smart Fortwo Complaints (2008)

177 consumer complaints on file.

#10262876March 24, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SINCE NEW. CAR HAS PROBLEM MOVING FROM PARK INTO GEAR, EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. EVEN WHEN GEARSHIFT MOVES AND INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS GEAR, DOES NOT ENGAGE. SAME PROBLEM MOVING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. GEARSHIFT STICKS ON OCCASION AND IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261030March 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
GEARSHIFT BUTTON IS STUCK. CAR CANNOT BE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258813February 16, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS GAUGE ON 2009 SMART FORTWO WILL NOT REGISTER FULL ON FILL UP. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES TO HAVE REPAIRED AND THEY HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. STILL CANNOT FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256870January 29, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER FULL ON FILL UPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256548January 27, 2009
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2008 SMART FORTWO, THE IGNITION KEY IS BETWEEN THE SEATS. AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES IN TRAFFIC, I HAVE ACCIDENTALLY TURNED THE CAR OFF BY BUMPING THE KEY FOB. THE CAR SITS DEAD IN TRAFFIC UNTIL I CAN RESTART IT. IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE KEY. I CHALLENGE ANYONE OVER 200 LBS TO TAKE A HARD LEFT TURN AS IN A AVOIDANCE MANEUVER AND TRY NOT TO SLIDE TO THE RIGHT AND ACCIDENTALLY KILL THE ENGINE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE IN THESE SMALL CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255590January 19, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GEAR SHIFT LEVER FREEZES IN PARK & THEREFORE WILL NOT ALLOW CAR TO MOVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253804January 5, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I PURCHASED A SMART PASSION ON ABOUT SEPTEMBER 19, 2008. WHEN I WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE, HE WAS SHOWING ME ALL THE FEATURES OF THE CAR AND WHEN HE GOT TO THE SUN SHADE WHICH BLOCKS OUT EXCESSIVE LIGHT FROM THE GLASS ROOF, THE REP. HAD DIFFICULTY OPERATING THE SHADE AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BEING RECALLED. APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING, MY SHADE BECAME COMPLETELY DYSFUNCTIONAL IN THE OPEN POSITION. I NOTIFIED THE SMART NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE CENTER BY PHONE & THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SHADE WAS NOT RECALLED. I'VE GONE ONLINE TO SMART FORUMS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SHADE IS DYSFUNCTIONAL IN MANY OF THE CARS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A REPAIR CENTER YET BUT PLAN TO ASAP. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS VISUAL HAZARD DURING BRIGHT LIGHTING CONDITIONS. ON THE SAME VEHICLE, MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES WHICH WE ARE UNABLE TO GET THE BACK GLASS TO LATCH IN THE CLOSED POSITION. ONCE I WAS OVER 160 MILES FROM HOME. I NOTIFIED THE SMART CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND WAS TOLD TO TRY TO USE BUNGEE CORDS TO KEEP IT CLOSED. I WENT ONLINE TO A FORUM AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS TOO WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN UNSAFE METHOD TO DRIVE A VEHICLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR THE REAR GLASS TO COME OPEN DURING TRAVEL OR ALLOWING WATER TO SETTLE IN THE VEHICLE DURING RAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253552January 2, 2009
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO CABRIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT GETS CAUGHT AND BECOMES INOPERABLE. THE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT AND RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL HIM BACK; HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,700. UPDATED 02/10/09 *BF UPDATED 02/11/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252757December 24, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE FAILING PART IS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER. THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE BUTTON BEGINS TO GET RESISTIVE IN IT'S OPERATION AND THEN FAILS TO ACTUATE ALL TOGETHER. IN MY CASE THIS RESULTED IN THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 8400 MILES. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 500 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR AND I CAN FEEL THE LEVER BECOMING RESISTIVE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251656December 13, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY CAR'S SHIFTER IS STUCK IN PARK. I CANNOT SHIFT TO N (NEUTRAL), D (DRIVE), OR R (REVERSE). THIS EFFECTIVELY RENDERS THE CAR INOPERABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250028November 28, 2008
POWER TRAIN
MY NEW SMART CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR PARK. THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER LEVER WOULD NOT DEPRESS. MANY OWNERS ARE FINDING THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS A DO-IT-YOURSELF FIX LISTED. HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248933November 16, 2008
POWER TRAIN
NOTICED TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BUTTON HARD TO PUSH IN A COUPLE OF TIMES. WENT TO POST OFFICE AND WAS STRANDED THERE AS I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 9,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246966October 28, 2008
VISIBILITY
WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2008 SMART-FOR-TWO SINCE APPROXIMATELY 2-MONTH AFTER PURCHASE WITHOUT REAR-VIEW MIRROR. THE MOUNTING (METAL) TAB THAT WAS GLUED TO THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD HAD CAME LOOSE AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT FROM THE FACTORY IN WHAT TO DO. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE SMART-FOR-TWO. IS THERE A DOT REQUIREMENT TO HAVE REAR-VIEW MIRROR ON ALL MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATING ON US HIGHWAYS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244384October 4, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GEAR SHIFTER STUCK IN PARK. UNABLE TO MOVE CAR. MANY OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SEE: HTTP://WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM/FORUMS/F25/GEAR-KNOB-BUTTON-STUCK-4454/ HTTP://WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM/FORUMS/F25/DIY-GEAR-SHIFT-REMOVAL-LUBE-SHORT-VIDEO-5428/ THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233215July 4, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A SMART FOR TWO CAR FROM A PERSON IN ST. LOUIS, TECHNICALLY IT WAS "USED" BUT ON HAD LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT. I THEN DROVE IT HOME TO INDIANA. ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL, SUPPOSEDLY THERE IS A CARD IN THE GLOVE BOX THAT YOU SEND IN IF YOU BUY THE CAR USED, THAT WAY THE SMART HEADQUARTERS KNOWS WHERE THE CAR IS, WHO THE NEW OWNER IS, AND HOW TO REACH YOU IN CASE OF A RECALL. THE CARD WAS MISSING SO I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER OF SMART HQ TO SEE IF THEY COULD REGISTER THE CAR FOR ME OVER THE PHONE. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT, THAT THE DEALER HAS TO DO THAT. SO I WENT TO MY LOCAL SMART DEALER IN INDIANAPOLIS AND GAVE THEM THE VIN, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT ACCESS THE CAR'S RECORDS IN THE COMPUTER SINCE THEY WERE NOT THE DEALER WHO SOLD THE CAR. SO I CALLED THE DEALER IN ST. LOUIS, THEY HAD NO IDEA HOW TO REGISTER THE CAR IN MY NAME AND REFERRED ME BACK TO THE HEADQUARTERS. SO NOW I AM STUCK, IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SAFETY ISSUE, I WOULD NEVER KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE SMART COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW I HAVE THE CAR. HOW CAN I GET MY CAR IN THEIR COMPUTER SO THEY CAN REACH ME IF NEEDED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231879June 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
APPROXIMATELY FOUR NIGHTS AGO, AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, MY SMART CAR LOST ALL POWER AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE IGNITION, EVEN THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE RADIO INSIDE THE CAR CUT OFF COMPLETELY. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS FORCED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURN THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE BACK. AS SOON AS I DID THIS, THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL AND I COMPLETED THE JOURNEY HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230181June 6, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE SHIFTER ON MY 2 MONTH OLD SMART CAR LOCKED OUT OF PARK AND REVERSE, THERE FORE NOT ENABLING THE CAR TO BE TURNED OFF OR TO BE PLACED INTO A SAFE CONDITION AFTER DRIVING ALSO POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE, AS REVERSE BECAME NOT FUNCTIONAL. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A LINK ON A WEB SITE THAT GAVE DETAILS AS TO HOW TO TAKE THE MECHANISM APART AND LUBE THE MECHANISM. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON A FREQUENT BASIS ON OTHER SMART CARS, AS ANNOTATED IN THE WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM FORUM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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