Smart Fortwo
2008 only
2008 Smart Fortwo have 147 classified complaints on record for that year specifically, plus 1 recall. The most common issue in this year is Cooling system: radiator, water pump, thermostat, fan, typically surfacing around 53,000 miles.
Computed directly from stored federal records for 2008 model years only — not blended with the rest of this vehicle's production run. See the full Smart Fortwo report for every year combined.
Where this year fits
What breaks, and when — 2008 only
Median onset: 53,000 miles.
Typical repair: $260–$1,910 nationally.
Median onset: 28,250 miles. 10.5% of these reported an injury, a death, or a crash with fire.
Tends to show up earlier than this model's other issues. · More common in older model years.
Median onset: 28,825 miles.
Tends to show up earlier than this model's other issues. · More common in older model years.
Median onset: 33,250 miles. 18.8% of these reported an injury, a death, or a crash with fire.
Tends to show up earlier than this model's other issues. · More common in older model years.
Which other vehicles have automatic transmission problems? →Median onset: 42,878 miles.
Median onset: 82,500 miles.
Tends to show up later than this model's other issues. · More common in newer model years.
Median onset: 70,933 miles. 14.3% of these reported an injury, a death, or a crash with fire.
Tends to show up later than this model's other issues. · More common in newer model years.
Median onset: 46,486 miles.
More common in older model years.
From owner-filed complaints to NHTSA, not independently verified. Federal mileage reporting on recent complaints is sparse — see how it works. Cost ranges are national estimates from book labor hours and parts pricing, not this vehicle's actual repair history — they don't account for your location or shop type.
Cost estimator: what will this one cost you?
Enter the car's year and mileage. See which known problems are due in your next 3 years, what each costs at your state's labor rates, which ones to ask the seller about, and routine maintenance to budget for.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — complaints and recalls, scoped to 2008 model year. See the full Smart Fortwo report for every year and full specs/safety data.