"How reliable is the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio?"

"Based on 22 NHTSA complaints, the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio has a median complaint mileage of 21543 miles. The most common issue is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM."

"What are common problems with the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, accounting for a significant portion of the 22 total complaints filed."

2008 Smart Fortwo Cabrio: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 22 complaints

Total Complaints

21,543mi

Median Mileage

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

15,000 25th Percentile

21,543 Median Mileage

86,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

POWER TRAIN

SEAT BELTS

STRUCTURE:BODY

ENGINE

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

SEATS

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE SHIFTER ON MY 2 MONTH OLD SMART CAR LOCKED OUT OF PARK AND REVERSE, THERE FORE NOT ENABLING THE CAR TO BE TURNED OFF OR TO BE PLACED INTO A SAFE CONDITION AFTER DRIVING ALSO POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE, AS REVERSE BECAME NOT FUNCTIONAL. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A LINK ON A WEB SITE THAT GAVE..."

"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. *TR"

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO CABRIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT GETS CAUGHT AND BECOMES INOPERABLE. THE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT AND RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOU..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28