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2009 Smart Fortwo CabrioProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 11 owner complaints about the 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio, most often about the electrical system. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints115 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage22kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 11, 2021. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio has problems

11 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system61
Power train31
Visibility20
Engine and engine cooling10
Exterior lighting10
Wheels11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

2009 vs. every other Fortwo Cabrio year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Fortwo Cabrio median. How we score

'08'09
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Engine Compartment FireEA17003 · closed Aug 21, 2018
    Led to recall 18V-273
  2. Engine Compartment FirePE16016 · closed Nov 20, 2017
    Led to recall 18V-273
In owners' words

What Fortwo Cabrio owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 10593762 · May 23, 2014 · 95,000 miles
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…
Complaint 10576681 · Apr 2, 2014
(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…
Complaint 10501295 · Mar 4, 2013 · 21,850 miles

Own a 2009 Fortwo Cabrio?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.