# NHTSA recall 18V273000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 18V273000
- Manufacturer's number: 2018060010
- Manufacturer: Mercedes\-Benz USA, LLC.
- Reported: 2018\-04\-27
- Owners notified: 2018\-07\-30
- Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
- Units potentially affected: 42781

## What is wrong

Mercedes\-Benz USA, LLC. \(MBUSA\) is recalling certain 2008\-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles.  The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deteriorate, and loosen over time, allowing the mat to contact hot exhaust system components.


## What can happen

If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.


## The remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear insulation mat with an improved one, free of charge.  The recall began in July 2018.  Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1\-800\-367\-6372.  MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018060010.


## Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1\-888\-327\-4236 \(TTY 1\-800\-424\-9153\), or go to www.safercar.gov.


## Remedy progress the manufacturer reported

- Report: Quarterly report 31, for 2026 quarter 1
- Filed with NHTSA: 2026\-04\-16
- Vehicles in the campaign: 42781
- Reported remedied: 17684 \(41%\)
- Reported unreachable: 0
- Reported removed: 7509

These are the manufacturer's totals for the whole campaign at the end of 2026 quarter 1, as filed with NHTSA. They do not say whether one vehicle has been remedied: check the VIN with the official lookups. The reports are from data as of 2026\-10\-19.

## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [2008 SMART FORTWO](/makes/smart/fortwo/2008/recalls.md). Built 2007\-09\-20 to 2009\-11\-02.
- [2009 SMART FORTWO](/makes/smart/fortwo/2009/recalls.md). Built 2007\-09\-20 to 2009\-11\-02.

## Investigated as PE16016 and EA17003

This recall followed 2 NHTSA investigations. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- PE16016: Preliminary evaluation, opened 2016\-12\-16, closed 2017\-11\-20. Engine Compartment Fire. ENGINE.
- EA17003: Engineering analysis, opened 2017\-09\-01, closed 2018\-08\-21. Engine Compartment Fire. ENGINE.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/18V273000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/18V273000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [LI54 10\-P\-067823](/bulletins/10144078.md), 2018-09-04, Service bulletin
- [LI07.04\-P\-059726](/bulletins/10136113.md), 2018-05-07, Service bulletin
- [LI07.61\-P\-063263](/bulletins/10135709.md), 2018-05-07, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/18V273000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/18V273000)

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