There are 6 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2008 Smart Fortwo in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
2008 SMART FOR TWO PASSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR INSULATION MAT SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK. THE REMOTE LOCKS ALL OTHER DOORS BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK.
ON FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 PM WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (US DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION), THE LATCHES THAT HOLDS THE FRONT HOOD DOWN IN THE CAR BROKE AND THE HOOD FLEW INTO THE STREET. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND OR BESIDE ME AT THE TIME. I HAD TO PULL MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF ROAD AND WALK ABOUT 25 FEET TO RETRIEVE THE HOOD IN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSE PAINT DAMAGES TO THE CAR. THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING FOR ME. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND RECALLED. I BROUGHT THE CAR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (MERCEDES-BENZ OF CATONSVILLE) THAT HAS SERVICED MY CAR IN THE PAST TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE SHOP THE NEXT DAY. THE INCIDENT WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE SALES MANAGER AND GENERAL MANAGER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THESE TYPES OF CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOT SERVICED MANY, BUT SERVICES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON THESE TYPES OF CARS. THE HOOD LATCHES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND ITS A "WEAR/TEAR" ISSUE. MY WARRANTY INSURANCE COVERED THE PLASTIC LATCHES, BUT I HAD TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND RESOLVED THE ISSUE BY MOUNTING (4) NEW PLASTIC LOCKING MECHANISMS (PART NUMBER SMT 451-757-01-01-C22A). I AM AFRAID THAT THIS ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN TIME AND SOMEONE WILL NOT BE AS LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR FATAL INCIDENT. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED ASAP. *TR
THE PANORAMIC ROOF EXPERIENCES WHAT IS CALLED CRAZING WHERE THE ROOF IS COVERED IN FINE CRACKS DUE TO NORMAL EXPOSURE.
THERE IS A LEAK IN THE SEAL FOR THE GLASS ROOF AND THE BODY, RESULTING IN TWO PROBLEMS; 1- WATER HAS LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. 2- VERY NOTICEABLE "WIND NOISE" COMING FROM ROOF SEAL AREA. THIS SEAMS CONSISTENT WITH RECALL # 08V-390, HOWEVER, THIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME, AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH RECALL # 08V-390.
THE PLASTIC COMPOSITE MATERIAL THAT MAKES UP THE CLEAR ROOF PANEL ON SMART FORTWO PASSION MODELS HAS BEEN KNOWN TO "CRAZE" OR HAZE OVER WITH FINE MARKS, THAT CATCH AND REFLECT THE SUN. THIS MAKES THE ROOF'S MATERIAL APPEAR TO WEAR DOWN DUE TO THE SUN'S UV LIGHT. OWNERS THAT PARK THEIR CARS IN GARAGES HAVE FEWER SYMPTOMS, AND ADVERSELY, THOSE WHO ALWAYS KEEP THEIR CAR OUTSIDE AND EXPOSED TO SUN SEE EXASPERATED ISSUES. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF THE MATERIAL WARPING DUE TO WEAR AND EXPERIENCING LEAKS AROUND THE EDGES. AS THE PANEL IS NOT A SUN ROOF, BUT INSTEAD THE VEHICLE'S ROOF ITSELF, THE PROBLEM IS NOT CHEAP TO REPAIR. THE MATERIAL HAS BEEN KNOWN TO "CRAZE" SINCE THE SMART FORTWO WAS UPDATED IN 2008, AND AS OF 2012 THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Sep 8, 2026