Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 Smart Fortwo. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Insulation Mat may Deform and cause Fire
- Summary
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2008-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles. The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deteriorate, and loosen over time, allowing the mat to contact hot exhaust system components.
- Consequence
- If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear insulation mat with an improved one, free of charge. The recall began in July 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018060010.
PAINTING MATERIAL DELAMINATION
- Summary
- SMART USA IS RECALLING 43 MY 2008 FORTWO 451 VEHICLES. A SINGLE BATCH OF PAINT SENT TO THE COMPANY DID NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. A RE-WORK WAS DONE IN THE PLANT USING DIFFERENT FORMULATIONS OF PAINTING MATERIALS. AFTER THE RE-WORK WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COMBINATION OF MATERIALS USED TO REPAINT THE FRAME AND CHASSIS COULD LEAD TO DE LAMINATION OF THE PAINT MATERIALS FROM THE BODY AND FRAME STRUCTURES.
- Consequence
- SUCH DE LAMINATING CAN TAKE PLACE IN THE AREA OF THE BODY WHERE THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF HAVE BEEN AFFIXED WITH ADHESIVE, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE ADHESION OF THOSE COMPONENTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEPARATION. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH IF THE ROOF OR WINDSHIELD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPAINT THE AFFECTED AREAS TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SMART USA AT 1-248-648-2451.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (160)
160 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 160 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 39 | 24.4% |
| Engine | 34 | 21.3% |
| Electrical system | 21 | 13.1% |
| Unknown or other | 18 | 11.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 8.8% |
| Structure | 12 | 7.5% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 6.9% |
| Seat belts | 10 | 6.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 5% |
| Air bags | 5 | 3.1% |
How 2008 compares with other Fortwo years
Best and worst Fortwo years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 160 | 2 |
| 2009 | 100 | 1 |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 | 8 | 0 |
| 2013 | 25 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 1 |
| 2015 | 8 | 1 |
| 2016 | 22 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2008 Fortwo for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2008 Smart Fortwo FAQ
How many recalls does the 2008 Smart Fortwo have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 18V273000 (engine), 08V390000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2008 Smart Fortwo problems?
Owners filed 160 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (39), Engine (34), Electrical system (21) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 2008 Fortwo compare with other years?
Among the 2005–2016 Smart Fortwo model years at least five years old, the 2005 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2008 the most (160). The 2008 drew 160. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.