2008 Smart Fortwo Complaint Log

MY CAR STARTED ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN! MY FRIEND ESCAPED A FIERY DEATH BY MERELY SECONDS! I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2008. I HAVE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH IT FOR THE MOST PART AS, OTHER THAN REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, THERE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FOR THE FIRST 100,000 MILES. UNTIL THIS INCIDENT, I WAS CONSIDERING PURCHASING A NEW SMART CAR. MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE FREEWAY YESTERDAY WHEN A DRIVER NEXT TO HIM BEGAN FLAGGING HIM FRANTICALLY AND FORTUNATELY FORCED HIM OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. MY FRIEND FIRST THOUGHT THAT HE WAS LOOKING AT A CASE OF ROAD RAGE UNTIL HIS SAVIOR JUMPED OUT OF HIS TRUCK YELLING AT MY FRIEND TO "GET OUT OF YOUR CAR, IT IS ON FIRE!" MY FRIEND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR, AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS, THE VERY SPOT WHERE HE HAD BEEN SITTING WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES! HE STOOD THERE AND SHOT THE ATTACHED PICTURES AS THE CAR BURNED, AND THEN AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD PUT IT OUT. WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN, I SUSPECT THAT HE WOULD BE DEAD OR SERIOUSLY MAIMED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING SIGN OF ANY KIND PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT! IT JUST HAD IT S 100,000 MILE OIL CHANGE LAST WEEK. I SEE WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. WILL IT TAKE A DEATH OR SERIOUS MAIMING BEFORE MERCEDES WILL BE FORCED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM?

OFTEN TIMES AFTER STARTING UP VEHICLE AND GOING INTO REVERSE VEHICLE WILL NOT REVERSE. I OFTEN TIMES GET STUCK IN SPOTS BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO REVERSE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME.

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK. THE REMOTE LOCKS ALL OTHER DOORS BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK.

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT

THE CAR WAS IN MOTION THE ENGINE CUT OFF THEN I COASTED TO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE WAS THEN STATIONARY I GOT OUT AND NOTICED SMOKE THEN SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR BY THE TIME I RAN A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY THE FLAMES HAD MORE THAN DOUBLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCKS WERE LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE BRAKES AND THAT THE BRAKES AND SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000...UPDATED 02/09/17 *BF *CN

KNOW ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION. WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE HALF THE TIME. MAKING IT DANGEROUS IF NEEDED QUICKLY. PARALLEL PARKING ON A BUSY STREET, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, HOLDING UP TRAFFIC FOR A VERY LONG TIME. HAVING TO PUSH IT INTO THE SPOT! MERCEDES SAYS IT IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. BUT THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND THE CAR INSTANTLY STARTS FLASHING NEUTRAL AND BEEPING. CAR SLOWS AND WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. WE NEED THIS CAR TO BE RECALLED! *TR

I WAS IN AN OFFICE BUILDING WHEN I A CITY FIRE MARSHAL CAME IN AND INFORMED ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I FOUND THIS TO BE VERY HARD TO BELIEVE AS IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR AND ONE HALF. THE FIRE DEPT. HAD BROKEN MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, OPENED THE CAR AND SPRAYED IT WITH CHEMICALS. I WAS INFORMED THE FIRE HAD STARTED FROM WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY AND DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT ATTENDED NOR WAS THE ENGINE HOT AS IT HAD NOT BEEN IN USE FOR SOME TIME. HAD IT BEEN IN A CLOSED GARAGE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.

THE CARS TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SWITCH TO REVERSE INTERMITTENTLY ITS AN ELECTRICAL THINGS

MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE IN THE FLOOR BOARD. HE WAS ABOUT .5 MILES FROM OUR HOUSE AND WENT TO TURN AROUND WHEN HE NOTICED FIRE IN THE BACK/ENGINE AREA OF THE CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN TO A HOUSE TO CALL 911. AS THE HOME OWNER WAS CALLING THEY HEARD THE CAR EXPLODE. THE ENTIRE CAR BURNED WITH ONLY THE METAL FRAME OF THE CAR, SEATS, ETC. LEFT STANDING. IN SEPTEMBER THE CAR PASSED THE STATE INSPECTION. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I ARRIVED (WHICH WAS ONLY MINUTES FROM IT HAPPENING SINCE WE WERE ONLY .5 MILES AWAY) THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THANKFULLY MY SON WAS ABLE TO GET OUT. I'M ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE RAIN THAT HAD JUST STARTED BECAUSE IT SOAKED THE PREVIOUSLY DRY LEAVES AND TREES THAT COULD'VE BEEN ALSO ENGULFED IN THE FLAMES AND CAUSED HOME/PROPERTY DAMAGE TO OTHERS.

WHILE DRIVING REAR MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

IN MY GARAGE I TRIED TO START CAR AFTER EMPTYING WATER FROM FLOODED BATTERY BOX AND ALLOWING TO DRY FOR 4 DAYS. ELECTRICAL CABLE RUNNING THROUGH BATTERY BOX CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH, SEE PICTURE. BATTERY BOX FLOODED FROM A/C CONDENSATION TUBE DISCONNECT IN BATTERY BOX, SEE PICTURE, WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON SMARTUSA BLOG.

VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE, FOUND VEHICLE BATTERY BOX AND PASSENGER SEAT FLOODED DUE TO THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION TUBE JOINT LOCATED IN THE BATTERY BOX DISCONNECTED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE WILL NOT START, EVEN AFTER EMPTYING THE WATER FROM THE BATTERY BOX AND RECHARGING THE BATTERY. HAVE A READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE ON THE SMART BLOG. POSSIBLE ELECTRIC SHOCK ISSUE AS WELL AS ALL ELECTRICAL AND LIGHTS OUT.

WHILE DRIVING CAR WILL DRIVE FINE..STOP TO PARALLEL PARK OR REVERSE...CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE GEAR..OR DRIVE GEAR.... SHUT CAR OFF TO RESET EVERYTHING THEN CAR WILL NOT START UP FOR AWHILE..... IF AT ALL TAKEN TO SMART CENTER TO NO AVIL CALLED SMART ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS GIVE ME A $500 DOLLAR DISCOUNT ON ANOTHER SMART CAR... AND NO ANSWER TO THE CURRENT PROBLEM IM HAVING WITH A CURRENT SMART CAR CAR ONLY HAS 43,277 MILES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE AIR VENTS AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT'S FATHER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE CAR BUT NO VISIBLE LEAK. LEARNED ON THE THAT THIS 2008 CAR IF PRONE TO FIRE. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM AM I DRIVING A LITTLE WW2 MERCEDES OVEN?

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY TO FIND MY CAR WAS BEGINNING TO BE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO PREVIOUS WORK DONE ON THE CAR...NOTHING! I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH ON THE STREET. THERE WERE NO CHANGES IN MY DRIVING HABIT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I CALLED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPT. THEY RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WROTE UP A REPORT AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AREA. AGAIN, BEFORE THEN, I HAD NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR, ENGINE OR ANYTHING ELECTRICAL. MY LIFE WAS PUT IN DANGER DUE TO THIS FIRE. I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND IT WAS AN OBVIOUS TOTAL LOSS. I AM ATTACHING A COPY OF THE FIRE REPORT FOR YOUR REVIEW.

2008 SMART FORTWO PASSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT AND FUEL TANK PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH AND THE FUEL IN THE TANK WAS OLD. SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED AN INSPECTION AT A COST OF $414.00 WOULD BE NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,037. *JB

WITHIN 20 MILES OF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED AND SET THE CAR ON FIRE, BURNING THE CAR TO THE GROUND.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S INSULATION CAUGHT FIRE ON THE HEAT SHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000...UPDATED 02/01/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS

FUEL LEAK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL THREE YEARS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, STATING THAT THE CONTACT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE AT A DEALER. THE DEALER (KEELER MOTOR CAR COMPANY, 1111 TROY SCHENECTADY RD, LATHAM, NY 12110) WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

MY 2008 SMART HAS A LITTLE OVER 36,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE AROUND 06/16/2015, THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD GET STUCK AND NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. ON SUNDAY 06/28/2015, REGARDLESS OF NUMBERS OF ATTEMPT, IT ONLY GOES FROM P TO N AND WILL NOT SHIFT TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR THE DAY IT CAME ON THE MARKET IN MAY 2008 AND PICKED IT UP FROM MB OF LAGUNA NIEGUEL. I EVEN PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT (5YRS, 75,000 MILES) WHICH AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I WAS TOLD BEGINS AFTER THE INITIAL MANUFACTURE'S WARRENTY EXPIRES. I AM NOW TOLD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS ALREADY EXPIRED. HOW DOES A CAR WITH UNDER 36,000 START TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHEN ALL IT'S SERVICES WERE COMPLETED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME IT WAS REQUIRED?! MB OF BEVERLY HILLS SERVICE ADVISOR (JOHN) TOLD ME THIS MORNIGN IT WOULD TAKE 2-3 WKS BE FORE I CAN TAKE THE CAR IN AND GET A LOANER CAR SO THEY CAN DIAGNOISE THE PROBLEM, WHEN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SMART OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM ON THE WEB. A LEGO CAR WOULD PROBABLY LAST LONGER THAN THIS VEHICLE MADE BY MERCEDES BENZ!!

SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT GO INTO PARK. IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED. SUBSEQUENT FAILURES RESULTED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO SELECT REVERSE AND PARK WITH THE SHIFT LEVER, AND THEREFOR, UNABLE TO REMOVE IGNITION KEY.

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 SAME ISSUES WITH THE WIRES UNDERNEATH BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. *TR

FRACTURE IN THE PLASTIC NIPPLE AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP WHICH CONNECTS THE FUEL PUMP OUTPUT TO THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION ALLOWED GASOLINE TO SPRAY ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS PRESENT WHEN THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON. CAME ON FOR NO REASON.

IN TRAFFIC, ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, CAR FAILS TO SHIFT INTO "R" MUST TURN CAR OFF IN MIDDLE OF ROAD, RESTART THREE TIMES TO FINALLY GET CAR TO ENGAGE "R" OR "D" TO MOVE THE CAR SAFELY OUT OF TRAFFIC. 1- THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY DOZENS OF TIMES, I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. 2- I SEE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUED? *JS

THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON. HAD THE DEALER DIAGNOSE TO FIND IT IS AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION TO MULTIPLE CONNECTORS. SERVICE TECH ADVISED BY SOFTWARE ANALYSIS TO USE CONTACT ENHANCEMENT FLUID OR SPRAY. CODE WAS CLEARED. THE SRS LIGHT WAS OUT AND STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. CONCLUSION IS THE SRS SYSTEM IN THESE CARS ARE UNRELIABLE AND SAFETY CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. CHEAP CONNECTORS CAUSING ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE CARS. *TR

THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME WHILEDRIVING IN D YOUR JUST A SITTING DUCK CANT USE GEAR TO UNLOCK TRAMMISSION SO IT COULD BE MOVED OUT OF WAY OF ON COMMING TRAFFIC, THERES NO WARNING THE CARS IS IN THE SHOP NOW, THIS HAS HAPPEN TO OTHER SMART FORTWO OWNERS, ITS A DEATH TRAP WATING TO HAPPEN NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE MORE PEOPLE LOSE THERE LIFE, LOOK AT GM .54CENT COULD HAVE SAVED MANY LOSE LIVES. PLEASE HELP THE PUBLIC,, *TR

I PURCHASED A 2008 SMART CAR ON 21 OCT 13. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE END OF DECEMBER OF 13. I TOOK IT IN TO HONEST 1 TO HAVE IT SERVICED, OIL CHANGED, ALL FLUIDS CHECKED, BRAKES AND ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL FLUIDS WERE GREAT AND I PAID THE BILL. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND I WENT BACK IN. THE GENTLEMAN WORKED ON IT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN TURNED IT OFF. ON 30 MAR 14 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH AND THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH ALL THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS COMING ON, BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH OUT INCIDENT. AT THE SMART CAR DEALERSHIP I AM NOW TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD NO WATER IN THE RADIATOR, THE HEAD IS CRACKED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. HERE IS THE PROBLEM..... THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO HIGH TEMP RADIATOR LIGHT SHOW UP TO SAY THERE WAS A PROBLEM. IF ONE HAD COME ON YOU CAN BE SURE THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD IT LOOKED INTO. I NOW HAVE TO BUY A USED ENGINE AND MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

ON FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 PM WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (US DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION), THE LATCHES THAT HOLDS THE FRONT HOOD DOWN IN THE CAR BROKE AND THE HOOD FLEW INTO THE STREET. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND OR BESIDE ME AT THE TIME. I HAD TO PULL MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF ROAD AND WALK ABOUT 25 FEET TO RETRIEVE THE HOOD IN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSE PAINT DAMAGES TO THE CAR. THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING FOR ME. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND RECALLED. I BROUGHT THE CAR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (MERCEDES-BENZ OF CATONSVILLE) THAT HAS SERVICED MY CAR IN THE PAST TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE SHOP THE NEXT DAY. THE INCIDENT WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE SALES MANAGER AND GENERAL MANAGER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THESE TYPES OF CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOT SERVICED MANY, BUT SERVICES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON THESE TYPES OF CARS. THE HOOD LATCHES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND ITS A "WEAR/TEAR" ISSUE. MY WARRANTY INSURANCE COVERED THE PLASTIC LATCHES, BUT I HAD TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND RESOLVED THE ISSUE BY MOUNTING (4) NEW PLASTIC LOCKING MECHANISMS (PART NUMBER SMT 451-757-01-01-C22A). I AM AFRAID THAT THIS ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN TIME AND SOMEONE WILL NOT BE AS LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR FATAL INCIDENT. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED ASAP. *TR

PUT CAR INTO REVERSE. DISPLAY WOULD NOT SHOW REVERSE NOR WOULD IT GO INTO REVERSE. I TURNED CAR OFF, WAITED UNTIL COMPUTER RESET THEN TURNED THE KEY. CAR SEQUENCED THROUGH THE GEARS TO 'RELEARN' THE SEQUENCE. I STARTED THE CAR AND IT STILL WON'T FIND THE REVERSE GEAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. CLUTCH WAS REPLACED BY DEALER 5 MONTHS AGO AND SOFTWARE WAS UPGRADED. *TR

DRIVING ON I - 10 DOWN BY PALM SPRINGS. THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, SHIFTED TO 4TH GEAR. SOON AFTER THE CAR SLOWED DOWN MORE AND PULLED OVER. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WASN'T ABLE TO RESTART IT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SMART RIVERSIDE, WHERE THEY SAID THE ENGINE HAD OVER HEATED AND BLEW OUT THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS GETTING TOO HOT. ALL FLUIDS WERE CHECKED, PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. *TR

THE PANORAMIC ROOF EXPERIENCES WHAT IS CALLED CRAZING WHERE THE ROOF IS COVERED IN FINE CRACKS DUE TO NORMAL EXPOSURE.

THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, WHICH SHOWS THEY DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. CONCERNED THEY WILL FAIL IF I'M EVER IN A CRASH. :( THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME A SEAT BELT IS UNFASTENED. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS. CALLED A LOCAL MECHANIC TO ASK IF THEY COULD FIX IT, BUT APPARENTLY THIS IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE, SO THEY WON'T TOUCH IT. SMART DOESN'T ADMIT IT'S AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHER SMART OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR SAFETY AS FAR AS THE SEAT BELTS ARE CONCERNED.

AT 45 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURN ON. THIS DEACTIVATES BOTH THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT OVER 45 MPH. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM BEING CRACK IN THE ABS SENSOR RING. ALTHOUGH A KNOWN ISSUE, MERCEDES BENZ, THE MANUFACTURER OF THE SMART CAR, DENIES ANY ISSUES WITH IT. THE REPAIR THAT THEY PERFORMED WAS A REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT SINCE THEY DO NOT IMPORT A REPLACEMENT SENSOR RING. THIS IS A REPAIR IN EXCESS OF $700 FOR A $35 PART. THAT PART SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHIN SUCH A RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. CHOOSING NOT TO REPAIR COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF ONLY 45 MPH. *JS

THE 2008 SMART CAR, HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY, WHEN ENTERING, OR EXITING A HIGHWAY, OR AT AN INTERSECTION (SPEED CHANGES). THE CAR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN USUALLY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED, FROM UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS BEHIND THIS VEHICLE..THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, WHILE PARKED..SMART OFFERED A SOFTWARE FIX, TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. HAD THAT DONE, THEN PROBLEM PROGRESSED, TO SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, AND STALLING OUT...AT TIMES CAR, WOULD RESTART, BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, INDICATING ONLY A FLASHING NEUTRAL POSITION. AT TIMES, CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL, BECAUSE WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR IT WAS IN...IF WAITED 10-20 MINUTES, OR SEVERAL HOURS, IT MIGHT RESTART, AND SHIFT, FOR A SHORT PERIOD, BEFORE IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN...APPARENTLY IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, WITH THE SMART CAR FORUMS, FULL OF COMPLAINTS, ABOUT THE 2008 YEAR, WITH SMART CO., AT TIMES, AUTHORIZING REPAIRS, AND REPLACEMENT WITH 2009 MECHANISMS, THAT DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 2008 MODEL YEAR. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FOR THE 2008 SMART CAR, MODEL YEAR, BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED, ENTERING, EXITING A HIGHWAY, AT A RAILROAD CROSSING, OR AT AN INTERSECTION, WHERE THE CAR, SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, WON'T SHIFT OUT, AND SHUTS OFF... THANK YOU *TR

THE 2008 SMART CAR, HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY, WHEN ENTERING, OR EXITING A HIGHWAY, OR AT AN INTERSECTION (SPEED CHANGES). THE CAR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN USUALLY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED, FROM UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS BEHIND THIS VEHICLE..THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, WHILE PARKED..SMART OFFERED A SOFTWARE FIX, TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. HAD THAT DONE, THEN PROBLEM PROGRESSED, TO SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, AND STALLING OUT...AT TIMES CAR, WOULD RESTART, BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, INDICATING ONLY A FLASHING NEUTRAL POSITION. AT TIMES, CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL, BECAUSE WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR IT WAS IN...IF WAITED 10-20 MINUTES, OR SEVERAL HOURS, IT MIGHT RESTART, AND SHIFT, FOR A SHORT PERIOD, BEFORE IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN...APPARENTLY IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, WITH THE SMART CAR FORUMS, FULL OF COMPLAINTS, ABOUT THE 2008 YEAR, WITH SMART CO., AT TIMES, AUTHORIZING REPAIRS, AND REPLACEMENT WITH 2009 MECHANISMS, THAT DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 2008 MODEL YEAR. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FOR THE 2008 SMART CAR, MODEL YEAR, BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED, ENTERING, EXITING A HIGHWAY, AT A RAILROAD CROSSING, OR AT AN INTERSECTION, WHERE THE CAR, SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, WON'T SHIFT OUT, AND SHUTS OFF... THANK YOU *TR

THERE IS A LEAK IN THE SEAL FOR THE GLASS ROOF AND THE BODY, RESULTING IN TWO PROBLEMS; 1- WATER HAS LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. 2- VERY NOTICEABLE "WIND NOISE" COMING FROM ROOF SEAL AREA. THIS SEAMS CONSISTENT WITH RECALL # 08V-390, HOWEVER, THIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME, AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH RECALL # 08V-390.

FAILURE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. GEARSHIFT MOVES BUT GEAR DISPLAY GOES BLANK AND CHIME SOUNDS. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO INTO DRIVE. IT MAY BE A SOLENOID PROBLEM. VERY FRUSTRATING AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. I NOW HAVE 38,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I EXPECT BETTER OUT OF DAMLIER BENZ. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS SHIFTING INTO FIFTH GEAR AND THE CAR JUST WENT BLANK. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND ALL NOISE CEASED TO EXIST. AT FIRST IT WAS A BIT OF A SHOCK, SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD ONTO THE DIRT. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND AS THE SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER COULD HAVE CAUSED SOMEONE TO RUN INTO ME, AS I HAD NO LIGHTS. AFTER LOOKING AROUND THE INSDE OF THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THE KEY WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE KEY ON THIS CAR IS IN THE MIDDLE CONSOLE, RIGHT NEXT TO THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR. I DETERMINED THAT UPON SHIFTING MY JACKET SLEEVE HAD BRUSHED AGAINST THE KEY, AND BECUASE THE KEY IS SO EASY TO TURN OFF FROM THE ON POSITION, THE KEY JUST TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRANCE OF THIS, AS IT HAPPEND ONE MORE TIME. I HAVE HAD TO REMEMBER NOT TO LEAVE MY HAND DOWN BY THE SHIFT LEVER, IN FEAR OF TURNING OFF THE KEY WITHOUT KNOWING IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO PASSION CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS TOUCHING THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDER VALVES BURNED CAUSING THE FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,457 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO REMAIN IN THE CORRECT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

SEATBELT LATCH MECHANISM BROKE. THIS, IN COMBINATION WITH THE FACT THAT THE SEATBELT MECHANISM ITSELF FREQUENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT, SUGGESTS THAT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS FAULTY. *TR

BOTH SEAT BELTS, BUT ESPECIALLY THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT, LOSE TENSION AND ARE RENDERED INEFFECTIVE. THEY CAN STILL BE FASTENED, BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RESTRAINT. I REQUESTED A REPAIR OF AT LEAST THE PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT BELT DURING A 11/19/12 CAR REPAIR AND THE DEALER'S REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT MANY SMART FORTWO VEHICLES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. HE WAS RELUCTANT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT. FROM READING THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEATBELTS OF SMART VEHICLES, THIS LAST OF PROPER RESTRAINT SEEMS TO BE AN ON-GOING PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH. THE FRONT HOOD LATCH CAME APART CAUSING THE HOOD TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND A CRASH DID NOT OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR COST AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,424. UPDATED 12/11/12*LJ THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND HOOD LATCH WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/12/12

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS AFTER STARTING THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE DASH BOARD SHIFT INDICATOR REMAINED ON THE "N" , BUT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN REVERSE. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT, THEN WENT INTO REVERSE. WE LIVED WITH PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME, BECAUSE WE, AT LEAST HAD A SOLUTION.JUST RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 MY WIFE CALLED ME FROM A SHOPPING PLAZA TELLING ME THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE) IT TOOK ME ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF TURNING THE ENGINE ON AND OFF BEFORE THE CAR WAS ABLE TO GO INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY OR TRYING TO PARALLEL ON A BUSY STREET. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, WHICH NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED BY THE MERCEDES PEOPLE. AFTER VIEWING THE INTERNET, THERE ARE MANY SMART CAR 2008 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE IF A CALL BACK HAS BEEN ISSUED OR WILL BE ISSUED. THANK YOU. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF HTTP://WWW.SMARTCARSUCKS.COM . I CREATED THIS WEBSITE WHICH HAS DOCUMENTED EVERY INSTANCE OF A SMART CAR FIRE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND ON THE WEB SINCE 2012. MY COMPLETE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT FOLLOWED IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT WEBSITE. AT THE TIME I BELIEVED THAT EVERY CAR FIRE WAS DOCUMENTED BY THE POLICE AND WOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE PROPER REPORTING AGENCY WHICH IS WHY I NEVER REPORTED IT BEFORE. I SAW THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OF THESE CARS WHICH IS WHY I AM REPORTING IT NOW. IF YOU NEED ANYMORE INFORMATION I CAN BE CONTACTED.

IT WAS A VERY HOT DAY AND HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN ONTO RAMP AND CAR WENT OUT OF GEAR (WHILE DRIVING!). SCREEN WENT BLANK. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE BEFORE IN A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE SO I PULLED OVER. TURNED OFF CAR AND FOUND ADVICE ON THE SMART CAR FORUM (THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY HAPPENED TO OTHERS AS WELL). AFTER ABOUT 3 TIMES OF COMPLETING THE CYCLE TO REBOOT THE SYSTEM, IT FINALLY WORKED AND I CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED DEALER DID A SOFTWARE UPDATE AT MY COST ($200+) BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS...WILL SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE WITH A RECALL OF THESE CARS? *TR