2008 Smart Fortwo Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

33Engine complaints

23.7%Of all 139 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE33 · 23.7%

POWER TRAIN22 · 15.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18 · 12.9%

Unspecified / other17 · 12.2%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING10 · 7.2%

Share of the 139 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Smart Fortwo overview page.

What owners report

“Mercedes-Benz USA has no service centers on Long Island,NY that might fix the recall issue. For a time they were the only Smart Car service…”NHTSA complaint 11613305 — filed 09/08/2024

“Engine fire destroyed vehicle while driving on Interstate at 65 MPH. Vehicle was serviced and maintained per manufacturer maintenance schedule at authorized dealer. No prior…”NHTSA complaint 11436171 — filed 10/09/2021

“WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH AT NIGHT, LIGHTS FLASHED ON/OFF, HER A THUMP AND POP, CAR AND LIGHTS SHUT OFF, THEN A LARGE FIRE ERUPTED…”NHTSA complaint 11372369 — filed 10/30/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Smart Fortwo have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2008 Smart Fortwo: 33 of 139 complaints on file (23.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Smart Fortwo have in total?

139 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 7 involved a crash, 27 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.