I recently had the airbag light come on my car. I took it in to an authorized smart car shop (Mercedes benz). Mb informed that the wires from the seat belt underneath passenger seat were frayed and needed to replace the entire seat system. After paying $400.00, for a new passenger seat belt, the light came off. Reading different forums online, many smart car owners have also had exactly the…
2008 Smart Fortwo airbags problems
critical Owners of the 2008 Smart Fortwo have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Fortwo (this page) | 5 |
| 2009 Fortwo | 5 |
2crashes
1injury
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 5 airbags complaints filed for the 2008 Smart Fortwo, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 smart fortwo vehicle. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 MPH around a curve, the vehicle flipped. The air bags did not deploy. The police were contacted and a report was filed. The driver received injuries to her back. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they were pending an investigation from the manufacturer. The failure and…
Had airbags trouble with your 2008 Smart Fortwo?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2008 Smart Fortwo?
It's a serious issue. 5 complaints have been filed, including 2 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 33,425 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Smart/Fortwo.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.