Smart Fortwo cabrio problems
The Smart Fortwo (stylized as "smart fortwo") is a two-seater city car built by the Smart division of the Mercedes-Benz Group from 1998 to 2024. In its third generation, the Fortwo has a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and a one-box design.
The first generation was internally designated as the W450, launched at the 1998 Paris Motor Show. The second generation W451-build series was launched at the 2006 Bologna Motor Show. The third generation Fortwo (2014–) was internally designated as the C453 build series, and debuted globally on July 16, 2014, at the Tempodrom in Berlin along with a closely related four-door version, the Smart Forfour, co-developed and sharing the same platform and engines with the third-generation Renault Twingo.
Marketed in 46 countries worldwide, Fortwo production had surpassed 1.7 million units by early 2015. The brand name Smart supposedly derives from its early history as a cooperative venture between Swatch and Mercedes: Swatch Mercedes ART. The Fortwo nameplate derives from its two-person seating capacity. Until 2002, the Fortwo had been marketed as the smart City-Coupé.
Social links
Smart Fortwo cabrio model years
Common Smart Fortwo cabrio problems
Smart Fortwo Cabrio: Common Problems and Complaints
The Smart Fortwo Cabrio is a popular choice for those seeking a stylish, compact car with the added benefit of an open-top driving experience. However, like any vehicle, it is not without its issues. Here are some of the most common problems reported by Smart Fortwo Cabrio owners:
- Interior Quality: The interior of the Smart Fortwo Cabrio is made with plenty of hard, scratchy plastics that might be easy to wipe clean but could be scuffed for example by shoes or even jewellery. Additionally, the interior could be ordered in some rather light colours that will not hide dirt for long.
In summary, while the Smart Fortwo Cabrio is a stylish and practical car, it is not without its issues. Transmission problems, suspension issues, electrical failures, crazing, recalls, and interior quality are all common problems reported by owners. It is essential to be aware of these issues and to keep a close eye on the car's transmission, suspension, and electrical systems to ensure that any problems are addressed promptly.
What are the most common problems with a Smart Car?
17 Smart Common Problems They Don't Want Us To Know
- Anti-Brake System Problem.
- Clutch Malfunction.
- Quick-Wearing Brakes. ...
- Electrical Failures.
- Gears Slip Out of Place.
- Jerks in the Gearbox.
- Brakes Squealing and Grinding.
- Slipping & Grinding Clutch – Manuel Cars Only.
What are the years to avoid for a Smart Car?
Below are the worst Fortwo years to avoid due to reliability issues and a high number of complaints:
- 2008 Smart Fortwo.
- 2009 Smart Fortwo.
- 2016 Smart Fortwo.
What are the weaknesses of a Smart Car?
Smart cars are typically only big enough to seat 2 people. This can be a real issue if you have a family of 4. Since they are not really geared towards families, this can be a decided disadvantage to owning one. Never mind the 20 trips you'd have to make to take your daughter's soccer team to practice!
How many miles is too many for a Smart Car?
Typically, a Smart Car will survive 150,000-450,000 miles, providing an excellent ownership opportunity for buyers. The car can last for several decades with flawless maintenance, though most will get around two out of the system. If you're careful with the compact car, it will work well for your driving desires.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Smart Fortwo cabrio years
We have researched Smart problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Smart Fortwo cabrio cars and compiled the top 2 most problematic Smart Fortwo cabrio model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Smart Fortwo cabrio model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Smart Fortwo cabrio years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Smart Fortwo cabrio car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Smart Fortwo cabrio , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Electrical system problems
- Power train problems
- Visibility problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Exterior lighting problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Smart Fortwo cabrio vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Fortwo cabrio model years
A total of 2 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Fortwo cabrio model years
There were a total of 1 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Fortwo cabrio model years
There were a total of 2 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 11 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Smart Fortwo cabrio . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Smart Fortwo cabrio vehicles.
List of Smart Fortwo cabrio complaints
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2021-02-10
- Date Complaint: 2021-02-11
- VIN: WMEEK31X09K
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: REVERSE DOESN'T ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR TO R, EITHER I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE OR GO THE MANUAL SHIFTS THEN EVENTUALLY THE REVERSE GEAR WILL ENGAGE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MINUTES TO ENGAGE AND IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC WHEN CONDUCTING IN TRAFFIC AND IT IS VERY HAZARDOUS.
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2017-04-27
- Date Complaint: 2020-05-15
- VIN: WMEEJ31X49K
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO CABRIO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2014-10-15
- Date Complaint: 2015-01-06
- VIN: WMEEK31X59K
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: FAN BLOWER MOTOR WILL NOT WORK TO MOVE HEAT TO WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST IN WINTER. I CAN NOT SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD.
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2014-05-19
- Date Complaint: 2014-05-23
- Fire: 1
- VIN: WMEEK31XX9K
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: HAD BEEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WHEN A STRONG ODOR OF ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNING BECAME EVIDENT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HORN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. PULLED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DASH. DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THEN FLAMES BECAME EVIDENT FROM DASH AND FRONT AREA OF CAR. CAR BURNED COMPLETELY, TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2013-11-26
- Date Complaint: 2014-04-02
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: HAD ISSUES 5 OR 6 TIMES WITH IGNITION TURNING OFF WHEN I'M DRIVING ALONG AND CAME CLOSE TO GETTING KILLED! HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO GEARS RIGHT, ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK TO BE SURE I'M IN RIGHT SPOT ON SHIFTER, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE.ALSO, CONSTANTLY BUYING HEADLIGHTS! NOTICED ON HILLS THESE CARS HAVE A TENDENCY TO ROLL WHEN YOU'RE IN PARK! *TR
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2013-02-04
- Date Complaint: 2013-03-04
- VIN: WMEEK31XX9K
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: (1) POWER TRAIN ISSUE; NO RHYME OR REASON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. AFTER SOME TIME, I DISCOVERED THAT YOU MUST SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RE-START TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS! I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AFTER PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND TRYING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO R OR D, I HAVE TRIED PLACING THE CAR INTO N AND BACK TO EITHER R OR D WITH NO LUCK, AGAIN HAD TO RE-START WHILE BLOCKING TRAFFIC! THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A NEWER VEHICLE. (2) ELECTRICAL ISSUE; NO RHYME OR REASON THE HEATER/AC BLOWER WILL NOT POWER ON AND IS INTERMITTENT ISSUE. AFTER SOME TIME NOW, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT I HAVE TO RAP ON THE DASH BY THE GLOVE BOX TO START THE BLOWER. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BLOWER STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE OR A BIG BUMP. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRING, BUT I,M UNABLE TO LOCATE IT. REALLY WORRIED ABOUT A VEHICLE FIRE OVER TIME? (3) ELECTRICAL ISSUE; I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLAMPS SEVERAL TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE OF THE FIXTURE NOT SEALING CORRECTLY. LUCKILY, I HAVE ONLY LOST ONE HEADLAMP AT A TIME, WHY HAS THEN NOT BEEN ADDRESSED? *TR
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2013-01-16
- Date Complaint: 2013-01-30
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: MY HEAD LIGHTS KEEP ON BURNING OUT ABOUT EVERY 6 TO 7 MONTHS ONE AT A TIME AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT 14 DOLLARS EACH TIME. *TR
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2011-10-04
- Date Complaint: 2012-12-23
- VIN: WMEEK31X59K
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
- Summary: BLOWER MOTOR OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WILL COME ON AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT. HEATER AND AC FUNCTION PROPERLY, BUT WITHOUT A FORCED AIR SYSTEM. THIS BECOMES A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN THE WINDOWS FOG UP DURING RAINY OR COLD WEATHER AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CLEAR THEM. I HAVE READ OF MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE EVEN ON THE SMART CAR FORUM. SMART DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM. OUT OF 20 OR SO CARS IN MY LIFE I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ISSUE OF THIS NATURE AND IT CAN CREATE A HAZARD DUE TO INABILITY TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2011-10-18
- Date Complaint: 2012-07-18
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: WMEEK31X49K
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: I OWN THE 2009 BRABUS MODEL SMART WHICH COMES WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES THAT IN THE 5000 MILES THAT I HAVE DRIVEN, I HAVE BENT OR CRACKED ROUGHLY 7 RIMS TO THE POINT OF REPLACEMENT. I AM PRESENTLY ON MY 7TH AND 8TH BROKEN RIM WITH THIS CAR AND ON OCTOBER 18TH OF LAST YEAR I LOST CONTROL OF MY SMART ON THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. ONE SECOND I WAS GOING PERFECTLY STRAIGHT, THEN I COULD NOT TURN AT ALL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD WHERE THE FRONT WAS PRETTY MUCH MISSING. WHAT STOOD OUT WAS THERE WAS BASICALLY HALF A RIM ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND NO TIRE. I HAVE HELD ONTO THE RIM AND AFTER THE ACCIDENT CONTACTED SMART SO THAT THEY COULD LOOK FOR METAL FATIGUE, OR SOME FORM OF CAUSE FOR THE RIM TO BE IN THAT SHAPE. I SENT SMART MY PHOTOS OF THE CAR, THE RIM ETC., THEY RECEIVED THEM AND I NEVER HEARD BACK. I KEPT THE RIM AT HOME WITH THE HOPES OF ONE DAY THEY WOULD CONTACT ME, NOTHING. RECENTLY, I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN BECAUSE THE FRONT TIRE WAS "WOBBLING" AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BADLY DENTED AND SO WAS THE BACK RIM AS WELL. THESE ARE EITHER RIMS 7 AND 8 OR 8 AND 9 THAT NEED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER COULD CARE LESS ABOUT MY ISSUES, MY ACCIDENT OR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS THAT MIGHT HAVE THIS SIMILAR PRODUCT. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALER NOW, TWO DENTED RIMS AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A "REFURBISHED" REPLACEMENT FOR ONE RIM AND THE OTHER DOES NOT WARRANT REPAIR ACCORDING TO THEM. IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL HOW THEY DISMISS MY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. NEITHER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, OR WHATEVER USELESS SMART CUSTOMER CARE NUMBER THEY GAVE ME DO ANYTHING. HELP! I AM EITHER GOING TO GET KILLED IN THIS THING, OR SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AS ME AND GET HURT. THIS IS NOT TO MENTION, WE NEVER DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS IN THE SHOP. *TR
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2012-02-10
- Date Complaint: 2012-02-23
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: WMEEK31X59K
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: AS I PULLED UP TO THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR I NOTICED A BANANA SLUG ON THE GROUND, SO I BACKED UP AND PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE CAR RUNNING TO PICK UP THE SLUG AND MOVE IT. AS I WAS DOING SO, THE CAR STARTED MOVING TOWARDS ME UP THE INCLINE OF THE DRIVEWAY. I QUICKLY OPENED THE CAR DOOR AND STARTED TO JUMP IN. IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT THE CAR WAS MOVING THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR FRAME. THE MIRROR SNAPPED OFF AND MY LEFT LEG WAS CRUSHED IN THE DOOR AS IT SCRAPED ALONG THE GARAGE DOOR FRAME. MY LEFT FOOT WAS WEDGED OUTSIDE THE CAR AND OUTSIDE THE DOOR FRAME AND WAS CRUSHED ON THE TOP OF MY ANKLE. THE CAR HAD GROUND TO A NEAR STOP DUE TO THE WEDGING OF THE DOOR AGAINST THE GARAGE DOOR FRAME. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT THE SHIFTER WAS IN PARK, SO I MOVED IT TO REVERSE AND THE CAR STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER INTO REVERSE, SO THE CAR OBVIOUSLY STILL THOUGHT IT WAS IN DRIVE. I WAS THEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF. THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT UPDATED THE SOFTWARE FOR A 'NO SHIFTING INTO REVERSE ISSUE'. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION, SO THE DAMAGE WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2011-09-01
- Date Complaint: 2011-09-17
- VIN: WMEEK31X19K
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
- Summary: BLOWER MOTOR BECAME INTERMITTENT THEN FAILED AT ONLY 16,000 MILES. CAUSES SAFETY ISSUE WITH INABILITY TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS, DRIVER DISTRACTION FIDDLING WITH CONTROLS, DRIVER DISCOMFORT AND DISTRACTION FROM HIGH HEAT IN CABIN DUE TO LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING IN OVER 100 DEGREE F WEATHER. *TT
Are you having problems with your Smart Fortwo cabrio?
