smart Fortwo Complaints

407 consumer complaints on file.

#11447959January 18, 2022
SEAT BELTS
The driver side seat belt mount, which in this case is a steel cable, has mostly broken and frayed rendering it unsafe to drive. In the event of an accident, it would certainly break completely. I only noticed it yesterday while cleaning, the breakage would've happened while driving it. I've contacted mercedes USA, and they tell me that my warranty has run out, they can't do anything. Even though this is a mandatory safety feature that has completely failed from normal use.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11443181December 9, 2021
STEERING
2008 Smart Fortwo Pure, currently with 85,036 miles, factory equipped with optional POWER STEERING - ELECTRIC, power steering had worked fine until Fall 2020 when cold temperatures caused steering lock-up, until car interior warmed enough to unlock steering, behavior consistent throughout that winter. Once steering unlocked, steering was normal, until car sat & chilled sufficiently to re-lock steering, or fault disappeared with warmer Spring 2021 temperatures. NEW DEVELOPMENTS - December 2021, outside temperatures in the 20s F, it takes much longer, 30-60 minutes or longer with heat & blower on max heat, before steering unlocks. After steering unlocks, it can seem fully unlocked, BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND FRIGID TEMPERATURES STEERING NOW GETS DANGEROUSLY STIFF AND STICKY AND STUCK-IN-POSITION MOMENTARILY WHILE DRIVING. Unlike some vehicles with steering lockable by key position for theft deterrence, THERE IS NO STEERING-LOCK-BASED ANTI-THEFT FEATURE ON THE FORTWO. I hope you’ll agree that any vehicle whose steering may lock-up in operation at highway speeds as a function of U.S. midwestern winter temperatures has a life-threatening steering safety defect worthy of further investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11442053November 30, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle stalled and would not start due to issue with the electric motor.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11441187November 21, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel pump connectors cracked leaking fuel.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11439125November 2, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Software for power control module is not correspond to the series level Software configuration. Basically it doesn't want to take charge due to the Software issues from manufacturer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11436171October 9, 2021
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Engine fire destroyed vehicle while driving on Interstate at 65 MPH. Vehicle was serviced and maintained per manufacturer maintenance schedule at authorized dealer. No prior issues with vehicle. Vehicle also passed emission check on 09/29/2021 with no OBD error codes reported during inspection. Mileage: 60K
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11433011September 15, 2021
ENGINE
I am seeing melted and possible burnt material on the underside of the engine compartment cover and I am concerned for a fire to develop.. i have photos i will send
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11432522September 10, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
The roof detached on the highway. It was just replaced by Mercedes Benz in Manhattan and a couple of weeks later when it went on a highway, the roof flew up and I had to hold on to it for dear life while I was searching for a shoulder since they don’t have them everywhere on the East Coast. I didn’t want anyone behind me to be killed. I didn’t want myself to be killed either. It’s very hard to drive with wind and a roof coming against you. As soon as I found a shoulder I bumped a street sign in a bush because it was so narrow and then the tow truck driver had to come and bring a ratchet straps to secure my roof to the car. He had to block traffic with his tow truck so we didn’t get hit and die. Then I had to drive five hours with my roof detached from Washington DC to New York because it was Labor Day and they were no mechanics open. It was TERRIFYING. I have nightmares. I had lives on my hands and my own. If it had flown off completely, which it would have if I didn’t pull it down as I pulled over, someone would have been killed and I could have crashed driving and holding my roof down at the same time.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11430358August 24, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Electric fuel pump inlet and outlet nipples to fuel hoses broke and caused fuel leakage.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11429035August 13, 2021
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact stated while attempting to have the vehicle repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) but was denied repair due to the vehicle being a smart car. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that since the vehicle was not a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, they would not honor the recall repair. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422583June 28, 2021
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was on fire under the hood. The fire department was called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was not towed. There was no injury sustained. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11416476May 13, 2021
POWER TRAIN
THE GEAR CANNOT GO REVERSE. IT STUCK AT NEUTRAL. I CAN DRIVE FORWARD, NEUTRAL BUT NOT GO REVERSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11413227April 21, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR HAS MAJOR DELAYS MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL - YOU CAN BE TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AT TIMES AND THERE'S A MAJOR DELAY TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL - THIS DELAY IN GETTING THE CAR MOVING COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CRASH. MOTOR MOUNTS WEAR OUT UNDER 50,000 MILES SEEMS TOO SOON WHEN COMPARED TO MOST OTHER VEHICLES - SUSPENSION (SHOCKS) COME SUPER HARD FROM THE FACTORY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405076March 26, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR HAD BURST. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED PARK PLACE MOTORCARS MERCEDES-BENZ DALLAS (6113 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209) OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AS AN OVERHEATED ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397699February 24, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAN NOT TURN IGNITION KEY TO START THE CAR. CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS HAD TO PRY UP CONSOLE TO SWITCH THE THE YELLOW UP. THEN HAD TO PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL. PUT OIL IN GEAR SHAFT AREA. PLUS BLOW OUT ANY DEBRIS THAT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN IN KEY HOLE. ALSO PUT LUBRICANT IN KEY SHAFT. WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE KEY FINALLY TURNED OVER. AFTER BEING STRANDED FOR FOUR HOURS IN 0 DEGREE WEATHER. MY VEHICLE REMAINS IN A PARKING LOT. HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO NO DEALERS WORK ON A SMART CAR. HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OR HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS FAULTY MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11395675February 11, 2021
POWER TRAIN
REVERSE DOESN'T ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR TO R, EITHER I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE OR GO THE MANUAL SHIFTS THEN EVENTUALLY THE REVERSE GEAR WILL ENGAGE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MINUTES TO ENGAGE AND IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC WHEN CONDUCTING IN TRAFFIC AND IT IS VERY HAZARDOUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11383048December 11, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND UNCERTAIN IF WHETHER HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR THE BRAKE PEDAL; THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING AT A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND REMAINED AT THE SCENE OF ACCIDENT. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE POSSIBLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11376789November 28, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
REGARDING LIGHTNING: WATER/HUMIDITY HAD ACCESS TO THE SAM UNIT AND THE RIGHT-SIDE SIGNALS/STOP LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. REGARDING BODY/OTHER: SOME OF THE CONVERTIBLE-ROOF STEEL FRAME/BARS GOT BENT WHEN CLOSING THE TOP AND THE BENT BARS WOULD PREVENT THE TOP FROM CLOSING UNLESS YOU FORCED THE STEEL/METAL BARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11372369October 30, 2020
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH AT NIGHT, LIGHTS FLASHED ON/OFF, HER A THUMP AND POP, CAR AND LIGHTS SHUT OFF, THEN A LARGE FIRE ERUPTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11364972October 20, 2020
STRUCTURE
2008 SMART FOR TWO PASSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR INSULATION MAT SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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