2008 Smart Fortwo Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 139 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Smart Fortwo overview page.
What owners report
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO…”NHTSA complaint 11292231 — filed 12/31/2019
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT SWITCH TO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT…”NHTSA complaint 11173470 — filed 02/01/2019
“IT WILL STOP WORKING AND WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE AT ALL THE CAR JUST SIT THERE AND WILL NOT DRIVE AT ALL, THIS IS…”NHTSA complaint 11006774 — filed 07/21/2017
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2008 Smart Fortwo have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2008 Smart Fortwo: 22 of 139 complaints on file (15.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2008 Smart Fortwo have in total?
139 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 7 involved a crash, 27 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
