VehicleVerdict

2008 Smart Fortwo transmission problems

The 2008 Smart Fortwo has 31 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 18% of the year's total, and the first year with meaningful reports in this category.

31

Transmission complaints

18%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Fortwo transmission complaints by model year31 complaints2008: 31 complaints2009: 27 complaints2010: 1 complaints2011: 2 complaints2012: 1 complaints2013: 5 complaints2014: 1 complaints2016: 1 complaints2017: 1 complaints
Fortwo transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

SMART CAR HAD HISTORY OF NOT GOING IN REVERSE. "R" WOULD NOT COME UP ON SCREEN, CAR WOULD JUST ROLL FORWARD, HITTING VEHICLE(S) IN FRONT. THEN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, (2 YEARS) CAR WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, (EVEN ON HIGHWAY) COAST FOR A WHILE, THEN SHUT DOWN, AND NOT RESTART. IF YOU…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 12, 2011 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2008 Smart Fortwo have?

NHTSA has 31 complaints about the 2008 Smart Fortwo transmission — 18% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.