smart Fortwo Complaints (2009)

111 consumer complaints on file.

#11075348February 27, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FAILURE TO REVERSE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE CAR IS IN PARK WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073368February 17, 2018
POWER TRAIN
ON FIVE OCCASIONS, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY SMART CAR SHIFTED IN TO NEUTRAL BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN DRIVE, THE INDICATOR BELOW THE SPEEDOMETER WAS BLANK, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS PROBLEM ALWAYS SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEM WITH A COMPUTER REPROGRAM. AFTER THE "REPAIR" THE CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING COMPLETELY LOSES POWER AND ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11071857February 8, 2018
VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING ON 2/7/2018 THE VEHICLES BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. ON RETURNING HOME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MANY VEHICLE OWNERS ALSO HAVE HAD THE BLOWER MOTORS FAIL ON THEIR VEHICLES. ONE PERSON REPORTED 3 FAILURES. ANOTHER REPORTED THAT HIS DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT SEVERAL "BAD" BLOWER MOTORS WERE SENT OUT. WAS FORCED TO DRIVE HOME ON -4 DEGREE WEATHER WITHOUT DEFROSTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11042163November 1, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I REPRESENT THE OWNERS OF THIS 2009 SMART FORTWO VEHICLE. MY CLIENT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AFTER WORK AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, MY CLIENT WAS AWOKEN BY HIS SON WHO SMELLED SMOKE. MY CLIENT FOLLOWED THE SMOKE TO THE GARAGE WHERE HE FOUND THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. IT APPEARED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE SPREAD QUICKLY THROUGHOUT THE GARAGE AND INTO THE HOUSE. THE PROPERTY DAMAGE IS EXTENSIVE, INCLUDING TOTALING BOTH VEHICLES IN THE GARAGE AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE HOME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11035884October 23, 2017
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT LATCH, I'M USING THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT FOR NOW. I CAN'T HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF THAT BROKEN SEATBELT. THIS HAPPENED ALREADY BEFORE, MAYBE A YEAR AGO AND MERCEDES BENZ OF GEORGETOWN WANTED ME TO PAY FOR IT AFTER BEING FIXED BUT I INSISTED THAT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND I SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING FROM THEIR SHOP WITHOUT HAVING IT FIXED. SO FRUSTRATING SAFETY ISSUES THAT NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF IT UNTIL SOMEBODY'S DEAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11023460September 14, 2017
POWER TRAIN
FIRST START OF THE DAY IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO R OR D. IT WILL SHOW P AND N WHEN YOU SHIFT BUT IT WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR FOR REVERSE OR DRIVE. YOU HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT TO SHIFT. JUST SPOKE WITH SMART CAR ON THE PHONE AND THEY DENY KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER SEARCHING THE WEB YOU WILL SEE ITS VERY COMMON. ITS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT SMART CAR IS DENYING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11022045September 7, 2017
AIR BAGS
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR WAS DEMOLISHED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11022108September 7, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR CRACKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11024388August 24, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2009 SMART FORTWO CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE YESTERDAY AND BURNED. WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO THE LOCAL POST OFFICE, THE CAR?S WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES AND THEN THE HORN BEGAN TO HONK AS WELL. I GOT INTO A PARKING SPACE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I SAW SOMETHING COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR BUT NO FLAMES. I GOT OUT AND WENT INTO THE POST OFFICE TO GET MY MAIL. WHILE IN THERE I HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE YELLING THAT A CAR WAS ON FIRE. I RUSHED OUTSIDE TO SEE MY CAR FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I LOST ALL MY THINGS IN THE CAR; LAPTOP, TABLET, CELLPHONE AND MOST OF ALL ALL MY BUSINESS PAPERWORK, CONTACTS, ETC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011774July 31, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, I HAD REACHED ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR JUST DIED. I HADN'T DONE ANYTHING, THE CAR SIMPLY DIED. WHEN I FIRST ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, IT WOULDN'T CRANK. THE LIGHTS, AIR EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL CAME ON, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T CRANK. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, I TRIED AGAIN AND LUCKILY THE CAR STARTED. BUT THIS SCARED ME AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11002583June 30, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PAINT ON MY 2009 RED SMART CAR IS PEELING. SOME SMART CARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BAD PAINT WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF THE WINDSHIELD OR ROOF; THE ADHESIVE IS LAID OVER THE PAINT AND IF THE PAINT SOME OFF THE ADHESIVE WILL TOO; THUS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY CAR WAS ORDERED IN 2008, BUT I PURCHASED IT IN 2009. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE SMART HEADQUARTERS AND SPOKE WITH ADAM. I HAD THE ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPAINT OR REPLACE THE PANELS ON THE CAR. THIS WAS PART OF A "GOODWILL OUT OF WARRANTY GESTURE." ADAM FROM HEADQUARTERS CALLED ME TODAY AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE REPAIRS. I'M SO SAD. I'M A SENIOR AND I SAVED UP FOR 3 YEARS TO GET THAT CAR NEW. I HAVE TAKEN IMPECCABLE CARE OF IT, AND IF YOU GOOGLE "RED SMART CARS WITH PEELING PAINT ISSUES" YOU WILL FINE MANY POSTINGS. I'M STUCK WITH THIS CRAPPY LOOKING CAR. IT LOOKS AWFUL. I'M NOT GOOD ON THE COMPUTER, BUT WILL TRY TO GET SOMEONE TO TAKE PHOTOS AND SEND THEM IN. I HAVE BEEN THE SOUL OWNER OF THE CAR, I HAD WASH IT WITH WATER, AND IT IS GARAGE KEPT. I ONLY HAVE 54,000 MILES ON IT. THE STRESS HAS MADE ME QUITE DEPRESSED AS GETTING IN THE CAR I HAVE TO BE REMINDED OF HOW IT LOOKS. THIS CAR WAS TO BE MY LAST CAR DUE TO MY AGE. SO NOW, WHEN SOMEONE ASKS HOW I LIKE MY SMART CAR, I GIVE THEM THE TOUR AROUND MY CAR SO THEY CAN SEE FOR THEMSELVES. THEY JUST SHAKE THEIR HEADS IN AMAZEMENT. I THEN TELL THEM THAT MERCEDES/SMART WILL NOT MAKE IT RIGHT. THIS IS WRONG. VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10994070June 9, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HELLO. I SAW ON THE NEWS THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT 2008/2009 SMART CARS. MINE CAUGHT COMPLETELY ON FIRE IN APRIL OF 2012 WHILE DRIVING. I DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO COMPLAIN TO OTHER THAN THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL I SAW THE NEWS. I BOUGHT MY SMART CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2009. WITH IN 9 MONTHS I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IT WOULD START TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING THE TURN BACK ON ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER. I TOOK IT IN 4 TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WAS WAS WRONG WITH IT AND WOULD RETURN IT BACK. ON THE 4TH TIME I DID BRING UP THE LEMON LAW AND THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR A COUPLE WEEKS. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR STARTED GOING ELECTRONICALLY HAYWIRE. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE GOING CRAZY AND THE DASHBOARD WAS TURNING OFF AND ON. I PULLED OVER ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE IMMEDIATELY. MY SHIFTER WAS STICK FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND ONCE I PUT IT ON PARK, I TOOK OUT THE KEYS. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON THE WIPERS STARTED GOING CRAZY AGAIN, THE DASHBOARD WENT BLANK, THE DOORS WERE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AND THE HORN WAS GOING OFF. THERE WAS A WEIRD SMELL AND I LOOKED UP AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF BY THE INSIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD. I GOT SCARED AND IMMEDIATELY GO OUT ONCE THE LOCKS UNLOCKED. AS I OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR TO GET MY PURSE, I NOTICED FLAMES BY THE PEDALS AND A BLACK BOX THAT MELTED THROUGH THE CAR. I CALLED 911 AS I POURED WATER FROM MY WATER BOTTLE. THAT DID NOT HELP. THE FRONT OF THE CAR BY THEN WAS ON FIRE. I GRABBED MY TWO BOXES FROM MY TRUNK AND WALKED THE THE EMERGENCY LANE AS FAR AS I COULD UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. I HAVE SAVED ALL THE TIMES I TOOK MY CAR TO GET CHECKED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE I TOOK MY CAR
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
#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
#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
#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
#10927312November 21, 2016
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ON. NO ACCIDENT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10915682October 13, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE IS THIS HORRIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 SMART FORTWO RALLY RED! THE CLEARCOAT IS PEELING FOR NO REASON AND THERE IS AT LEAST 60 PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WITH PROOF AND STATEMENTS TO PROVE IT! MERCEDES/SMART SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL OR REPLACE THESE PANELS FREE OF CHARGE! THIS RUINS THE INTEGRITY OF THE CAR AND EVEN THE DEALERSHIP WONT HELP OUT BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY OR IM NOT "LOYAL ENOUGH" TO THE DEALERSHIP! MY AND EVERYONE ELSE WITH A RED FORTWOS CLEAR COAT IS PEELING FOR NO EXACT REASON AT ALL, THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW WITH VERY THIN CLEAR COAT, I UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS JUST A FEW CARS BUT WE ARE TALKING MORE THAN 60 CARS AND LETS NOT FORGET THE SAFETY RECALL THAT WAS MADE IN 2008 FOR MESSED UP PAINT AS WELL! FIX THIS MERCEDES! I HONESTLY BELIEVE SOMETHING BAD CAN HAPPEN IN THIS CAR, MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914472October 7, 2016
POWER TRAIN
WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY AND I START IT AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE GEAR INDICATOR INSTEAD OF SHOWING "R" SHOWS BLANK. I HAVE TO TURN OFF ENGINE AND TRY AGAIN. I SUCCEED IN ABOUT 3 TRIES. THERE ARE TIMES THAT WHEN I SHIFT INTO REVERSE THE GEAR INDICATOR DISPLAYS "N". THIS EPISODE HAPPENS ABOUT TWO TIMES A WEEK. MY OBSERVATION IS THAT IT DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE TIME OF DAY - WHETHER MORNING, AFTERNOON, OR EVENING; OR, COLD OR HOT DAY. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR AT RANDOM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904213September 6, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE CITY HIGHWAY - ROUTE 283 TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AS I TURNED MY CAR STALLED OUT COMPLETELY. TRYING TO TURN OVER IT WOULD TRY TO START BUT NEVER START. CAR HAS JUST OVER 17K MILES ON IT. THANKFULLY I WASN'T IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BY SOMEONE REAR-ENDING ME BECAUSE OF THE REDUCED SPEED AND STALL. I HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE PUSH ME UP TO A PARKING LOT WHILE I WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. A MONTH LATER I AM STILL WAITING ON A REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP. THE ORIGINAL BOSCH KEEPS BLOWING FUSES AND STALLING OUT. MY MECHANIC TEST DROVE IT AND HE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO HIS SHOP AS WELL BECAUSE OF A STALL/BLOWN FUSE BECAUSE OF THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE. THESE FUEL PUMPS SEEM TO BE ON BACK ORDER BECAUSE LOTS OF SMART CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AT THE MOMENT WITH THEIR BOSCH FUEL PUMPS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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