smart Fortwo Complaints (2008)

177 consumer complaints on file.

#10820891January 19, 2016
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY TO FIND MY CAR WAS BEGINNING TO BE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO PREVIOUS WORK DONE ON THE CAR...NOTHING! I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH ON THE STREET. THERE WERE NO CHANGES IN MY DRIVING HABIT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I CALLED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPT. THEY RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WROTE UP A REPORT AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AREA. AGAIN, BEFORE THEN, I HAD NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR, ENGINE OR ANYTHING ELECTRICAL. MY LIFE WAS PUT IN DANGER DUE TO THIS FIRE. I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND IT WAS AN OBVIOUS TOTAL LOSS. I AM ATTACHING A COPY OF THE FIRE REPORT FOR YOUR REVIEW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10780222October 6, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S INSULATION CAUGHT FIRE ON THE HEAT SHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000...UPDATED 02/01/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777782September 25, 2015
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
SEVERAL TIMES MY 2008 SMART WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE GEAR.OR START SOMETIMES AS EXPLAINED IN MANY OTHER POST HERE. MB SAID THAT ITS MY CLUTCH ASSEMBY, MB REPORT SAYS (1) TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REMOVED INSPECT CLUTCH DISK PRESSURE PLATES AND THOWOUT BEARING/ CLUTCH WILL NOT TEACH IN CAUSING ENGINE LAMP COST $1359.00 AND IF THAT DONT WORK (2) CLUTCH ASSEMBY REPLACEMENT OF CLUTCH THOWOUT BEARING PRESSURE PLATE IF NEEDED WHEN TRANSMISSION IS OUT PARTS ONLY $1031.20 THIS CAR ONLY HAS 38,326 MILES ON IT I AM THE 2ND OWNER PAD GOT THE CAR WITH 4,500 MILES ON IT. MB AND SMARTUSA HAVE BEEN NO HELP AT ALL IN THIS MATTER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760696September 1, 2015
POWER TRAIN
THIS CAR HAS PERIODICALLY FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE. LAST EVENT THAT I EXPERIENCED IS WHEN I ACTUALLY REALIZED IT TO BE AN SAFETY ISSUE. I GOT INTO MY CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. I STARTED THE CAR AS USUAL AND PROCEEDED TO PLACE IT IN REVERSE. IT WAS BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AS I BELIEVED IT SHOULD. A CAR WAS COMING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH WOULD NORMALLY NOT BE A PROBLEM BUT THIS TIME IT WAS DIFFERENT MY CAR WAS NOT TRULY ENGAGED INTO REVERSE AND WOULDN'T AND ALSO WOULDN'T GO INTO DRIVE. MY CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE ROAD INSTEAD. I HAVE A PROBLEM MANEUVERING OUT OF THE WAY AS THE OTHER DRIVER WAS EXPECTING ME TO BE ABLE. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THE OTHER DRIVER THAT WAS HEADING MY WAY HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES AND NEARLY HIT US. I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM UP WITH MERCEDES AND SMART CAR. THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. WHEN I WAS AT THE SERVICE STATION FOR A TMPS PROBLEM THAT NO ONE ELSE COULD FIX, I TOLD THEM THEN. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED A COMPUTER UPDATE. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY COULD FIX IT BUT I COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT. THEY ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE WITH THE CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MANY SMART CARS LIKE MINE ARE EXPERIENCING. THERE IS A YOUTUBE VIDEO OUT. I FEEL THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT BY THIS DEFECT. I FEEL THAT OTHERS COULD BE GETTING HURT BY THIS DEFECT. SMART CAR HAS NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THIS DEFECT BEFORE. THEY ARE ONLY WILLING AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX IT. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY NEEDED TO NOTIFY OTHERS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO DO. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS COMPANY FIX THEIR PRODUCT AND SPARE THE LIVES OF INNOCENT VICTIMS. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS NOT MY VIDEO. FOLLOW THIS LINK HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=4IWBPVZKSZE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760011August 28, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LEAK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760014August 28, 2015
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON. CAME ON FOR NO REASON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730979June 29, 2015
ENGINE
MY 2008 SMART HAS A LITTLE OVER 36,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE AROUND 06/16/2015, THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD GET STUCK AND NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. ON SUNDAY 06/28/2015, REGARDLESS OF NUMBERS OF ATTEMPT, IT ONLY GOES FROM P TO N AND WILL NOT SHIFT TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR THE DAY IT CAME ON THE MARKET IN MAY 2008 AND PICKED IT UP FROM MB OF LAGUNA NIEGUEL. I EVEN PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT (5YRS, 75,000 MILES) WHICH AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I WAS TOLD BEGINS AFTER THE INITIAL MANUFACTURE'S WARRENTY EXPIRES. I AM NOW TOLD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS ALREADY EXPIRED. HOW DOES A CAR WITH UNDER 36,000 START TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHEN ALL IT'S SERVICES WERE COMPLETED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME IT WAS REQUIRED?! MB OF BEVERLY HILLS SERVICE ADVISOR (JOHN) TOLD ME THIS MORNIGN IT WOULD TAKE 2-3 WKS BE FORE I CAN TAKE THE CAR IN AND GET A LOANER CAR SO THEY CAN DIAGNOISE THE PROBLEM, WHEN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SMART OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM ON THE WEB. A LEGO CAR WOULD PROBABLY LAST LONGER THAN THIS VEHICLE MADE BY MERCEDES BENZ!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722518May 31, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
THERE IS A LEAK IN THE SEAL FOR THE GLASS ROOF AND THE BODY, RESULTING IN TWO PROBLEMS; 1- WATER HAS LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. 2- VERY NOTICEABLE "WIND NOISE" COMING FROM ROOF SEAL AREA. THIS SEAMS CONSISTENT WITH RECALL # 08V-390, HOWEVER, THIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME, AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH RECALL # 08V-390.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721194May 24, 2015
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT GO INTO PARK. IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED. SUBSEQUENT FAILURES RESULTED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO SELECT REVERSE AND PARK WITH THE SHIFT LEVER, AND THEREFOR, UNABLE TO REMOVE IGNITION KEY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10706473April 19, 2015
STEERING, SEAT BELTS
CAR MAKES LOUD LOUD NOISES AND THEY TELLING ME IT WAS NORMAL NOTHING WRONG I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE CAN SOME ONE HELP ME IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS SENSE I N OUGHT IT AT ANNAPOLIS DEALERSHIP SEAT BELT STEERING WHEEL LOUD NOISES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705574April 14, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO REMAIN IN THE CORRECT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676359January 18, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WE DROVE ABOUT 12 MILES TO A FRIENDS, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, WENT INSIDE TO VISIT. IN 10-15 MINUTES WAS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR BY A NEIGHBOR WHO SAID "YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE". WE CALLED 911, EMPTIED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO NO AVAIL. I TOOK MANY PHOTOS FROM START TO FINISH WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE. INSURANCE TOW TRUCK TOOK THE CAR TO THEIR LOT. THE WHOLE BACK HALF WAS BADLY DAMAGED. AFTERWARDS I FOUND MANY REPORTS OF FIRES LIKE MINE. THE PORTLAND, OREGON MERCEDES DEALER WOULD NOT TALK TO US. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAR SEEMS LIKE A TOTAL LOSS. WE WERE NEVER WARNED THERE WAS ANY DANGER FROM FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667650December 22, 2014
AIR BAGS
I RECENTLY HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON MY CAR. I TOOK IT IN TO AN AUTHORIZED SMART CAR SHOP (MERCEDES BENZ). MB INFORMED THAT THE WIRES FROM THE SEAT BELT UNDERNEATH PASSENGER SEAT WERE FRAYED AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT SYSTEM. AFTER PAYING $400.00, FOR A NEW PASSENGER SEAT BELT, THE LIGHT CAME OFF. READING DIFFERENT FORUMS ONLINE, MANY SMART CAR OWNERS HAVE ALSO HAD EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE WIRES UNDERNEATH BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653909November 10, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. GEARSHIFT MOVES BUT GEAR DISPLAY GOES BLANK AND CHIME SOUNDS. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO INTO DRIVE. IT MAY BE A SOLENOID PROBLEM. VERY FRUSTRATING AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. I NOW HAVE 38,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I EXPECT BETTER OUT OF DAMLIER BENZ. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632335September 10, 2014
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE STARTED NOT GOING INTO REVERSE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE FROM DRIVE. ALSO IF IDLING THEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IT WILL NOT GO, IT WOULD GO TO NEUTRAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629843September 1, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FRACTURE IN THE PLASTIC NIPPLE AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP WHICH CONNECTS THE FUEL PUMP OUTPUT TO THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION ALLOWED GASOLINE TO SPRAY ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS PRESENT WHEN THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619122August 5, 2014
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT INDICATES A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPEN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD GROUND. THE SECOND TIME IT FAILED THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES, "WARNING A MALFUNCTIONING SRS SYSTEM MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED IN AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY, OR IT MIGHT DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND UNNECESSARY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY TO YOU OR TO OTHERS." IN AN EFFORT TO FIND OUT WHY THIS HAPPENING I WENT ON-LINE AND FOUND A SMART CAR WEB SITE ,INDEPENDENT FROM THE MANUFACTURE(DAIMLER AG), THAT HAD LISTED MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURE HAS A RECURRING DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS PLACES OWNERS, PASSENGERS, AND THE PUBLIC, IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610575July 15, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS, SEAT BELTS
THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON. HAD THE DEALER DIAGNOSE TO FIND IT IS AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION TO MULTIPLE CONNECTORS. SERVICE TECH ADVISED BY SOFTWARE ANALYSIS TO USE CONTACT ENHANCEMENT FLUID OR SPRAY. CODE WAS CLEARED. THE SRS LIGHT WAS OUT AND STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. CONCLUSION IS THE SRS SYSTEM IN THESE CARS ARE UNRELIABLE AND SAFETY CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. CHEAP CONNECTORS CAUSING ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE CARS. *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
#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

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