Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.
Chart based on 56 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2008 smart fortwo
Engine not specified
14000 mi
Clutch plate needed replacing. Vehicle would refuse to shift on occassion.
Would not start, (three bars of death) tow to dealer, dealer replaced shifter.
18000 mi
Replaced clutch disc. Inner splines were wearing. Replaced with redesigned clutch disk with harder splines, this is where the input shaft of the transmission goes into.
36900 mi
The gearshift got stuck in park and wouldn't budge. We had it towed to our local excellent mechanic and he fixed it.
39300 mi
US $1600
Shifting was choppy, not sure how it was fixed
56000 mi
US $150
Flash transmission upgrade
65000 mi
The clutch plate failed. This part is 'meant' to fail in order to save more important parts from doing so (like the tranny). Amazingly, the dealership as well as SmartUSA decided to pick up the cost even tho I was out of warranty. Go Smart!!!
67000 mi
US $100
A month ago, the problem seemed to be the clutch plate. This time it seems it was the clutch actuator. I think that either both were faulty or that earlier repair was imperfect. Car drove fine for 2 wks after it but then broke down again. Fine now
106000 mi
I am still awaiting closure on this one: The car is still in the shop. Apparently there is something wrong with the clutch actuator. Or not. We'll see. I'm hoping to get it back this Tuesday (after 8 days without it).
110000 mi
US $1500
Had to replace the clutch plate (a 2nd time). This car has a LOT of miles, and the ride has been really rough since this winter.
161000 mi
US $131
The clutch plate broke (again -- this was my 3rd!). I'm not sure what caused it. And there were other issues as well. Total cost to repair would have been $1,600, same as payoff.
I have since sold the car. It was a good run!
1000 mi
Dealer requested I bring the car in for inspection of the shift linkage.
20000 mi
2008 Smart Car was in shop for 20K mile maintenance. Shop discovered that the clutch was malfunctioning and replaced it. Transmission would not shift into gear. Happened previously but did not pay attention to problem.
5000 mi
Stick shift required lubrication when it would not reliably go to park.
5000 mi
Preventative lubing of the shifter.
81700 mi
Shifter got totally confused
89000 mi
Problem was with updates dealing with shifter.
48000 mi
US $729
Had to have the gearshift mechanism replaced. I couldn't get the car to start and it had 3 bars across the
54000 mi
Error codes, transmission stuck in neutral. Reset the computer to get home. Transmission uses two electric motors to shift, one was filled with goop of tranny fluid and carbon dust. Cleaned that out and reinstalled.
21000 mi
Clutch mechanism in automated manual was defective. Common problem in 2008 Smart, defect causes intermittent problem getting car into gear. Dealer replaced after I had common symptom twice.
43000 mi
07/10/2012...42,796 miles 1. Transmission had randomly / weekly issue getting into 'R'everse. Was remedied by a software update for Transmission Control Module.
27000 mi
US $1544
New clutch plate. Nothing covered under warranty!!!!!!!
103000 mi
Have to replace rear axle seals, improperly installed last time. Still haven't fixed, parts weren't in at the time of maintenance.
Parts warranty will cover.
7000 mi
Nothing happened when Reverse selected - transmission in neutral state. Intermittent problem happening about once a day.
Clutch plate replaced under warranty.
95640 mi
C $1900
Car won't go in reverse. Dealer did software update but problem persisted. All clutch components replaced on the following visit.
65000 mi
US $50
Transmission had troubles going into reverse. A software updated remedied the issue. Labor charge only.
48000 mi
Car will not shift into reverse.
52000 mi
Car would not shfit into reverse, fixed.
5000 mi
The shifter would not go into Reverse or Park.
24500 mi
US $77
Shifter sometimes stuck in Park. Remedy: mechanic took apart and lubricated shifter mechanism.
15000 mi
shifter assy replaced. car would not shift reliably.
17000 mi
no reverse at morning startup
17700 mi
very occasionally, the car will not shift between 1st and second. As it only happens once a week, it didn't do it for them.
18000 mi
When the engine was warm, Reverse would not engage. Clutch Assemby was replaced.
Shifter did not allow the button to press in and the car was either in Drive or Neutral. Wouldn't go into Park or Reverse. Dealer repaired shift lever.
30000 mi
Electronics that controlled transmission failed.
11000 mi
Gear shifter was getting stuck.
8000 mi
Button you push on shift lever to go from park to reverse or drive would not work so car would not go into park, reverse or drive. Tow truck driver reported multiple pick ups of other smarts for same problem. Mfg defect? Probably.
127000 mi
transmission leak
3000 mi
Shifter had to be replaced. Car would not start- locked in park.
14000 mi
SHIFTER COULD NOT FIND 'r'. DEALER TOLD ME HOW TO FIX AND I DID IT THE NEXT DAY(LUBRICATION OF SHIFT MECHANISM).
23000 mi
Car would lose its ability to find a gear. Dealer replaced clutch and grease that controls clutch movement.
137000 mi
re=program transmission no charge
1000 mi
Button to gear shifter jammed making it unable to change gears.
56000 mi
US $350
replace boots
23354 mi
US $370
Tranny not consistently shifting properly. Dealer updated transmission software.
52000 mi
US $1019
new axle seals needed
40500 mi
US $59
Would not engage in reverse gear occasionally (seemed to be in neutral).
6000 mi
Auto-manual transmission would not move into another gear (stuck in drive). Repair required replacing entire gear selection mechanism by mfg, covered under standard warranty and fixed no charge.
46000 mi
US $120
car would occasionally not go into reverse; dealer applied a trans software upgrade which fixed issue. Not covered under warranty; trouble code that came back was 'P1800/implausible trans data' so they applied the upgrade and all is good
21000 mi
Clutch plate part # A-001-252-66-05 replaced for known problem with reverse gear not engaging.
57000 mi
US $810
Replaced clutch actuator. Although the actuator had been both cleaned and serviced, it failed.
13000 mi
Problem not going into reverse.
1000 mi
Shifter became difficult to place in Park. Lubed in 5 minute visit to dealer.
Rattling noise in the drivers back panel.
Linkage issue when new, Reverse was not easy
101000 mi
US $500
Clutch actuator replaced with a used unit purchased on eBay.
24000 mi
Car sometimes would not go in gear. SmartCenter replaced clutch.
44000 mi
US $1300
clutch actuator broken
45000 mi
US $785
clutch issues again
24000 mi
Transmission would not engage in reverse. Replaced clutch.
45000 mi
US $114
Coming to a stop after 45+ minutes travel, put shifter in reverse. Shifter indicates reverse and backup lights come on, but dash indicator is blank for 5-10 seconds and then warning beep gives rapid beep.
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.
