smart Fortwo Complaints

407 consumer complaints on file.

#10680032January 30, 2015
ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY WOULD MOVE FROM THE RUN POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE EXTREMELY CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. THE CONTACT STATED MENTIONED THAT WHEN SWITCH FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HIS FOOT WOULD GET CAUGHT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676359January 18, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WE DROVE ABOUT 12 MILES TO A FRIENDS, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, WENT INSIDE TO VISIT. IN 10-15 MINUTES WAS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR BY A NEIGHBOR WHO SAID "YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE". WE CALLED 911, EMPTIED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO NO AVAIL. I TOOK MANY PHOTOS FROM START TO FINISH WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE. INSURANCE TOW TRUCK TOOK THE CAR TO THEIR LOT. THE WHOLE BACK HALF WAS BADLY DAMAGED. AFTERWARDS I FOUND MANY REPORTS OF FIRES LIKE MINE. THE PORTLAND, OREGON MERCEDES DEALER WOULD NOT TALK TO US. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAR SEEMS LIKE A TOTAL LOSS. WE WERE NEVER WARNED THERE WAS ANY DANGER FROM FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10673110January 16, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MOLD DAMAGE DUE TO WATER PENETRATION FROM A CRACK IN THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE SEAL BETWEEN THE ROOF AND THE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670499January 6, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAN BLOWER MOTOR WILL NOT WORK TO MOVE HEAT TO WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST IN WINTER. I CAN NOT SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670497January 6, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING MY SMART CAR TO WORK AT 1:30 AM. THERE WAS SOME SNOW ON THE ROADS SO I LEFT 10 MINUTES EARLIER THAN NORMAL SO I COULD DRIVE SLOWLY. I HAD TO GO UP A HILL AND THE CAR FISHTAILED AND CRASHED INTO THE STEEL RAIL.I WAS GOING 43 MPH IN A 55 MPH ZONE WHEN THE CAR FISHTAILED. I HIT THE STEEL RAIL ALMOST HEAD ON. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY HEAD AND HAVE A SORE BACK AND KNEE PLUS I MISSED A DAY OF WORK. I DO NOT BELIEVE THESE CARS ARE SAFE TO DRIVE IN WINTER DUE TO THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND THE AIR BAGS THAT DO NOT WORK. THANKS FOR READING MY STORY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10667650December 22, 2014
AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654214November 11, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
WHILE A BODY PANEL WAS BEING REPLACED ON A 2009 SMART FORTWO PASSION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT, UNBEKNOWNST TO THE CAR'S OWNER, THE MECHANISM SECURING THE TAILGATE IN PLACE HAD CORRODED SO BADLY THAT THE TAILGATE WAS IN DANGER OF, LITERALLY, FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. HE REATTACHED THE TAILGATE BUT WAS SINCERELY CONCERNED THAT IT HAD BEEN IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF OR--GIVEN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, LIKE OPEN WINDOWS AND HIGHWAY SPEED--FLYING OFF AND PERHAPS HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED FILING A REPORT IN CASE THIS CORROSION PROBLEM AFFECTS OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. MORE DETAILS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE MECHANIC. TO CONTACT THE MECHANIC, SIMPLY EMAIL OR CALL THE FILER OF THIS REPORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653909November 10, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650608October 28, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SMART FORTWO. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,200.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10640838October 2, 2014
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,724. UPDATED 11/21/14*CN UPDATED 5/7/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632335September 10, 2014
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE STARTED NOT GOING INTO REVERSE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE FROM DRIVE. ALSO IF IDLING THEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IT WILL NOT GO, IT WOULD GO TO NEUTRAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629843September 1, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628051August 25, 2014
WHEELS
LOCAL STREET. RAN OVER A ~4 INCH BOLT IN ROADWAY. PUNCTURED TIRE, BUT THEN THE BOLT KNOCKED 4 HOLES IN THE WHEEL (RIM). I DO NOT CONSIDER A BOLT IN THE ROADWAY TO BE AN UNUSUAL HAZARD. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE WHEEL - TIRE COMBINATION IS SUITABLE FOR USE ON PUBLIC ROADS. I BELIEVE THAT THE WHEEL - TIRE COMBINATION PRESENTS AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY HAZARD FOR USERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619397August 6, 2014
WHEELS, TIRES
THE VALVE STEMS ARE CRACKING AND IF THEY FAIL WHILE DRIVING A DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL. THE CRACKED VALVE STEMS WERE NOTICED WHEN THE WHEELS WERE REMOVED FOR SERVICE. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619122August 5, 2014
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT INDICATES A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPEN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD GROUND. THE SECOND TIME IT FAILED THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES, "WARNING A MALFUNCTIONING SRS SYSTEM MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED IN AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY, OR IT MIGHT DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND UNNECESSARY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY TO YOU OR TO OTHERS." IN AN EFFORT TO FIND OUT WHY THIS HAPPENING I WENT ON-LINE AND FOUND A SMART CAR WEB SITE ,INDEPENDENT FROM THE MANUFACTURE(DAIMLER AG), THAT HAD LISTED MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURE HAS A RECURRING DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS PLACES OWNERS, PASSENGERS, AND THE PUBLIC, IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617738July 30, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 7 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610575July 15, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS, SEAT BELTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608766July 7, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED BRIEFLY AND WENT OFF. WITHIN ONE MILE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. AS I SLOWED TO A STOP, A LARGE CLOUD OF STEAM ERUPTED. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH AND MOST OF THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. NO EXPLANATION OF LACK OF WARNING LAMPS. A SECOND TWO WEEK TRIP TO THE DEALER WAS NEEDED TO RESOLVE ALL THE ISSUES. CAR STILL HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595802June 3, 2014
SUSPENSION
THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITHOUT IMPACT TO THE SUSPENSION. THE SPRING IS CLEAN WITH NO RUST OR CORROSION AT THE BREAK POINT. THE SPRING PAINT STILL LOOKS NEW. THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A SPRING SHOULD BREAK AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET FOR SPRINGS BREAKING, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES, ON SMART VEHICLES. THE BREAK WAS AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SPRING WHICH MAY PUNCTURE A TIRE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES OR POSSIBLY JAM THE HUB AND THROWING THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL. IF THE SPRING BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT SPEED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER MAY BE AT RISK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595006May 30, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHEN I START MY CAR AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT SHOWS REVERSE ON THE SCREEN OR NOTHING AT ALL. THEN MY CAR WILL BACK UP INSTEAD OF GOING FORWARD. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT A FEW TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ME MORE THAN ONCE. THE AIR TUBES IN THE ENGINE ALREADY HAVE CRACKS IN THEM LIKELY BECAUSE A CHEAP MATERIAL WAS USED TO PRODUCE THEM, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FIRES IN MANY OF THESE VEHICLES. IN ADDITION, SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE ALREADY WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR IS NOT EVEN THAT OLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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