smart Fortwo Complaints

407 consumer complaints on file.

#10593762May 23, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD BEEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WHEN A STRONG ODOR OF ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNING BECAME EVIDENT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HORN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. PULLED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DASH. DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THEN FLAMES BECAME EVIDENT FROM DASH AND FRONT AREA OF CAR. CAR BURNED COMPLETELY, TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588504May 15, 2014
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 40MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. YOU COULD HEAR THAT THE CYLINDERS AND PISTONS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAD 2 GALLONS OF GAS. WE PUT IN 2 MORE GALLONS AT THE ADJACENT GAS STATION AND LIMPED HOME AT 30MPH. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AT OUR HOME AND DROVE IT FROM MILWAUKEE TO CHICAGO WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY REPLACED THE PURGE VALVE AND ALL 3 IGNITION COILS;COME AND PICK IT UP. ON OUR DRIVE HOME, GOING A STEADY UNINTERRUPTED 40 MPH (NO STOP SIGNS, OR STOP LIGHTS AT ALL) WE DROVE 28 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM MERCEDES. MERCEDES DECLINED, STATING THEY WOULD ACCEPT THE PROBLEM WHEN THE DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER 10 DAYS THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED US THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. WE WAITED THROUGH THE 30 BUSINESS DAY LEMON LAW PERIOD AND FILED FOR RELIEF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587577May 10, 2014
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
1ST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A PINE NEEDLE ON DRIVERS SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. TRIED TO REMOVE ONLY TO DISCOVER A HAIRLINE CRACK. CALLED DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE AS IT WAS 99% A ROCK CRACK. IT'S NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY POOR INSTALLATION. THE [XXX] CRACK IS NOW 13 INCHES LONG JUST ACROSS MY LINE OF VISION. MY MILEAGE IS JUST OVER 5000 MILES AFTER 9 MONTHS OF USE AND FIND IT MORE THAN DIFFICULT TO PAY OVER 800.00 FOR REPLACEMENT OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY MFG. GRRRRRRRRRR! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579506April 14, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579557April 14, 2014
TIRES
KUHMO TIRE WENT FLAT AFTER ONLY 13,000 MILES, DEALER RECOMMENDS ALL TIRES BE REPLACED. I DROVE CARS WHEN THEY HAD INNER TUBES AND NEVER HAD TIRES WEAR OUT THIS FAST. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579489April 13, 2014
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579034April 10, 2014
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577830April 7, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577754April 6, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577091April 3, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR AND THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,942.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577127April 3, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576681April 2, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD ISSUES 5 OR 6 TIMES WITH IGNITION TURNING OFF WHEN I'M DRIVING ALONG AND CAME CLOSE TO GETTING KILLED! HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO GEARS RIGHT, ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK TO BE SURE I'M IN RIGHT SPOT ON SHIFTER, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE.ALSO, CONSTANTLY BUYING HEADLIGHTS! NOTICED ON HILLS THESE CARS HAVE A TENDENCY TO ROLL WHEN YOU'RE IN PARK! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572690March 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OK THE MOTION SENSOR STOPPED WORKING, THE RADIO WAS DRAWING 870MA WHILE CAR IS SHUT OFF SO HAD TO GET THAT DISCONNECTED. THE HEATER FAN WENT THEY REPLACED THE HEATER FAN FROM MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE OTHER TWO THINGS WAS NOT SO NOW IM WITH OUT A RADIO THAT WAS PUT IN BY THE SMART CAR PEOPLE AND WHEN MY TOP IS DOWN I HAVE NO MOTION SENSOR THE RADIO DREW SO BAD OF A DRAW THAT THE BATTERY WOULD DIE OVER NIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF YES THE CAR WAS OFF AND SO WAS THE RADIO. I AM UP SET THAT BEING IT WAS NOT MY DOINGS AT ALL OF THE MISS HAPS OF THE RADIO AND MOTION SENSOR THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO GO WITH OUT A RADIO OR SENSOR IN MY 2009 CAR IM NOW AFFRAID TO DRIVE IT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS AND THAT I HAVE NO RADIO IN IT OR MOTION SENSOR. I CANT AFFORD TO PAY THE DEALER SHIP OR ANYONE ELSE FOR A NEW ONE I DIDN'T BRAKE IT ITS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566887March 3, 2014
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564801February 18, 2014
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562121January 29, 2014
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559369January 10, 2014
SEAT BELTS, POWER TRAIN
DRIVERS SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH AT ALL. MERCEDES WILL NOT PAY FOR IT OR FIX IT AND WANT US TO PAY OUT OF POCKET . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556623December 19, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL TO ALSO FAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555750December 11, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH NOT GOING IN REVERSE WHEN YOU PUT THE GEAR SHIFTER IN 'R' POSITION? USUALLY AFTER DRIVEN AND THE CAR IS WARMED UP. THE CAR JUST ROLLS WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, AS IF THOUGH IT'S IN NEUTRAL.. WHEN GIVING GAS IT JUST REVS THE ENGINE AND NOTHING HAPPENS.. THE CAR IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AND IT CAN BE DANGEROUS PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE IF IT'S ON A SLOPE. THE VEHICLE CAN ROLL. THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THE 08-09 YEAR. THIS SHOULD DEFIANTLY BE A RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR TAKEN THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555017December 6, 2013
ENGINE
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. NO APPARENT REASON. CAR DROVE OK BROUGHT TO MB DEALER. THEY RUN DIAGNOSTIC. NOTED THAT CYLINDER 3 MISFIRED AT SOME POINT, BUT EVERYTHING IS FINE NOW. CAR WAS IN WARRANTY THEN. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. CAR WAS RIDING ROUGH TEMPORARILY. THEN IT WAS OK AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AROUND 35000 MILES. BROUGHT TO DEALER AGAIN. CAR WAS DRIVING FINE AT THAT POINT. THERE WAS SOME OCCASIONAL HESITATION IN SHIFTING. WAS INFORMED THAT CYLINDER 3 WAS NOT SEATED PROPERLY AND MISFIRING. I WOULD NEED A CYLINDER HEAD REPLACED COSTING ABOUT $7000. AT THIS POINT WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER THE CHECK WAS PERFORMED THE CAR WAS IN WORST CONDITION AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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