2008 Smart Fortwo complaints

ON JULY 28 2017 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR "DIED". LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR THAT WAS FOLLOWING ME ALSO PULLED OVER AND THE MAN WAS YELLING THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I HAD NO PREVIOUS WARNING. NO SMELL, NO SOUNDS, NO ALARMS--NOTHING OTHER THAN MY CAR DIED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD GOTTEN OUT TO SEE WHAT I COULD OF THE SITUATION (NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED), SAW SMOKE AND SMALL FLAMES SO WENT TO GET KEYS AND CELL PNONE OUT OF CAR AND 2 OTHER PEOPLE WERE PARKED IN FRONT OF ME, HAVING PASSED BY ME, AND WERE YELLING "GET OUT OF THE CAR IT IS ON FIRE" BY NOW, ONLY A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE REAR OF MY CAR WAS ENTIRELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE SMOKE INSIDE THE CAR NOW WAS THICK, GRAYISH IN COLOR, WHILE THE EXTERIOR SEEMED TO ME MELTING BEFORE MY EYES! THE ENTIRE CAR WAS DESTROYED. ALL THAT IS LEFT IS THE BASIC METAL FRAME. SEVERAL BYSTANDERS TOOK VIDEO AND PICTURES OF THIS AS IT WAS HORRIBLE AND FAST. I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO ALERT ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM INITIALLY. IF THE CAR HADN'T DIED, AS FAST AS THIS HAPPENED, I WOULD BE DEAD I AM SURE. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS CAR. I HAD LESS THAN 30000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND ALL MANDATORY UPKEEP WAS PERFORMED (OIL CHANGES ETC) THERE ARE CHP FILES IM SURE, I HAVE A CLAIM IN WITH MY INSURANCE (USAA) AND AS I SAID THERE IS VIDEO DOCUMENTATION OF THE FIRE. AT THIS POINT MY CAR, AND VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IN IT IS CHARCOAL. THE CAR IS NOT SALV

AN HOUR OR HOUR AND A HALF AFTER PARKING THE CAR WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAD SMOKE AND A ELECTRICAL FIRE SMELL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THEY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. THE ACTUAL SOURCE COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. DO I HAVE ANY LEGAL RECOURSE?

NOT SURE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A CANADIAN COMPLAINT (SORRY, USED THE CLOSEST STATE AND ZIP CODE FOR ADDRESS) BUT I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT. AFTER REPLACING THE MUFFLER ON OUR SMART CAR, AS I DROVE AWAY I SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THINKING IT WAS JUST BURN OFF FROM THE NEW PARTS I CONTINUED DRIVING. NOT MUCH FURTHER AWAY AT A STOP A MAN APPROACHED ME AND SAID THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK. I GOT OUT TO LOOK AND THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE QUICKLY INCREASED AND WAS COMING OUT THROUGH THE REAR BODY PANEL SECTIONS. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS. I OPENED THE HATCH ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SMOKE POURED OUT. I CALLED THE MECHANIC WHO IMMEDIATELY CAME AND DROVE IT BACK TO THE SHOP (NOT SURE WHY HE THOUGHT THAT WAS A SAFE THING TO DO?) THEY REPORTED THAT THE FIRE WALL FIRE INSULATION WAS DETERIORATING AND A LARGE CHUNK HAD FALLEN DOWN ONTO THE ENGINE AND WAS SMOLDERING. AS A RESULT THEY RIPPED ALL THE FIRE INSULATION OFF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DOOR HATCH. COULD THIS BE THE CAUSE OF ALL THESE REPORTED FIRES? I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT A FIRE DIDN'T BREAK OUT AS I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY 93 YEAR OLD FATHER.

IT WILL STOP WORKING AND WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE AT ALL THE CAR JUST SIT THERE AND WILL NOT DRIVE AT ALL, THIS IS NOT GOOD WHEN SITTING IN TRAFFIC LIGHTS

THE PANORAMIC ROOF EXPERIENCES WHAT IS CALLED CRAZING WHERE THE ROOF IS COVERED IN FINE CRACKS DUE TO NORMAL EXPOSURE.

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT

AS MY WIFE WAS FILLING THE GAS TANK IT FAILED TO BUILD BACK PRESSURE THAT WOULD NORMALLY SHUT OFF THE GAS PUMP. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE. THEN ON MON. THE 19TH OF JUNE AFTER WORK MY WIFE COMPLAINED OF A STRONG GAS ODER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE THE CAR TO WORK ON TUES. MORNING AND HAD THE SAME STRONG GAS SMELL. SHE THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE DUE TO OVERFILLING THE TANK. WHEN SHE GOT HOME ON TUES. NIGHT WE NOTICED A STEADY STREAM OF GAS POURING OUT OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE CAR NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE GAS ONLY STREAMED OUT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. ONCE WE SHUTOFF THE CAR IT WOULD DRIBBLE OUT FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES THEN EVENTUALLY STOP. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON IT WOULD BEGIN FLOWING FUEL ONTO THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ\SMART CAR DEALER LOCATED NEAREST TO ME. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED I STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS POSTED TO CHAT ROOM BOARDS REGARDING A FUEL LEAK AND A BROKEN DISCHARGE LINE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE ENGINE. WHAT I WAS EVEN MORE STARTLED TO FIND WAS LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT VIDEOS OF SMART CARS CATCHING ON FIRE. I SOON DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION WITH THE NHTSA FOR ENGINE FIRES ON MODEL 2008-2009 FORTWO SMART CARS. THE INVESTIGATION NUMBER IS PE-16-016 THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TODAY AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING GAS ON TOP OF THE TANK AND THAT THE FUEL PUMP WILL

MY CAR STARTED ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN! MY FRIEND ESCAPED A FIERY DEATH BY MERELY SECONDS! I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2008. I HAVE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH IT FOR THE MOST PART AS, OTHER THAN REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, THERE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FOR THE FIRST 100,000 MILES. UNTIL THIS INCIDENT, I WAS CONSIDERING PURCHASING A NEW SMART CAR. MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE FREEWAY YESTERDAY WHEN A DRIVER NEXT TO HIM BEGAN FLAGGING HIM FRANTICALLY AND FORTUNATELY FORCED HIM OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. MY FRIEND FIRST THOUGHT THAT HE WAS LOOKING AT A CASE OF ROAD RAGE UNTIL HIS SAVIOR JUMPED OUT OF HIS TRUCK YELLING AT MY FRIEND TO "GET OUT OF YOUR CAR, IT IS ON FIRE!" MY FRIEND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR, AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS, THE VERY SPOT WHERE HE HAD BEEN SITTING WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES! HE STOOD THERE AND SHOT THE ATTACHED PICTURES AS THE CAR BURNED, AND THEN AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD PUT IT OUT. WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN, I SUSPECT THAT HE WOULD BE DEAD OR SERIOUSLY MAIMED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING SIGN OF ANY KIND PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT! IT JUST HAD IT S 100,000 MILE OIL CHANGE LAST WEEK. I SEE WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. WILL IT TAKE A DEATH OR SERIOUS MAIMING BEFORE MERCEDES WILL BE FORCED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM?

OFTEN TIMES AFTER STARTING UP VEHICLE AND GOING INTO REVERSE VEHICLE WILL NOT REVERSE. I OFTEN TIMES GET STUCK IN SPOTS BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO REVERSE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME.

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK. THE REMOTE LOCKS ALL OTHER DOORS BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK.

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE CAR BUT NO VISIBLE LEAK. LEARNED ON THE THAT THIS 2008 CAR IF PRONE TO FIRE. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM AM I DRIVING A LITTLE WW2 MERCEDES OVEN?

THE CAR WAS IN MOTION THE ENGINE CUT OFF THEN I COASTED TO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE WAS THEN STATIONARY I GOT OUT AND NOTICED SMOKE THEN SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR BY THE TIME I RAN A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY THE FLAMES HAD MORE THAN DOUBLED.

I AM THE OWNER OF HTTP://WWW.SMARTCARSUCKS.COM . I CREATED THIS WEBSITE WHICH HAS DOCUMENTED EVERY INSTANCE OF A SMART CAR FIRE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND ON THE WEB SINCE 2012. MY COMPLETE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT FOLLOWED IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT WEBSITE. AT THE TIME I BELIEVED THAT EVERY CAR FIRE WAS DOCUMENTED BY THE POLICE AND WOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE PROPER REPORTING AGENCY WHICH IS WHY I NEVER REPORTED IT BEFORE. I SAW THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OF THESE CARS WHICH IS WHY I AM REPORTING IT NOW. IF YOU NEED ANYMORE INFORMATION I CAN BE CONTACTED.

I WAS IN AN OFFICE BUILDING WHEN I A CITY FIRE MARSHAL CAME IN AND INFORMED ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I FOUND THIS TO BE VERY HARD TO BELIEVE AS IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR AND ONE HALF. THE FIRE DEPT. HAD BROKEN MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, OPENED THE CAR AND SPRAYED IT WITH CHEMICALS. I WAS INFORMED THE FIRE HAD STARTED FROM WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY AND DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT ATTENDED NOR WAS THE ENGINE HOT AS IT HAD NOT BEEN IN USE FOR SOME TIME. HAD IT BEEN IN A CLOSED GARAGE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCKS WERE LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE BRAKES AND THAT THE BRAKES AND SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000...UPDATED 02/09/17 *BF *CN

KNOW ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION. WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE HALF THE TIME. MAKING IT DANGEROUS IF NEEDED QUICKLY. PARALLEL PARKING ON A BUSY STREET, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, HOLDING UP TRAFFIC FOR A VERY LONG TIME. HAVING TO PUSH IT INTO THE SPOT! MERCEDES SAYS IT IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. BUT THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND THE CAR INSTANTLY STARTS FLASHING NEUTRAL AND BEEPING. CAR SLOWS AND WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. WE NEED THIS CAR TO BE RECALLED! *TR

THE CARS TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SWITCH TO REVERSE INTERMITTENTLY ITS AN ELECTRICAL THINGS

MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE IN THE FLOOR BOARD. HE WAS ABOUT .5 MILES FROM OUR HOUSE AND WENT TO TURN AROUND WHEN HE NOTICED FIRE IN THE BACK/ENGINE AREA OF THE CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN TO A HOUSE TO CALL 911. AS THE HOME OWNER WAS CALLING THEY HEARD THE CAR EXPLODE. THE ENTIRE CAR BURNED WITH ONLY THE METAL FRAME OF THE CAR, SEATS, ETC. LEFT STANDING. IN SEPTEMBER THE CAR PASSED THE STATE INSPECTION. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I ARRIVED (WHICH WAS ONLY MINUTES FROM IT HAPPENING SINCE WE WERE ONLY .5 MILES AWAY) THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THANKFULLY MY SON WAS ABLE TO GET OUT. I'M ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE RAIN THAT HAD JUST STARTED BECAUSE IT SOAKED THE PREVIOUSLY DRY LEAVES AND TREES THAT COULD'VE BEEN ALSO ENGULFED IN THE FLAMES AND CAUSED HOME/PROPERTY DAMAGE TO OTHERS.

WHILE DRIVING REAR MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

IN MY GARAGE I TRIED TO START CAR AFTER EMPTYING WATER FROM FLOODED BATTERY BOX AND ALLOWING TO DRY FOR 4 DAYS. ELECTRICAL CABLE RUNNING THROUGH BATTERY BOX CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH, SEE PICTURE. BATTERY BOX FLOODED FROM A/C CONDENSATION TUBE DISCONNECT IN BATTERY BOX, SEE PICTURE, WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON SMARTUSA BLOG.

VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE, FOUND VEHICLE BATTERY BOX AND PASSENGER SEAT FLOODED DUE TO THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION TUBE JOINT LOCATED IN THE BATTERY BOX DISCONNECTED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE WILL NOT START, EVEN AFTER EMPTYING THE WATER FROM THE BATTERY BOX AND RECHARGING THE BATTERY. HAVE A READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE ON THE SMART BLOG. POSSIBLE ELECTRIC SHOCK ISSUE AS WELL AS ALL ELECTRICAL AND LIGHTS OUT.

2008 SMART FORTWO PASSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT AND FUEL TANK PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH AND THE FUEL IN THE TANK WAS OLD. SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED AN INSPECTION AT A COST OF $414.00 WOULD BE NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,037. *JB

WHILE DRIVING CAR WILL DRIVE FINE..STOP TO PARALLEL PARK OR REVERSE...CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE GEAR..OR DRIVE GEAR.... SHUT CAR OFF TO RESET EVERYTHING THEN CAR WILL NOT START UP FOR AWHILE..... IF AT ALL TAKEN TO SMART CENTER TO NO AVIL CALLED SMART ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS GIVE ME A $500 DOLLAR DISCOUNT ON ANOTHER SMART CAR... AND NO ANSWER TO THE CURRENT PROBLEM IM HAVING WITH A CURRENT SMART CAR CAR ONLY HAS 43,277 MILES

WITHIN 20 MILES OF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED AND SET THE CAR ON FIRE, BURNING THE CAR TO THE GROUND.

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.

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

FUEL LEAK

SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON. CAME ON FOR NO REASON.

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!!

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

THE 2008 SMART CAR, HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY, WHEN ENTERING, OR EXITING A HIGHWAY, OR AT AN INTERSECTION (SPEED CHANGES). THE CAR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN USUALLY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED, FROM UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS BEHIND THIS VEHICLE..THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, WHILE PARKED..SMART OFFERED A SOFTWARE FIX, TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. HAD THAT DONE, THEN PROBLEM PROGRESSED, TO SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, AND STALLING OUT...AT TIMES CAR, WOULD RESTART, BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, INDICATING ONLY A FLASHING NEUTRAL POSITION. AT TIMES, CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL, BECAUSE WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR IT WAS IN...IF WAITED 10-20 MINUTES, OR SEVERAL HOURS, IT MIGHT RESTART, AND SHIFT, FOR A SHORT PERIOD, BEFORE IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN...APPARENTLY IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, WITH THE SMART CAR FORUMS, FULL OF COMPLAINTS, ABOUT THE 2008 YEAR, WITH SMART CO., AT TIMES, AUTHORIZING REPAIRS, AND REPLACEMENT WITH 2009 MECHANISMS, THAT DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 2008 MODEL YEAR. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FOR THE 2008 SMART CAR, MODEL YEAR, BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED, ENTERING, EXITING A HIGHWAY, AT A RAILROAD CROSSING, OR AT AN INTERSECTION, WHERE THE CAR, SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, WON'T SHIFT OUT, AND SHUTS OFF... THANK YOU *TR