smart Fortwo Complaints

407 consumer complaints on file.

#10333900May 30, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
FREQUENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILS TO LATCH EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS SLAMS IT STILL WILL NOT LATCH IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE WEATHER GETS HOT. THE ONLY RESOLUTION TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM IS TO SNAP THE INSIDE RELEASE HANDLE THEN SLAM THE DOOR TO MAKE IT LATCH. MY CONCERN BESIDES HAVING TROUBLE LATCHING IT IS IT BECOMING UNLATCHED AT SOME POINT WHILE IN MOTION. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332061May 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CAR WILL NOT ENGAGE REVERSE AT ALL AND SOMETIMES JUMPS BETWEEN N, D, OR A BLANK DISPLAY ON THE DASH READOUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU CAN MOVE THE SHIFTER AND IT WILL NOT SELECT REVERSE AND THERE IS A BEEPING NOISE AUDIBLE FROM THE DASH. THE CAR MUST BE ROLLED BACK DOWN A HILL IN NEUTRAL OR PUSHED. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BY REPLACING PARTS OR REPAIRING PARTS. CAR HAS ONLY ABOUT 27K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322169March 25, 2010
EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A 2008 SMART FORTWO AND FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS NOW THE BLOWER MOTOR HAS BEEN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. I CAN'T SEEM TO DETECT ANY PATTERN FOR WHEN IT DOES AND DOES NOT WORK. IT SOMETIMES WILL WORK AS SOON AS I START THE CAR, IF NOT IT WILL EVENTUALLY WORK AFTER DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IT HAS ALSO NOT WORKED AT ALL FOR HOURS OR SOMETIMES DAYS AND THEN WORK PERFECTLY FOR HOURS AND SOMETIMES DAYS. I CALLED THE DEALER (SMART CENTER OF ENGELWOOD (NJ)) ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY ARE INCREASINGLY COMING ACROSS ISSUES THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED AND THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE BLOWER MOTOR AT A COST OF ALMOST $400.00. I WENT ONTO A SMART CAR BLOG WEBSITE AND THERE ARE AN AWEFUL LOT OF SMART CAR OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. IT COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE WINDSHIELD BECOMES FOGGED UP AND THE BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT FUNCTION, OUTSIDE VISIBILITY WOULD BE DANGEROUSLY OBSTRUCTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPEN THE WINDOWS UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDOWS AGAIN.I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR YET BUT WILL BE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR AND AT THE VERY LEAST, AN INVESTIGATION BY YOUR AGENCY IS IN ORDER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316475March 4, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
2008 SMART WITH UNRESOLVED COMPUTER CONTROL PROBLEMS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST ISSUE INVOLVED A WARNING CHIME THAT ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. IT HAPPENED UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND OFF AGAIN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS A SOFTWARE ISSUE. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THAT WHEN THE COMPUTER WAS AT A PARTICULAR CYCLE POINT IN ITS SERIES OF SYSTEMS CHECKS, IT WAS WAITING FOR A SIGNAL FROM SOME SENSOR WHICH WAS NOT RECEIVED WHEN THE POWER TO THE PARTICULAR SENSOR WAS SHUT OFF PRIOR TO THE COMPUTER WARNING SYSTEM POWERING OFF. THE SECOND ISSUE INVOLVED THE INTERMITTENT WIPER SYSTEM SOMEWHERE ON THE LINE B38 TO THE SAM CONTROL UNIT. ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, THE WIPERS WOULD GO THROUGH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A START UP ROUTINE OF 5 RAPID WIPES FOLLOWED BY 3 SLOW WIPES AND THEN RETURN TO OPERATING AS DESIGNED. OCCASIONALLY, THE ISSUE WAS CORRECTED BY TURNING THE WIPERS TO THE OFF POSITION AND BACK TO INTERMITTENT, BUT IT DIDN'T ALWAYS CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED BOTH OF THE ISSUES WERE A COMPUTER CONTROL ISSUE THAT DID NOT LEAVE ERROR CODES THAT WOULD ALLOW THE DEALER TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE AT A STOP, THE CLUTCH REMAINED ENGAGED FOR AN UNUSUALLY LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE DISENGAGING AND RELEASING PRESSURE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS A NORMAL FUNCTIONALITY OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS AT STOPS BY DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH IMMEDIATELY AND NOT CONTINUING TO RIDE THE CLUTCH WHILE STOPPED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE DISENGAGING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE RIDING BEHAVIOR WAS A RESULT OF THE INITIAL FAILING OF THE SENSOR. ALSO, THE AXLE BOLT THAT SECURED THE HUB FAILED. UPDATED CONSUMER LETTER 04/14/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307796February 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON MY 2008 SMART CAR PASSION AT 36,585 MILES THE CLUTCH PLATE AND ACTUATOR BECAME DEFECTIVE AFTER ONLY THREE MONTHS OF DRIVING. I REPAIRED THIS ISSUE AND AT 81,000 MILES THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME PART BECAME DEFECTIVE. I PUT ON HIGH MILES DO TO THE NATURE OF MY BUSINESS WHICH IS A COURIER COMPANY. I AM WORRIED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY DRIVERS. I HAVE EXPRESSED THIS ISSUE TO THE SMART DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL REPS. THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN EXPLORING THAT THIS COULD BE A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THEIR CAR. BRAKES ARE A ISSUE I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY SINCE THE AMOUNT OF DRIVING MY EMPLOYEES DO. *TR UPDATED 03/15/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307804February 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES SMART CAR FORTWO COUPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR AND CLUTCH PLATE WERE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHENEVER HE SHIFT GEARS FROM PARK AND ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL THE GEARS WERE STUCK. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF UPDATED 06/02/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298992January 11, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE SERVICE FLAP (HOOD) ON MY 2009 SMART CAR HAS DETACHED TWICE. IN EACH INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED BEHIND A MOTORHOME. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT THE DEALERSHIP SENT ME A NEW HOOD AND I INSTALLED IT MYSELF AS THERE WAS NO DEALER WITHIN 1,500 MILES OF MY LOCATION. AFTER THE SECOND TIME AND WITH MORE DAMAGE DONE SMARTUSA IS CLAIMING THAT THE HOOD WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED BY ME CAUSING IT TO COME OFF. THIS TIME EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND THAT IN ALL INSTANCES SMARTUSA FAULTS THE OWNERS FOR NOT PROPERLY REPLACING THE HOOD. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS IS A CONTINUING ISSUE AND ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THEN CAR IS NOT BEING TOWED THAT A HOOD FLYING OFF COULD CAUSE A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. THE HOOD REMAINS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE BY A STRAP AND WILL FLAP IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER UNTIL SPEED IS REDUCED. THIS COULD CAUSE PANIC AND AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297719December 31, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE OWNED MY 2009 SMART FORTWO SINCE DECEMBER 2008 AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCUR TWICE. WHILE TOWING THE SMART ON A TRAILER BEHIND MY MOTORHOME ONE OF THE PINS HOLDING THE HOOD BROKE CAUSING THE HOOD TO COME OFF. THE HOOD IS HELD ON BY TWO PLASTIC PINS AND A CLOTH STRAP. THE STRAP RESTRAINED THE HOOD CAUSING IT TO FLAP AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO ALL THE FRONT PANELS AND THE WINDSHIELD. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291052November 5, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL GAUGE STICKS AT 7/8 - MANY REPORTS TO SMART CAR OF AMERICA FORUMS. WILL NOT PROPERLY REPORT FUEL LEVELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282642September 2, 2009
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
VALVE STEM ON 2008 SMART FORTWO TPMS (TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM) IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND CORRODES DUE TO SALT. VALVE STEM IS NOT REPLACEABLE SO THE ENTIRE SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. PART WAS REPLACED WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART (WHICH HAS SUBSEQUENTLY STOPPED WORKING). OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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

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