AI DamageSmart Fortwo Cabrio: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Smart Fortwo Cabrio across 2 model years: 28 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 39% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 29% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 11% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 7% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 7% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (39% of all).
- Powertrain: 8 complaints (29% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (7% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 28 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My side airbag failed to deploy, but the front steering-wheel air bag did deploy. But my injuries are on my left side of my head and body and are as follows: concussion (continued mental confusion/short term memory loss); broken sternum-clavicle--jaw (2) places (surgery implanted 2 metal plates); shattered upper femur…
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 could not turn at all.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.