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 …
2009 Smart Fortwo powertrain problems
moderate 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH NOT GOING IN REVERSE WHEN YOU PUT THE GEAR SHIFTER IN 'R' POSITION? USUALLY AFTER DRIVEN AND THE CAR IS WARMED UP. THE CAR JUST ROLLS WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, AS IF THOUGH IT'S IN NEUTRAL.. WHEN GIVING GAS IT JUST REVS THE ENGINE AND NOTHING HAPPENS.. THE CAR IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AND IT CAN BE DANGEROUS PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE IF IT'S ON A SLOPE. THE VEHICLE CAN RO…
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 …
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,…
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 S…
WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY AND I START IT AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE GEAR INDICATOR INSTEAD OF SHOWING "R" SHOWS BLANK. I HAVE TO TURN OFF ENGINE AND TRY AGAIN. I SUCCEED IN ABOUT 3 TRIES. THERE ARE TIMES THAT WHEN I SHIFT INTO REVERSE THE GEAR INDICATOR DISPLAYS "N". THIS EPISODE HAPPENS ABOUT TWO TIMES A WEEK. MY OBSERVATION IS THAT IT DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE TIME OF DAY - WH…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2009 Smart Fortwo?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 25 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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