smart Fortwo Complaints

407 consumer complaints on file.

#10993895June 8, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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?
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10991881May 26, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10983170May 2, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES FAILED, BRAKE PEDAL BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO DEPRESS WITH NO BRAKE RESPONSE, AND A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING A BRAKE FAULT CAME ON. FORTUNATELY, DRIVER WAS ON A SLOW MOVING CITY STREET AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP USING HAND BRAKE FOR AN EMERGENCY STOP. OTHER ELECTRICAL RELATED GLITCHES IN THIS CAR CAN BE 'RESET' BY TURNING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING. DRIVER TRIED THAT, ERROR CLEARED, DRIVER PROCEEDED CAREFULLY, TURNING ONTO A QUIET RESIDENTIAL STREET. BRAKES WORKED FOR TWO BLOCKS, BUT ON 3RD BLOCK SAME THING OCCURRED APPROACHING A STOP SIGN - BRAKE PEDAL BECAME UN-USABLY STIFF WITH NO APPARENT BRAKE RESPONSE, INDICATOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON, BRAKES DID NOT WORK, HAND BRAKE WAS AGAIN USED TO SLOW AND STOP VEHICLE. TWO MORE ATTEMPTS TO RESET, NO CHANGE, USED HAND-BRAKE WHILE MOVING VEHICLE OUT OF STREET AND INTO A LEGAL PARKING SPOT. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER INDICATES THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE, FIXES PROBLEM, BUT DEFLECTS ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE PART OF A PRODUCT-WIDE RECALL. DEALER NOTES ON REPAIR FORM ARE EQUALLY EVASIVE, CLAIMING THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM BUT DID FIND FAULT CODES IN THE COMPUTER. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT SMART/MERCEDES IS TRYING TO HIDE A KNOWN BRAKE FAILURE DEFECT THAT COULD EASILY RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC AND FATAL CRASH - HAD THE DRIVER BEEN ON THE FREEWAY OR A VERY FAST MOVING BUSY STREET, THIS MIGHT NOT HAVE ENDED WITH A SIMPLE HAND-BRAKE PANIC STOP. THIS ISSUE, A RUBBING WIRE HARNESS THAT THEN CAUSES A SHORT, IS WELL KNOWN ENOUGH THAT THEY HAVE AN INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT - IF IT IS THAT COMMON, THEY NEED TO RECALL ALL IMPACTED VEHICLES AND FIX/REPLACE/IMMOBILIZE/REINSULATE THE DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS WHERE IT RUBS ON THE FRAME, AND THEY NEED TO DO IT BEFORE SOMEONE IS GRAVELY INJURED OR DIES DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10981144April 27, 2017
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND IN THE NUMBER 1 LANE OF CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 24 ABOUT 1/4 MILE BEFORE THE TUNNEL ROAD EXIT. I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE ARE OF THE CAR, LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, AND EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AT THE TUNNEL ROAD EXIT AND STALLED ON THE OFF RAMP. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE TWICE BY TURNING THE KEY. I SAW SMOKE IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I CALLED 911 AND GAVE THE DISPATCH OPERATOR MY LOCATION. BY THE TIME THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, MY CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ATTACHED PHOTOS TELL THE STORY OF THE DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10969003March 28, 2017
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SMART FORTWO. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10968584March 27, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LEAK OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN/CAUSE WHILE STATIONARY, FORMING A PUDDLE BENEATH THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. VEHICLE OTHERWISE IN PRISTINE CONDITION. NO ACCIDENT OR OTHER IMPACT TOOK PLACE -- NORMAL DRIVE HOME, GARAGED THE CAR, FOUND PUDDLE IN THE MORNING AND GARAGE FILLED WITH GAS FUMES, OBSERVED DRIPPING FROM UNDERSIDE OF CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10966517March 17, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO THREE BARS AND NOT SHIFT ON HIGHWAYS AND PARKWAYS, USUALLY ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE UNDER POWER TO SIDE OF ROAD SOMETIMES GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND HAVE TO COAST TO SIDE. OCCURS WITH ELEVATED AMBIENT MOISTURE. STARTED AT 32,000 MILES. KNOWN ISSUE, TRANSMISSION HAS A LIMP MODE FOR THIS OCCURRENCE. VERY DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE, APPEARS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. SMART DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ADDRESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10959578March 8, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK. THE REMOTE LOCKS ALL OTHER DOORS BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10948104January 28, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10945296January 14, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10944676January 12, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10939937January 5, 2017
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE VEHICLE UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE KNOCKING SOUND AND SMOKE CONTINUED. THE HORN AND ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DECLARED UN-DRIVABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10939504January 3, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937409December 26, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
GAS TANK 5 GALLONS NOT 8 AS LISTED IN THE BOOK. TANKS FILLS UP PREMIUM GAS FOR $10. GAS PUMP SAID IT PUT OUT 5 GALLONS ONLY INTO THE TANK. THAT FILLED UP THE WHOLE. NOW I'M NAIVE TO FILL UP SOON I REACH ANOTHER 100 MILES. THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK. YOU SOLD ME THE WRONG VEHICLE. INSTEAD OF HELPING ME MAKE A WISE DECISION YOUR ONLY CONCERN WAS TO SELL SELL SELL THAT'S IT. MPG IS AROUND 30. NOT TRUE IT'S AT 23 MPG. MIRRORS DON'T ADJUST CORRECTLY. BLIND-SIDING IS DANGEROUS AND FATAL. EMISSIONS ISSUE: SMELLS LIKE PLASTIC/RUBBER BURNING ??? BATTERY LEVEL INDICATOR IS MISSING. DOESN'T POWER MY PHONE WHILE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. AUDIO SYSTEM KEEPS CUTTING OFF PHONE CALLS AND THE GOOGLE NAVIGATOR GUIDANCE. THE BUMPER TO BUMPER 75,000 MILES WARRANTY DOESN'T EVEN COVER 60 MILES PER DAY FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS. THAT'S 1,800 MILES /MONTH. 21,600 MILES PER YEAR. I DO 10,000 MILES PER MONTH. I WALKED IN THE DEALERSHIP THINKING I WILL BE PAYING NO MORE THAN $100. SADLY ENOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING TO SIGN UP A $265/MONTH NOTE FOR NEXT 5 YEARS ON A CAR THAT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR AT LEAST MISSING TRUNK SLIDING COVER. CADDY FOR IPHONE ALARM SYSTEM IS LOW. RADIO STATIC HAVE ALL THE STATION IN DECIMAL POINTS BUT DOESN'T PICK AND SETTLE ON ONE THAT'S BROADCASTING. TERRIBLE RADIO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937491December 26, 2016
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WITHIN THE SPACE OF THREE MONTHS, IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING MY SMARTCAR, MY DASH DISPLAY HAS GONE FROM SHOWING D (FOR DRIVE) TO N AND THEN FLASHING THREE VERTICAL BARS. I HAVE LOST ALL CONTROL OF DRIVING THE CAR AND LUCKILY THERE WAS SPACE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO COAST TO A STOP. WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, THE THREE BARS REMAIN. THERE IS A WAY THROUGH THE SHIFTER TO RESTART THE CAR OR AT LEAST GETTING IT INTO NEUTRAL. A SERIES OF PUMPING THE BRAKE, TURNING THE START KEY AND TRYING TO MOVE THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH THROUGH GEARS. EVENTUALLY, THE CAR WILL START. UNFORTUNATELY, THE THREE BARS OF DEATH (AS NICKNAMED ON THE SMART CAR FORUMS) CAN HAPPEN FOR ANY NUMEROUS TYPES OF FAULTS SUCH AS WEAK BATTERY TO FAULTY COMMUNICATION WITH THE TRANSMISSION, TO HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING OPERATING UNIT IS DEFECTIVE. THE LIST IS LONG. THE PROBLEM IS MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING AND THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10936528December 20, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10934906December 12, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE FEB 09 (MANF 12/08) AND ITS NOW 7 YRS OLD AND REQS NEW BATTERY. LIFTING UP FLOOR MAT TO REMOVE OLD BATTERY I NOTICED STICKY RED OILY SUBSTANCE (UNKOWN SOURCE BUT NOW SUSPECT BATTERY VAPOR CONDENSATION) AROUND TOP OF COMPARTMENT (MOSTLY WHERE HOLDDOWN BRACKET CONNECTS). REMOVING THE BATTERY THEN EXPOSED CORRODED FLOOR PAINT FROM BATTERY ACID. IN ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN UP THE MESS, I HAD TO REMOVE THE BATTERY VENT TUBE EXITING THE FLOOR. THIS TUBE HAD A SPIDER NEST INSIDE ABOUT 2" FROM OPENING. WD40 DID NOT PENETRATE NESTS END SEALS & HAD TO EXTRACT SPIDER & NEST MANUALLY. I CAN NOT PROVE THIS IS SAFETY RELATED BUT IM WONDERING IF OTHER VENTED BATTERY CARS HAVE THIS VENT BLOCKAGE-CORROSION PROBLEM AND ALSO IF THESE BLOCKED FUMES WERE TOXIC TO OCCUPANTS OF MY CAR? I TOOK SOME PHONE PHOTO EVIDENCE. ON UNRELATED PROBLEM. IN THE LAST 1-2 YEARS I ALSO HAVE THE PEELING TOP CLEARCOAT PROBLEM REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS OF 2009 RED PAINT (NON METALIC) WHICH IS PRIMARILY ON HOOD PANEL & OTHER TOP SURFACES EXPOSED TO DIRECT SUN WHICH LEAVES THE DULL RED BASE COLOR OF THE PLASTIC PANELS. (THIS IS ONLY EXHIBITED ON 2009 RED MODELS). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10933903December 8, 2016
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED AND THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 01/31/2017*CT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10933698December 7, 2016
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10927312November 21, 2016
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ON. NO ACCIDENT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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