smart Fortwo Complaints (2008)

177 consumer complaints on file.

#10377889January 19, 2011
STRUCTURE
THE PLASTIC ROOF IN MY 2009 SMART FORTWO HAD BEEN CRACKING SUBSTANTIALLY FROM EITHER HEAT OR CLEANING CHEMICALS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375542January 11, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK IN MY SMART FORTWO 451 ON A SNOWY MORNING. MY DRIVEWAY IS RATHER STEEP, AND WHILE SLOWLY GOING DOWN THE HILL THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIDE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BEGAN SLOWING TO A STOP BUT WAS STILL SLIDING. I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS STILL IN CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN IT AND THE ACCELERATOR. I TRIED FRANTICALLY TO PULL IT OUT BUT IT WAS STUCK FAST, AND THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING (DUE TO GRAVITY) DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PULL MY FOOT OUT OF MY SHOE AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE, BUT BY THEN I WAS ALREADY OFF THE DRIVEWAY AND HEADED DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HILL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM HAD IT OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC. AFTER STOPPING I STILL HAD SOME DIFFICULTY REMOVING MY SHOE FROM BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS. I AM A MALE WITH SIZE 12 SHOES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366433November 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO 451 COUPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RESET THE COMPUTER FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CONNECTION BECAUSE IT WAS LOOSE. THREE MONTHS LATER THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE HE PAID $150 FOR THE FIRST REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360350October 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 PASSIONFORTWO, WHICH HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES IN THE 28 MONTHS AND 13K MILES OF OWNERSHIP. I'M HAPPILY DRIVING ALONG UNTIL I REACH MY DESTINATION, THEN I NEED TO GO INTO REVERSE TO PARK. THE SHIFTER WORKS FLAWLESSLY AND THE DISPLAY CLEARLY SHOWS THE CORRECT POSITION OF THE SHIFTER. BUT, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE, NOR WILL IT ENGAGE IF I RESELECT DRIVE. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THAT THIS HAPPENED, I EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF THE KEY AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND ALL WAS WELL. THE LAST TWO TIMES, THAT WORK-AROUND HAD NO EFFECT. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LET IT SIT FOR FIVE MINUTES AND ONE HOUR, RESPECTIVELY, AND THEN HAD NO PROBLEM SELECTING ANY GEAR. A CAR THAT SUDDENLY WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358382September 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE STOPS AFTER MAKING A HARSH LEFT TURN- SUCH AS IN A U-TURN. CHECKED FOR PHYSICAL TOUCHING OF INSERTED KEY AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE. MOTOR STARTS IMMEDIATELY WHEN PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND IGNITION KEY IS TURNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352045August 26, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
CRAZING AND FAILURE OF MAKROLON (POLYCARBONATE) ROOF ON ALL SMART FOR TWO COUPES FROM 2008 TO PRESENT. POLYCARBONATE (PC) MATERIAL THE TRANSPARENT ROOF PANEL IS MADE FROM DISINTEGRATES FROM UV SUNLIGHT OR HEAT BEYOND ITS 150F RATING EXACERBATED BY SMART'S SUNSHADE INSIDE THE CAR. PC IS NOT RESISTANT TO OZONE AND OTHER CHEMICALS LISTED HERE: HTTP://WWW.SHEFFIELDPLASTICS.COM/WEB_DOCS/MAKROLON%20CHEMICAL%20RESISTANCE.PDF MANY OF WHICH ARE IN THE AIR AND IN CLEANING SUPPLIES. FROM THIS MFG WEB..."EXPOSING MAKROLON SHEET TO REPEATED STEAM CLEANING OR DISH WASHING CAN CREATE HYDRAULIC CRAZING. THE RESULT CAN BE A CLOUDING OF THE SURFACE AND ULTIMATELY A LOSS OF PHYSICAL STRENGTH PROPERTIES." TEMPERATURES MEASURED BETWEEN SUNSHADE AND MAKROLON ROOF PANEL IN SC PARKING LOT FAR EXCEEDS 150F SPEC, CAUSING THE OBSERVED FAILURES. THESE FAILURES WILL, EVENTUALLY, CONSUME THE PLASTIC ROOF WHICH WILL FALL ON OCCUPANTS OR EXPLODE OUTWARDS ONTO FOLLOWING TRAFFIC WHEN, NOT IF, THE PLASTIC FINALLY FAILS, STRUCTURALLY. THE FAILURE IS SLOW AND TAKES A YEAR OR MORE TO MATERIALIZE. AS THIS MODEL IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, SMART HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECALL/REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL, STONEWALLING THE CUSTOMERS TO THE PROBLEM. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, OR THIS PANEL FAILS AND FALLS ON THE CHILDREN OR CAUSES PANIC TO THE DRIVER, THIS ROOF PANEL SHOULD BE RECALLED, EVEN OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE IT TAKES MORE THAN THE 2-YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THE FAILURE TO OCCUR, BY FORCE OF GOVERNMENT IF NECESSARY. SMART REPLACES ONE DEFECTIVE PANEL WITH ANOTHER UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF DEFECTIVE MATERIAL, SO THE PROBLEM REPEATS. A FORCED RECALL TO REPLACE WITH OTHER MATERIAL MORE REALISTIC TO INTENSE UV SUNSHINE IN A HOT PARKING LOT IS WARRANTED BECAUSE OF THE COMPANY'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS PROPER REPLACEMENT WITH A DIFFERENT MATERIAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346654August 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IT'S A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, THE CAR WON'T GO INTO REVERSE, AND SOMETIMES WON'T GO INTO ANY GEAR AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN RECURRING FOR 2 YEARS, AND THE DEALERSHIP PRETENDS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN IN A BUSY STREET, OR IN A SLOPE WHEN YOU EXPECT TO BACK UP WHILE THE CAR ROLLS DOWN THE HILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340958July 1, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART CAR FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL HE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WOULD IN THE SAME DIRECTION WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A MAILBOX. NO ONE WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPDATED 08/27/10 UPDATED 08/30/10*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339597June 22, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I DRIVE BY AN INTERSECTION WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF RADIO, SATELLITE AND CELL PHONE TOWERS, THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN MY CAR IS IMMOBILIZED. BY THAT I MEAN THAT THE CAR IS IN "D" BUT WON'T MOVE. I PUSH OR COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR "OFF." I WAIT A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND RESTART. THE WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON BUT IT WILL ALLOW ME TO DRIVE OFF IN "D." I THEN PARK, DO MY ERRANDS AND COME BACK TO THE CAR. I START IT UP, ALL WARNING LIGHTS STAY OFF AND IT DRIVES NORMALLY. THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH OCCASIONS WHEN I HAVE DRIVEN BY THIS INTERSECTION (MT. PLEASANT AVENUE AND PROSPECT AVENUE IN WEST ORANGE, NJ.) THE CAR IS A 2008 SMART PASSION COUPE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334046June 1, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) VEHICLE INFO 2008 SMARTCAR STYLE: PURE COLOR: SILVER VIN: [XXX] PURCHASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2008 PURCHASE PRICE: $17,000.00 BEGINNING MILEAGE: 417 DEALER INFORMATION [XXX] DESCRIPTION/EXPLANATION OF EVENTS BEGINNING IN JUNE 2008 TO SEPTEMBER 20, 2008, I SPENT TIME DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE REGARDING THE NEW SMARTCAR AND THE PERFORMANCE POSSIBILITIES IT WOULD HAVE IN MY FORESTRY CONSULTING BUSINESS. I TYPICALLY DRIVE 4,500 TO 5,000 MILES PER MONTH AND MY FORD F-150 WAS USING APPROXIMATELY 26 GALLONS OF FUEL PER DAY AT A COST OF $4.25 PER GALLON. THIS DUE DILIGENCE INCLUDED MEETING WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF SMART CENTER SEATTLE AND GIVING HIM A FULL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WORK I WOULD BE DOING AND DETERMINING HOW I THOUGHT THE CAR WOULD HOLD UP. WE EVEN MEASURED THE CLEARANCE OF A SHOWROOM CAR WHICH WAS ACCEPTABLE. I WAS SCHEDULED FOR A TEST DRIVE AND WAS COMPLETELY SOLD ON THE CAR AND THE BENEFITS OF UTILIZING THIS VEHICLE IN MY PROFESSION. I ORDERED A CAR AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 15 MONTHS BEFORE MY CAR WOULD BE BUILT AND DELIVERED. THERE IS A PROGRAM WHERE THE DEALERSHIP CAN SELL CARS THAT WERE ORDERED AND NOT PURCHASED FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. THE CAR I EVENTUALLY PURCHASED WAS ONE OF THESE CARS. I WAS CALLED TO SEE IF I WOULD LIKE TO BUY THIS ONE INSTEAD OF WAITING THE MONTHS FOR MY CAR TO BE MANUFACTURED. WITH THE CURRENT COST OF FUEL AT THE TIME, I DECIDED TO PURCHASE THE CAR AND SURPLUS MY ORDERED CAR WHEN IT CAME INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE COST OF THE VEHICLE WAS $17,000.00 PLUS THE DEALER PREP, TAX AND SO ON, FOR A TOTAL PRICE OF $19,000. THE VEHICLE HAD A STANDARD 24,000 MILE WARRANTY AND I WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE, APPROXIMATELY $2000 IF I RECALL CORRECTLY. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH MILEAGE I DRIVE EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES, I DECIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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

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