Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.
Chart based on 94 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
needed a muffler assembly due to break in connecting metal hose leading to carburetor, probably from bad pot holes on NJ roads shaking car a lot.
50000 mi
engine seized would have cost more than value of car to repair
8000 mi
Smart 2.0 software upgrade - enhance transmission to work like the 2009 transmission.
22000 mi
US $97
Water in gas
55000 mi
US $800
I could move the gear selector but the transmission would not select a gear and would beep. Moving forward in Drive (when it worked) would fix problem temporarily. Car fine after clutch reflash.
89000 mi
US $1400
Muffler failed. Secondary air injection pump replaced.
22000 mi
US $30
Secondary air valve replaced.
5000 mi
Took car to dealership service dept. to get maintenance reminder reset after doing an oil & filter change in addition to changing the transmission oil. I could not get the reminder to reset using several suggested methods.
16000 mi
US $100
Car was intermittantly throwing a P0410 code. The cel light was coming on more frequently. The secondary air valve was replaced and the computer reset. Concern appears to be resolved.
5000 mi
Airflow valve was sticking. This has been a common problem with the Smart4two cars.
3000 mi
Reflash of transmission shifting software, termed smart 2.0. This makes the transmission shift points different and allows changing to the paddle shifters from auto mode by pulling on the shifter.
162200 mi
US $3000
The alternator belt snapped. This caused the heating pump to stop, too. Smart Roadside told me that driving was fine, but a few miles later, I'd fried the engine :(
127000 mi
US $3000
oil leak
14000 mi
Intermittent clutch engagement problem. Did software update, and is OK so far.
4000 mi
The check engine light came on. Owner's manual said not to drive it. The problem was a bad switch over valve. Valve ordered.
8000 mi
It was a repair for the check engine light that had come on previously. This visit was previously reported. A sensor had caused the problem and dealer replaced it on this visit.
12000 mi
Car was in shop for trans. upgrade, etc offered for 2008 models. Engine's computer was destroyed when tech attempted trans. upgrade. Engine computer replaced by Dealer in about 24 hrs. Rental car provided.
28000 mi
US $300
Check engine light came on and took the car to dealer. Issue was engine sensor and made car run sort of rough. Resolved with new sensor.
52000 mi
US $780
Secondary air pump replaced. Took car to shop when check engine light came on.
2000 mi
The car shut itself off in hard left turns 3 times.
31000 mi
US $100
Oil pan gasket leaking. Replaced
19000 mi
Check engine light went on. Onboard computer diagnosed it. Took it to a non-Smart dealer who ordered then installed the part- an emissions control valve. Replaced defective emissions control valve.
48360 mi
C $170
Broken flex-tube. Replaced by welding in an after market one. Rest of exhaust and cat is in good condition.
64440 mi
C $120
Exhaust flex tube. Welded in replacement
93000 mi
US $124
engine light on,checked for vacuum leaks and reset fuel settings
1000 mi
shift module replaced
22000 mi
Transmission and battery upgrade.
86131 mi
Check engine light come off. They reset it. It didn't it come back
88000 mi
US $300
Engine light came on. Found it to have two faulty O2 sensors. We chose not to fix it because they told us it affected the O2 mix and would have a mild affect on gas mileage but nothing else. We found this to be accurate and chose not to fix it. Estimated repair cost was $500
94000 mi
The car would not start and the heater blower stopped working. Car was towed in to the dealership. They were unable to repeat the issues for 7 days. Took the car home. Car and blower worked.
89560 mi
C $200
Exhaust system broken flex pipe. Dealer wanted to replace the whole system, got my mechanic to replace the flex for a small fraction of the price.
49800 mi
US $3000
cylinder head replaced due to worn valve guides leaky oil pan
50000 mi
US $50
Used 6 quarts of oil in 2 weeks, replaced the entire short block.
56000 mi
Wiring harness for O2 sensor chafing on hose from air pump. Wrapped harness in electrical tape, then ziptied a rubber hose around the harness to prevent further chafing.
19840 mi
gasket on fuel cap replaced
25420 mi
sometimes would not go into reverse and sometimes would not go into park
58900 mi
fuel pump @42psi new plugs and filters and still will not run. Tries to start but just wont kick.
59400 mi
C $2700
Throttle valve was jammed shut and needed to be replaced. $2000.00 just for the valve. M.B. (Cadilac $500.00)
62000 mi
C $300
broken pipe needed complete exhaust system
22700 mi
US $602
Neutral sensor defective
75000 mi
US $150
Coil Replacement
33580 mi
C $209
Outside temp sensor failed. Was replaced. Unclear if repair successful. CEL came back on afterwards, the went back off. Need cold weather to test.
34720 mi
C $503
Muffler flex pipe was broken. Loose and melting back bumper. Muffler was replaced. Muffler flex pipe was broken. Loose and melting back bumper. Muffler was replaced.
96300 mi
US $2000
Replaced leaking valve gasket allowed oil to pool around spark plugs.
Caused electrical malfunction.
18700 mi
US $580
fuel pump fuse blew, stranding me, on 3 occasions. Dealer easter egged it, selling me $559 fuel pump. Fuse blew again. Tested my old fuel pump, under head pressure, for over an hour at 14vdc. Pump refunded. Pinched wire-factory defect.
7000 mi
P0430 code shown on ScanGuage. Dealer replaced Secondary Air Injection Solenoid. P0410 code shown on ScanGauge. Dealer replaced Secondary Air Injection Solenoid.
3000 mi
Check engine light came on. Diagnosed as faulty switch over valve, which was replaced.
9000 mi
Needed a new fuel plug
5000 mi
Computer upgrade.
71000 mi
US $238
Failed crank position sensor. Car rendered totally useless.
17700 mi
Muffler replacement
4000 mi
Air injection valve replaced.
7000 mi
SOFTWARE UPDATE
40000 mi
US $35
Secondary air valve bad.
Reset the engine light. Not a problem.
27000 mi
US $355
code p0442 - leak in evaporator emissions system
replace purge valve.
52000 mi
US $1019
new transmission mount needed
16000 mi
Dealer replaced the secondary air injection valve.
85000 mi
US $992
Alternator drive belt shredded which destroyed the oil pressure sending unit and an emission control line.
3000 mi
Secondary air injection valve faulty. P0410
8000 mi
Replaced Air injection module.
70700 mi
US $1200
Fuel mixture rich, determined two intake gaskets needed replacement
74000 mi
Sensors indicated excessive rich fuel mixture. This is a repeat of the earlier repair issue which was corrected initially but then returned after a month. The dealer corrected the issue again at no charge. Probably had to remove and reinstall gasket.
82000 mi
US $275
Replace muffler
40000 mi
US $120
Check engine light, code P0455. "O" Ring on gas cap was misaligned. Once it was aligned, code cleared.
10000 mi
Engine light came on and stayed on.
12000 mi
Gear shift stuck. Upgraded to 2.0, lubed shifter.
10000 mi
Engine light error #po410 replaced part no more problems. 2.0 update reprogrammed transmission, replaced battery.
76000 mi
US $130
Oxygen sensors clogged. Replaced engine air filter. The one I had installed was too dense.
3000 mi
Check engine light came on due to faulty secondary air system switch over valve.
9000 mi
check engine light stayed on - required replacing emissions sensor on engine
12500 mi
US $256
check engine light came on, dealer checked error code, related to a sensor that failed not covered under warranty, paid for parts ($48) and labor; in an out in about 1.5 hours, this car is serviced by MBenz dealer so labor rates are higher
10000 mi
US $202
Routine 10,000 mile service. They also did the Smart 2.0 upgrade - transmission reflash, new more powerful battery, shifter lube and gave out the new, updated owner's manual.
56000 mi
US $350
replace cracked motor mount
3000 mi
Error P0410 - Replaced Secondary Air Injection Valve.
Engine light came on and was an emission valve. Repaired the next morning.
42000 mi
Cooling system leaked crank shaft position sensor failed
1000 mi
Motor stopped as I was driving. Was able to restart immediately, after pulling over. Dealer found nothing wrong and no reason for the incident.
Check Engine Light X2 Codes failed O2 Lambda sensors. Necessitated removal of rear muffler box to remove by welding torch flame sensors seized into threads, due to no anti seize compound applied at time of manufacture/assembly.
Noticed smell of gasoline and decreased range on full tank. Diagnosed as fuel pump. Took a week to get the part. Actual repair completed in an afternoon.
87000 mi
US $40
Clutch but didn't rrplace
3000 mi
Engine rattle at low speeds.
4000 mi
Small oil leak.
24000 mi
US $100
secondary air injection valve stuck. Part replaced.
60000 mi
US $520
air pump
48800 mi
Lower motor mount bolt became loose, caused a ckunking noise when car shifted gears. Tightened bolt.
56000 mi
US $60
Replaced secondary air injection pump. Pump bearing was starting to fail resulting in a loud jet engine sound upon initial startup. replaced with a used pump acquired from an SCOA member.
Cost of replacement pump $70.00. labor was aprox 1.5.
69000 mi
US $70
Secondary Air Pump - Bearings getting noisy. Replaced with a used unit from SpecializedGerman auto recyclers.
60000 mi
US $15
Sometimes could not switch gear into D or R. Dealership said they had about ten cars more this year with the same behavior. Updating the firmware should fix the problem which after driving a few thousand miles seems it did.
137000 mi
Engine runs on two out of three cylinders. I keep it for now because I can still drive it around town as long as the engine stays relatively cool.
66400 mi
US $260
Flex tube between exhaust manifold and muffler broke. Had new piece welded in place of failed part.
10000 mi
Updated transmission to 09 computer flash, lubed gear shift knob.
46000 mi
US $2600
replaced main computer and throttle body! replaced throtle body
2000 mi
OBD II code PO401. Faulty secondary air intake sensor.
2000 mi
Car towed to Riverside Smart dealer 06/28/08, returned 07/21/08, after replacing gas gauge float. Part delivery took over two weeks.
35000 mi
US $150
Check Engine Light on. Engine fine---light bad.
23000 mi
US $300
One of the individual accelerator position sensors was occasionally delivering a bad signal for at least long enough to throw a CEL and send it into limp-home mode. I replaced the accelerator myself.
check engine light came on. code=p0445-p0457. inspection of gas cap indicated gasket distorted. replaced gas cap.
9000 mi
Had a "Maintenance Due" icon showup on the dash. Stopped into the dealership and the service manager did a quick reflash and removed the icon. No other issues before or since.
30000 mi
US $485
OE exhaust broke at the 'flex joint' - unable to replair. Replaced with an aftermarket unit (an upgrade).
38900 mi
US $160
Sensor replace to correct engine light from coming on and staying on
49700 mi
US $379
check engine light fault code P0497 secondary air injection flow too low
38000 mi
US $585
Also fuel cap gasket had a hole and engine sensor light was on and reset.
Engine stopped in middle of block while car running. No warning lights, was able to restart, dealer found nothing and was not willing to investigate further.
See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how
frequently 2008 smart fortwo problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.