Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Smart Fortwo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I BOUGHT THE CAR AND LESS THAN TWO WEEKS THE TRANSMISSION WENT THERE WAS FLASHING AND BEEPING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I BOUGHT A 2009 AND IN 2008 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT MODEL FOR THAT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START SOMETIMES NOW AND THE HOOD LATCH IS BROKEN
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.
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.
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
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MOLD DAMAGE DUE TO WATER PENETRATION FROM A CRACK IN THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE SEAL BETWEEN THE ROOF AND THE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,500.
I WAS DRIVING MY SMART CAR TO WORK AT 1:30 AM. THERE WAS SOME SNOW ON THE ROADS SO I LEFT 10 MINUTES EARLIER THAN NORMAL SO I COULD DRIVE SLOWLY. I HAD TO GO UP A HILL AND THE CAR FISHTAILED AND CRASHED INTO THE STEEL RAIL.I WAS GOING 43 MPH IN A 55 MPH ZONE WHEN THE CAR FISHTAILED. I HIT THE STEEL RAIL ALMOST HEAD ON. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY HEAD AND HAVE A SORE BACK AND KNEE PLUS I MISSED A DAY OF WORK. I DO NOT BELIEVE THESE CARS ARE SAFE TO DRIVE IN WINTER DUE TO THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND THE AIR BAGS THAT DO NOT WORK. THANKS FOR READING MY STORY.
WHILE A BODY PANEL WAS BEING REPLACED ON A 2009 SMART FORTWO PASSION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT, UNBEKNOWNST TO THE CAR'S OWNER, THE MECHANISM SECURING THE TAILGATE IN PLACE HAD CORRODED SO BADLY THAT THE TAILGATE WAS IN DANGER OF, LITERALLY, FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. HE REATTACHED THE TAILGATE BUT WAS SINCERELY CONCERNED THAT IT HAD BEEN IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF OR--GIVEN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, LIKE OPEN WINDOWS AND HIGHWAY SPEED--FLYING OFF AND PERHAPS HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED FILING A REPORT IN CASE THIS CORROSION PROBLEM AFFECTS OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. MORE DETAILS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE MECHANIC. TO CONTACT THE MECHANIC, SIMPLY EMAIL OR CALL THE FILER OF THIS REPORT. *TR
THE POLYCARBONATE ROOF HAS CRAZING OR SPIDERWEBBING THROUGHOUT. THIS IS ONLY NOTICEABLE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. I FEAR THE ROOF WILL FRACTURE AND FALL INTO THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED SMART ABOUT REPLACING THE ROOF. THEY HAVE OFFERED TO GIVE ME A NEW ROOF AND I WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION AND SEALANT WHICH WILL COST AROUND $500! FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON LINE THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THESE ROOFS IN 2008 AND SOME OF THE 2009 CARS ALSO HAVE THIS ISSUE. MINE BEING ONE OF THEM. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS RIGHT FOR SMART TO ASK ME TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. I HAVE TRIED TALKING WITH THEIR HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THE ISSUE STATING I FEEL IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS ROOF. THEY TOLD ME MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I MAINTAIN THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURE AND FEEL IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. AFTER REQUESTING TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR NUMEROUS TIMES THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP PUT IN A REQUEST FOR ME. HIS SUPERVISOR CALLED ME AND SAID EITHER ACCEPT THE OFFER OR HE WILL RESCIND THE OFFER. OBVIOUSLY SMART WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I HAVE A CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE ROOF WHICH I BELIEVE PRESENTS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. I'VE READ OF OTHER CARS HAVING SUNROOFS THAT HAVE CRAZED AND THEN EXPLODE. SEEING HOW THE ENTIRE ROOF OF MY CAR IS CRAZED, I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT MY SAFETY AS WELL AS ANY PASSENGER IN THE CAR. SHOULD THE ROOF FRACTURE OR EXPLODE WHILE I'M DRIVING THIS WOULD MOST CERTAINLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE A MANUFACTURER DO A SAFETY RECALL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS LOOKING INTO. THANK YOU. *TR
THE PANORAMIC ROOF ON MY PASSION MODEL HAS BEGUN TO SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE CAR IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CORNER. IT RATTLES WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER A BUMP AND WIND NOISE FROM THE PANEL LIFTING OCCURS AT 50 MPH AND ABOVE. DUE TO THE FORCE EXERTED BY THE WIND AND THE FACT THAT THIS PANEL IS MERELY GLUED TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE -NOT BOLTED, SCREWED, OR OTHERWISE FASTENED- THE CONDITION IS WORSENING AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL I IMAGINE THE ROOF SEPARATES COMPLETELY IN A HIGH-SPEED INCIDENT. (OF COURSE I WILL HAVE THE ROOF REPAIRED BEFORE THIS OCCURS, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE'S TWO-YEAR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.) I FIND THIS POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DEFECT TO BE COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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