Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009 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.
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Common Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009 problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Smart Fortwo Cabrio 2009, several common problems have been reported:
- Transmission Issues:
- Owners have experienced trouble switching into reverse gear, with transmission failure being a prevalent mechanical issue. The 2008 and 2009 Fortwo models were particularly problematic in this regard.
- Suspension Problems:
- Some owners have reported issues with the suspension system, impacting the car's handling and ride comfort.
- Electrical Failures:
- Electrical components, such as the heater blower motor and electrical charging unit, have been known to fail, causing inconvenience and potential safety concerns.
- Engine Failure:
- Instances of engine failure have been reported, affecting the car's performance and reliability.
- Crazing:
- A condition where the car's roof develops small cracks due to wear and tear, impacting the vehicle's aesthetics and potentially leading to structural issues.
- Other Miscellaneous Problems:
- Additional complaints include failing muffler pipes, issues with the cabin air filter, cargo light malfunctions, and convertible roof slider problems.
These reported issues highlight a range of mechanical, electrical, and structural challenges that Smart Fortwo Cabrio 2009 owners have faced. Addressing these problems promptly and proactively can help maintain the car's performance and longevity.
What is the problem with the 2009 smart fortwo?
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.
What are the issues with Smart Fortwo?
Common Problems
- Electrics (11 cases)
- Suspension, Other (1 case)
- Other (7 cases)
- Electrics, Other (1 case)
- Gearbox / clutch, Suspension (1 case)
- Brakes (2 cases)
- Engine (4 cases)
- Electrics, Engine (2 cases)
How many miles will a 2009 Smart Car last?
We've mentioned an astounding range of 150,000-450,000 for the Smart Car's lifespan in ideal conditions. Thus, high mileage for a Smart Car starts around the 150,000-mile marker.
What is the crash rating of the 2009 Smart Fortwo?
Still, the ForTwo has a full compliment of airbags and other active and passive safety features, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the ForTwo a four-star crash rating for the driver (three stars for the passenger), so it's hardly a death trap.
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Smart Fortwo cabrio problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles 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 2009 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009 complaints
The NHTSA has received 11 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-02-10
- 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2017-04-27
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-10-15
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-05-19
- 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-11-26
- 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
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-02-04
- 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
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-01-16
- 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2011-10-04
- 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
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2011-10-18
- 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2012-02-10
- 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2011-09-01
- 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
Additional sources
More sources of information about Smart Fortwo cabrio 2009 problems:
Expected mileage out of a smart car before major issues : r/SmartCar
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Q&A: 2009 Smart Fortwo Brabus - Common Problems & Solutions
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Dec 3, 2013 ... I just bought a 451 cab, wondering if there are some common issues or problems this cabriolet has that I should be aware of?
2009 smart ForTwo Consumer Reviews | Cars.com
Under 40,000 miles problems ... Thermostat failed no engine access to easily repair. Water pump and belt failed, front spring broken also. Have to drop engine to ...
2009 Smart ForTwo Reliability - Consumer Reports
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