There are 4 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2009 Smart Fortwo in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, MY CAR'S RIGHT FRONT WHEEL GOT RIPPED APART AND MY CAR GOT UNSTABLE TO THE POINT I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF. MY CAR WAS TOWED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR'S TPMS STEM VALVE HOLDER BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS. THE QUALITY OF THE STEM HOLDERS IS BAD AND BREAKS ALL THE TIME. SMART SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND CHANGE THE PIECES THAT COULD SAVE LIVES.
THE VALVE STEMS ARE CRACKING AND IF THEY FAIL WHILE DRIVING A DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL. THE CRACKED VALVE STEMS WERE NOTICED WHEN THE WHEELS WERE REMOVED FOR SERVICE. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK WHEN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES AFTER THIS, THEN A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. BOTH TIMES THE PRESSURE MONITOR IN THE VALVE LET GO. THIS LEAD TO AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. VERY DANGEROUS I WROTE SMART, BUT THE NEVER RESPONDED. *TR
ON JANUARY 1ST 2013, I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY PREOWNED 2009 SMART CAR BRABUS, I HIT A AVERAGE SIZE POT HOLE BUT DIDN'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT MUCH BECAUSE I'M USED TO HITTING THESE POTHOLES. BUT AS I DROVE ON FOR ANOTHER MINUTE, THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO STOP ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. AND SLOWLY PULL OVER. COME TO FIND OUT THAT MY TIRES WERE POPPED, THE RIMS ARE BENT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WHEELS, I FOUND THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CUSHION TO WITHSTAND IMPACTS SUCH AS A DECENT SIZE POTHOLE OR BUMP. I ALSO WENT ON THE SMART CAR OF AMERICA FORUMS, OTHER SMART CAR BRABUS OWNERS ALSO IS GOING THROUGH WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH. IT IS REALLY WEIRD FOR ME ESPECIALLY I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR ONLY 130 MILES. THE SIZE OF THE TIRE(215/35R17) CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CUSHION FOR ANY TYPE OF DECENT SIZE IMPACT. *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