B https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1149017 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT 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 B https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1145110 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT FAN BLOWER MOTOR WILL NOT WORK TO MOVE HEAT TO WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST IN WINTER. I CAN NOT SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD. https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1068522 Fri, 23 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT HAD BEEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WHEN A STRONG ODOR OF ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNING BECAME EVIDENT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HORN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. PULLED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DASH. DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THEN FLAMES BECAME EVIDENT FROM DASH AND FRONT AREA OF CAR. CAR BURNED COMPLETELY, TOTAL LOSS. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1052346 Wed, 02 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT HAD ISSUES 5 OR 6 TIMES WITH IGNITION TURNING OFF WHEN I'M DRIVING ALONG AND CAME CLOSE TO GETTING KILLED! HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO GEARS RIGHT, ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK TO BE SURE I'M IN RIGHT SPOT ON SHIFTER, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE.ALSO, CONSTANTLY BUYING HEADLIGHTS! NOTICED ON HILLS THESE CARS HAVE A TENDENCY TO ROLL https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1022733 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT 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 T https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1017037 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT COULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORST. THE FAILURE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY. THE SMART DEALER STATED I NEED A NEW CLUTCH. THIS START AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES. ALL OTHER MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC SHIFTING IS NORMAL. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR BACKWARDS TO GET OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE AND CAN N https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-1012316 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT 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. *JS https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-966497 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT (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 A https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-966498 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT (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 A https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-960538 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT MY HEAD LIGHTS KEEP ON BURNING OUT ABOUT EVERY 6 TO 7 MONTHS ONE AT A TIME AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT 14 DOLLARS EACH TIME. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-955179 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO CABRIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED SOME TIME LATER. IN THE INTERIM, THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO THE DIODE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,500. UPDATED 2/4/13 *CN THE CON https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-954832 Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT 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 ACKNOWLED https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-954833 Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT 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 ACKNOWLED https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-928950 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT I OWN THE 2009 BRABUS MODEL SMART WHICH COMES WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES THAT IN THE 5000 MILES THAT I HAVE DRIVEN, I HAVE BENT OR CRACKED ROUGHLY 7 RIMS TO THE POINT OF REPLACEMENT. I AM PRESENTLY ON MY 7TH AND 8TH BROKEN RIM WITH THIS CAR AND ON OCTOBER 18TH OF LAST YEAR I LOST CONTROL OF MY SMART ON THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. ONE SECOND I WAS GOING PERFECTLY STRAIGHT, THEN I COUL https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-920770 Wed, 30 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT 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 REP https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-906650 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT 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 MOV https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-880490 Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT BLOWER MOTOR BECAME INTERMITTENT THEN FAILED AT ONLY 16,000 MILES. CAUSES SAFETY ISSUE WITH INABILITY TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS, DRIVER DISTRACTION FIDDLING WITH CONTROLS, DRIVER DISCOMFORT AND DISTRACTION FROM HIGH HEAT IN CABIN DUE TO LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING IN OVER 100 DEGREE F WEATHER. *TT https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-880491 Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT BLOWER MOTOR BECAME INTERMITTENT THEN FAILED AT ONLY 16,000 MILES. CAUSES SAFETY ISSUE WITH INABILITY TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS, DRIVER DISTRACTION FIDDLING WITH CONTROLS, DRIVER DISCOMFORT AND DISTRACTION FROM HIGH HEAT IN CABIN DUE TO LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING IN OVER 100 DEGREE F WEATHER. *TT https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-852787 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT 1. HIGH FAILURE RATE OF HEATER BLOWER MOTORS. 2. HIGH REPLACEMENT COST (PRICE GOUGING) FOR A BLOWER MOTOR BASED ON THE BELIEVED HIGH CURRENT FAILURE RATE. 3. 3 BLOWER FAILURES IN 54K MILES. 4. VEHICLE WAS NEW IN 4/2008, I AM ORIGINAL OWNER 5. NO HEAT CREATES A HIGH SAFETY RISK TO CONSUMER WHO USE THE VEHICLE IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS. 6. NO HEAT CAN CREATE VISIBILITY ISSUE DUE TO INABILIT https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-852788 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT 1. HIGH FAILURE RATE OF HEATER BLOWER MOTORS. 2. HIGH REPLACEMENT COST (PRICE GOUGING) FOR A BLOWER MOTOR BASED ON THE BELIEVED HIGH CURRENT FAILURE RATE. 3. 3 BLOWER FAILURES IN 54K MILES. 4. VEHICLE WAS NEW IN 4/2008, I AM ORIGINAL OWNER 5. NO HEAT CREATES A HIGH SAFETY RISK TO CONSUMER WHO USE THE VEHICLE IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS. 6. NO HEAT CAN CREATE VISIBILITY ISSUE DUE TO INABILIT https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio https://plaincars.com/make/smart-fortwo-cabrio#complaint-837723 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMARTCAR CABRIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE LEATHER HEATED SEAT BURNED AS A RESULT OF THE HEATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE HEATING ELEMENT NEEDED TO BE DISCONNECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE