Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Smart Fortwo
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Smart Fortwo has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 100 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #18V273000 Insulation Mat may Deform and cause Fire NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 27 complaints
- Engine 19 complaints
- Unknown or Other 18 complaints
- Electrical System 14 complaints
- Structure 10 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 9 complaints
Of the 100 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 11 a fire; across all 100 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,000–$6,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Smart FORTWO has significant powertrain and engine issues, alongside electrical problems. The single recall indicates a safety concern with exhaust heat management, which, combined with numerous complaints, suggests below-average reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| powertrain | 70,000–90,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | common |
| engine | 60,000–80,000 miles | $1,200–$3,000 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000–70,000 miles | $200–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Transmission fluid service
- Brake system inspections
- Cooling system maintenance
- Exhaust system check
- Electrical system check
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Transmission hesitations
- Engine misfires
- Battery drain issues
- Exhaust fumes smell
- Overheating warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Smart Fortwo at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.