2008 Smart Fortwo Body & structure Problems

2008 SMART FOR TWO PASSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR INSULATION MAT SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11364972

Incident

Apr 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INADVERTENTLY TURN OFF WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHED. THE LOCATION FOR THE KEY WAS PLACED BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED MIDSTATE AUTO GROUP INC. AT (508) 832-8886 (LOCATED AT 810 WASHINGTON ST, AUBURN, MA 01501) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF DID NOT COMPLETELY CLOSE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11111657

Incident

Apr 27, 2018

Mileage

39,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11001183

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

22,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10959578

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING REAR MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10924311

Incident

Oct 17, 2016

Mileage

35,756 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10722518

Incident

May 21, 2013

Mileage

24,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10577127

Incident

Mar 28, 2014

Mileage

41,547 mi

THE PLASTIC COMPOSITE MATERIAL THAT MAKES UP THE CLEAR ROOF PANEL ON SMART FORTWO PASSION MODELS HAS BEEN KNOWN TO "CRAZE" OR HAZE OVER WITH FINE MARKS, THAT CATCH AND REFLECT THE SUN. THIS MAKES THE ROOF'S MATERIAL APPEAR TO WEAR DOWN DUE TO THE SUN'S UV LIGHT. OWNERS THAT PARK THEIR CARS IN GARAGES HAVE FEWER SYMPTOMS, AND ADVERSELY, THOSE WHO ALWAYS KEEP THEIR CAR OUTSIDE AND EXPOSED TO SUN SEE EXASPERATED ISSUES. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF THE MATERIAL WARPING DUE TO WEAR AND EXPERIENCING LEAKS AROUND THE EDGES. AS THE PANEL IS NOT A SUN ROOF, BUT INSTEAD THE VEHICLE'S ROOF ITSELF, THE PROBLEM IS NOT CHEAP TO REPAIR. THE MATERIAL HAS BEEN KNOWN TO "CRAZE" SINCE THE SMART FORTWO WAS UPDATED IN 2008, AND AS OF 2012 THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489288

Incident

Nov 17, 2011

Mileage

17,500 mi