Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Smart fortwo owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Smart Fortwo. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. The vehicle was turned off, the contact waited, and then restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as needed. The failure had occurred several times while driving. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to brake immediately and drifted to the left. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard for the vehicle to come to a stop. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the ABS was faulty and retrieved Diagnostic Trouble Codes: 1314 and C1443. The contact stated that the front brake pads were replaced by the dealer, and the rear brake pads were replaced by a certified mechanic. …
The contact owns a 2009 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated that on multiple occasions when the vehicle was parked and the gear shifter was shifted, the transmission would only shift into neutral. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Additionally, the tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact also received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, parts to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
2008 Smart Fortwo has a recall open for reprograming the transmission computer because of rough shifting and bucking while shifting and lugging the engine to much before down shifting. Mine is a 2008 but the VIN was not included in the recall and I am having the same problems with mine. Can mine be added to the recall?
The vehicle fails intermittently to shift from brake to reverse or from reverse to drive. When the failure occurs, all that is seen on the front dashboard is a blank screen and the car alert systems lets out a continuous beeping denoting the failure of the shift. It sometimes requires immediate turning off of the engine and restarting in order to get to the desired gear. Seldom that does not work, and turning off and waiting 10 minutes seems to allow gear shifts. This is dangerous especially in the reverse to drive failure as when coming out of a driveway on a busy road, it May cause an accident. This has occurred after warranty and I was told there is a Mercedes Benz software upgrade meant to solve it. But this is a charged service. As a safety issue, I implore that this should not be a charged but required safety recall. …
Within the space of three months, in the middle of driving my smartcar, my dash display has gone from showing d (for drive) to n and then flashing three vertical bars. I have lost all control of driving the car and luckily there was space on the side of the road to coast to a stop. When trying to turn the car back on, the three bars remain. There is a way through the shifter to restart the car or at least getting it into neutral. A series of pumping the brake, turning the start key and trying to move the shifter back and forth through gears. Eventually, the car will start. Unfortunately, the three bars of death (as nicknamed on the Smart car forums) can happen for any numerous types of faults such as weak battery to faulty communication with the transmission, to heater/air conditioning operating unit is defective. The list is long. …
While driving the car, the engine will rev and then there is only neutral showing. I have no reverse or drive. Thank goodness when this happens I have had a place to pull off the road. I turn the car off and sit for a few minutes, turn it back on and have all the gears. I have tried driving in the "manual" position but it still happens. Lately it is more and more frequent. One of these days this car will get me smushed. Smart needs to do a major recall on this! I am only the second owner of this car and got it with only 18,000 miles on it. I now have 35,025 miles on it. Took it to a mechanic and gives a po803 code, which states a clutch sensor. Smart cars code says it needs a new clutch! Wth!?? And if it needs a new clutch then why does this only occurr in the colder weather and not the summer!!??!! I am so pissed! …
Possible safety issue with smartcar 2009, VIN: [redacted] intermittent issue with gearbox shifter not allowing car to be shifted into reverse. Safety issue. When trying to back into a parking space, or leave a parking space. If a similar smarcars are stuck on train tracks, and cannot maneuver to get off the tracks this could be a very serious safety issue. This is not a one off issue, it is noted on multiple international smartcar blogs, https://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f4/reverse-does-not-engage-140961 https://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f353/won-t-go-into-reverse-sometimes-33556/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iwbpvzksze additionally, the console will show a flashing "d" and wrenches.
Wmeek31x09k[redacted] intermittently fails to shift into drive or reverse when when car is stationary. Most often, this is upon starting the car and attempting to charge nge from p for the first time. At times the transmission indicator shows n when the gear shift is in r or d. Other times it is blank. Shifting into park and then back to the gear sometimes resolves the issue for the time being. Other times, turning the car off and then restarting temporarily resolves the issue. Most recent occurrence to date: May 17, 2018. [redacted] '
On five occasions, suddenly and without warning, my Smart car shifted in to neutral by itself while driving on the highway. While the shifter was in drive, the indicator below the speedometer was blank, and the car would not move. This problem always seems to occur after driving at higher speeds. I took the car into the dealership and they claimed to have repaired the problem with a computer reprogram. After the "repair" the car had the same problem. This is a very serious safety issue because the car without warning completely loses power and on more than one occasion I have almost been rear ended.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Smart fortwo. While driving various speeds, the transmission shifted into neutral without warning. The contact also stated that the vehicle would completely shut off, causing the brakes and steering wheel to fail. The vehicle was taken to world wide motors, inc (3900 e 96th st, indianapolis, in 46240) where they updated the software system in the vehicle; however, the same failures occurred multiple times. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 41,000. Updated 12/12/18
Transmission complaints in other fortwo years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2009 Smart fortwo?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2009 Smart fortwo, 27% of the model year's 100 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Smart fortwo transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2009 Smart fortwo, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Smart fortwo transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 41,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.