2009 Smart Fortwo Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owns a 2009 Smart Fortwo. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. The vehicle was turned off, the contact waited, and then restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as needed. The failure had occurred several times while driving. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to brake immediately and drifted to the left. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard for the vehicle to come to a stop. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the ABS was faulty and retrieved Diagnostic Trouble Codes: 1314 and C1443. The contact stated that the front brake pads were replaced by the dealer, and the rear brake pads were replaced by a certified mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired for the failure to accelerate, and the failure persisted. The vehicle was purchased on July 17, 2025, and the seller kept the repair issues with the vehicle from the contact and failed to provide information on the previous repairs. The contact stated that the failure recurred after retrieving the vehicle. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,254.

NHTSA ID

11682335

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

Mileage

74,254 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated that on multiple occasions when the vehicle was parked and the gear shifter was shifted, the transmission would only shift into neutral. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Additionally, the tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact also received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, parts to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11520076

Incident

May 2, 2023

Mileage

37,000 mi

2008 Smart Fortwo has a recall open for reprograming the transmission computer because of rough shifting and bucking while shifting and lugging the engine to much before down shifting. Mine is a 2008 but the VIN was not included in the recall and I am having the same problems with mine. Can mine be added to the recall?

NHTSA ID

11490643

Incident

Oct 24, 2022

CAR DOESN'T SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE .IM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE AND APPARENTLY SMART KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM.THIS PROBLEM IS PUTTING PEOPLE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THEY START AND LEAVING YOU IN THE ROAD..THEY NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND KNOWINGLY PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK. I WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT WHEN I COULDN'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE . I'VE READ AND HEARD FROM OTHERS SMART IS SAYING A SOFTWARE ERROR

NHTSA ID

11310011

Incident

Feb 10, 2020

Mileage

29,600 mi

IINTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN STOPPED OR PARKED

NHTSA ID

11195845

Incident

Mar 29, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, CAUSING THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WORLD WIDE MOTORS, INC (3900 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240) WHERE THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE SAME FAILURES OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. *TT UPDATED 12/12/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11139312

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

41,000 mi

POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE WITH SMARTCAR 2009, VIN: [XXX] INTERMITTENT ISSUE WITH GEARBOX SHIFTER NOT ALLOWING CAR TO BE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN TRYING TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE, OR LEAVE A PARKING SPACE. IF A SIMILAR SMARCARS ARE STUCK ON TRAIN TRACKS, AND CANNOT MANEUVER TO GET OFF THE TRACKS THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A ONE OFF ISSUE, IT IS NOTED ON MULTIPLE INTERNATIONAL SMARTCAR BLOGS, HTTPS://WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM/FORUMS/F4/REVERSE-DOES-NOT-ENGAGE-140961 HTTPS://WWW.SMARTCAROFAMERICA.COM/FORUMS/F353/WON-T-GO-INTO-REVERSE-SOMETIMES-33556/ HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=4IWBPVZKSZE ADDITIONALLY, THE CONSOLE WILL SHOW A FLASHING "D" AND WRENCHES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11131081

Incident

Sep 21, 2018

Mileage

121,000 mi

WMEEK31X09K[XXX] INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY. MOST OFTEN, THIS IS UPON STARTING THE CAR AND ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE NGE FROM P FOR THE FIRST TIME. AT TIMES THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR SHOWS N WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN R OR D. OTHER TIMES IT IS BLANK. SHIFTING INTO PARK AND THEN BACK TO THE GEAR SOMETIMES RESOLVES THE ISSUE FOR THE TIME BEING. OTHER TIMES, TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTING TEMPORARILY RESOLVES THE ISSUE. MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE TO DATE: MAY 17, 2018. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ID

11096611

Incident

Feb 19, 2017

Mileage

62,500 mi

RANDOMLY, AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND SELECTING REVERSE, THE DASH DISPLAY DOESN'T DISPLAY 'R' OR IT FLASHES 'N', AND THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR. MOVING GEAR SHIFTER BETWEEN PARK AND DRIVE SEVERAL TIMES OR RESTARTING VEHICLE HELPS SOMETIMES. THIS WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF NEEDING TO REVERSE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE.

NHTSA ID

11093459

Incident

May 12, 2018

Mileage

60,381 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11078574

Incident

Feb 13, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11073368

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

Mileage

98,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11023460

Incident

Aug 24, 2017

Mileage

23,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10937491

Incident

Dec 25, 2016

Mileage

118,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10914472

Incident

Oct 6, 2016

Mileage

63,000 mi

SEAT BELTS FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES BECAME TWISTED WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. DESPITE ATTEMPTS BY SERVICE TECHNICIANS TO UNTWIST AND REPAIR THE MECHANISM THE SEAT BELTS REMAIN TWISTED. SEAT BELT LATCH ON DRIVER'S SIDE FINALLY FAILED AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES. BOTH SEAT BELTS HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE. ALSO, THE CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE PROPERLY. IT SOMETIMES TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE.

NHTSA ID

10875516

Incident

May 15, 2016

Mileage

25,000 mi

VEHICLE DOESN'T ALWAYS SHIFT INTO REVERSE FROM PARK.SOMETIMES WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE FROM PARK MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. PLEASE PLEASE HELP US GET THE MANUFACTURER THE FIX THIS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

NHTSA ID

10870101

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

47,000 mi

I ALSO HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE AFTER ENGINE STARTS. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 2 TO 3 TIMES A YEAR. IT CAN HAPPEN AFTER AN OVERNIGHT STOP OR JUST A FEW MINUTES. IT ALWAYS WORKS AFTER A FEW MINUTES HOWEVER, A COUPLE OF TIMES THE NON ENGAGING TRANSMISSION ALLOWED THE CAR TO ROLL INTO A VULNERABLE POSITION IN THE STREET. I FELT LUCKY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

10860443

Incident

Dec 20, 2015

Mileage

28,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE ENGINE WILL REV AND THEN THERE IS ONLY NEUTRAL SHOWING. I HAVE NO REVERSE OR DRIVE. THANK GOODNESS WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE HAD A PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I TURN THE CAR OFF AND SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, TURN IT BACK ON AND HAVE ALL THE GEARS. I HAVE TRIED DRIVING IN THE "MANUAL" POSITION BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. LATELY IT IS MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. ONE OF THESE DAYS THIS CAR WILL GET ME SMUSHED. SMART NEEDS TO DO A MAJOR RECALL ON THIS! I AM ONLY THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR AND GOT IT WITH ONLY 18,000 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE 35,025 MILES ON IT. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND GIVES A PO803 CODE, WHICH STATES A CLUTCH SENSOR. SMART CARS CODE SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW CLUTCH! WTH!?? AND IF IT NEEDS A NEW CLUTCH THEN WHY DOES THIS ONLY OCCURR IN THE COLDER WEATHER AND NOT THE SUMMER!!??!! I AM SO PISSED! SMART CAR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR SCREWUP IN THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR! THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES!!!

NHTSA ID

10808393

Incident

Dec 3, 2015

Mileage

21,000 mi

THE VEHICLE FAILS INTERMITTENTLY TO SHIFT FROM BRAKE TO REVERSE OR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, ALL THAT IS SEEN ON THE FRONT DASHBOARD IS A BLANK SCREEN AND THE CAR ALERT SYSTEMS LETS OUT A CONTINUOUS BEEPING DENOTING THE FAILURE OF THE SHIFT. IT SOMETIMES REQUIRES IMMEDIATE TURNING OFF OF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING IN ORDER TO GET TO THE DESIRED GEAR. SELDOM THAT DOES NOT WORK, AND TURNING OFF AND WAITING 10 MINUTES SEEMS TO ALLOW GEAR SHIFTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IN THE REVERSE TO DRIVE FAILURE AS WHEN COMING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ON A BUSY ROAD, IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS OCCURRED AFTER WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS A MERCEDES BENZ SOFTWARE UPGRADE MEANT TO SOLVE IT. BUT THIS IS A CHARGED SERVICE. AS A SAFETY ISSUE, I IMPLORE THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A CHARGED BUT REQUIRED SAFETY RECALL. UPON VIEWING THE COMPLAINTS IT SEEMS A FEW OTHER SUFFER THE SAME DEGREE OF FAILURES. AS THE CAR IS A NICHE BRAND, THE CONSUMER BASE IS SMALLER AND YOU DO NOT HAVE AS LARGE A COMPLAINT POOL AS A HONDA ACCORD, WHICH IS FAIRLY POPULAR AND HAS A LARGE CONSUMER BASE. I HUMBLY REQUEST THE NHSTA MAKE DAIMLER AG AND MERCEDES BENZ USA RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR THIS AND HAVE EVERY SMART ON THE ROAD'S TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPGRADED FREE OF COST.

NHTSA ID

10783535

Incident

Oct 19, 2015

Mileage

38,000 mi

WHERE DO I BEGIN? AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF OWNING MY SMART CAR, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I FEEL MY CAR PULL TO THE RIGHT AND START SHAKING. I PULL SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER TO FIND THE VALVE STEM FOR MY TIRE HAD DETACHED AND MY TIRE WAS NOW FLAT. NOT HAVING A SPARE, I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED TO THE REMAINING 3 TIRES IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS TO A YEAR. WHILE DRIVING THE VALVE STEM WOULD DETACH AND ALL AIR DEPLETING FROM THE TIRES. I CALLED THE SMART DEALER TO BE TOLD THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE VALVE STEMS WERE BOLTED TO THE RIM, WELL CLEARLY NOT SINCE IT HAD HAPPENED TO EVERY TIRE.I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRES WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALKALOID TIMING SENSOR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR MY HEAT AND A/C. MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT EVERY OTHER MONTH. CAR HAS STOPPED BECAUSE A WIRE CAME LOOSE IN THE BATTERY. WHEN I TURN RIGHT OR GO ON AN ONRAMP, I HEAR THIS AWFUL CLUNKING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING IS HITTING A TIN. WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS MY CAR MAKES A SQUEAKING SOUND. WHEN GOING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE...CAR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. MY CAR WILL READ P AND N. I HAVE TO TURN MY CAR OFF/ON MULTIPLE TIMES AS WELL AS MESS WITH MY SHIFTER FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE I CAN GO ANYWHERE. THE CHERRY ON TOP HAPPENED TODAY ON MY WAY HOME TO AKRON FROM COLUMBUS. AS I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A SEMI TRUCK BEHIND ME MY CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED, EVEN WHEN PUSHING THE GAS. I ALMOST WAS STRUCK BY THE SEMI DUE TO THE SUDDEN DECREASE OF SPEED BUT THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. ONCE STOPPED, ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR SHUT OFF. PUT MY CAR IN PARK TO TRY TO START MY CAR AGAIN, NOTHING. MY ENGINE WILL REV BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. WILL FIND OUT WHAT THAT IS TOMORROW HOPEFULLY. CAR WAS BRAND NEW WHEN PURCHASED AND BOUGHT THE CAR 5YRS AND 1 MONTH AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705509

Incident

Jul 20, 2010

Mileage

15,000 mi

DRIVERS SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH AT ALL. MERCEDES WILL NOT PAY FOR IT OR FIX IT AND WANT US TO PAY OUT OF POCKET . *TR

NHTSA ID

10559369

Incident

Jan 9, 2014

Mileage

62,419 mi

THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH NOT GOING IN REVERSE WHEN YOU PUT THE GEAR SHIFTER IN 'R' POSITION? USUALLY AFTER DRIVEN AND THE CAR IS WARMED UP. THE CAR JUST ROLLS WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, AS IF THOUGH IT'S IN NEUTRAL.. WHEN GIVING GAS IT JUST REVS THE ENGINE AND NOTHING HAPPENS.. THE CAR IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AND IT CAN BE DANGEROUS PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE IF IT'S ON A SLOPE. THE VEHICLE CAN ROLL. THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THE 08-09 YEAR. THIS SHOULD DEFIANTLY BE A RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR TAKEN THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555750

Incident

Aug 16, 2013

Mileage

29,120 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A SUBURBAN SIDE STREET WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE CUT OFF AND THE CAR CAME ROLLING TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT TRAVELING FAST AND THERE WAS ROOM TO PULL OVER BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF THE INCIDENT WAS ON A HIGHWAY. A LOCAL MECHANIC COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM SO I EVENTUALLY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH TESTED IT AND FOUND THAT THE COUPLING MOTOR (A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION) WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS RUNNING OKAY NOW BUT THE REPAIRS COST OVER $1,000 AND IT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524174

Incident

Jun 21, 2013

Mileage

63,442 mi

MY SMART IS NOT GOING INTO REVERSE GEAR. THIS BECOMES VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC WHILE EXITING A DRIVEWAY OR PARALLEL PARKING ON A BUSY STREET. OTHER DRIVERS BECOME IMPATIENT ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE CARS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS BLOCKED BECAUSE OF THE SMART UNABLE TO REVERSE. SMART PROVIDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM BUT IT STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH SMART CARS AND THEY BOTH HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO GOOGLE SEARCHED "SMART CAR REVERSE" AND WHAT POPS UP IS GEAR, PROBLEM AND GEAR PROBLEM. THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY SMART OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465413

Incident

Jul 12, 2012

Mileage

7,330 mi

THIS SHIFTING PROBLEM OCCURRED ERRATICALLY SINCE I'VE OWNED NEW. FIRST INCIDENCE WAS WITH SELECTING REVERSE AND THEREBY LOOSING THE ABILITY TO SELECT ANY GEAR MODE (FWD OR REV). THIS ODDITY IS USUALLY RESOLVED BY TURNING THE SWITCH OFF &RESTARTING BUT SOMETIMES BY SELECTING NEUTRAL & WAITING. THE NEXT PROBLEM CAME WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT APPROX 20 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO IDLE & CAR TO COAST AS IN NEUTRAL. THE FIRST 2+ YEARS, THIS WAS RESOLVED BY LIFTING OFF THE GAS COMPLETELY & REAPPLYING. THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALWAYS WHEN ACCELERATING. NOTE: ENGINE REVS FOR BOUT 1/2 SECOND BEFORE FAILURE. MY GUESS IS, IT HAPPENS WHEN IT NEEDS TO DOWNSHIFT 2 GEARS. THEN ALSO BEGAN TO HAPPEN UNDER LOAD (UP LONG HILLS REQUIRING AUTO DOWNSHIFT) ALWAYS SOLVED BY GAS RECYCLE AND EVOLVED INTO HAVING TO RECYCLE MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT. OVER TIME,I LEARNED THAT I COULD PREVENT THIS BY DOWNSHIFTING MANUALLY & NOT WAITING FOR "AUTOSHIFT FAILURE". SOMETIME IN THE LAST YEAR, IT HAS BECOME MORE FRIGHTENING AS IT WILL NOT RECOVER BY RECYCLING THE GAS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE OR MILEAGE IT FIRST HAPPENED BUT I MUST ALMOST STOP BEFORE IT REGAINS ABILITY TO SHIFT/ACCEL NORMALLY. IT IS ERRATIC BUT WAS A LONG TIME BEFORE IT REPEATED ITSELF AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. THEY ARE HAPPENING MORE RECENTLY & A COUPLE OF TIMES IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC & NOW MY WIFE REFUSES TO RIDE WITH ME. I TALKED WITH SMART REP WHEN CAR WAS NEW & HE STATED THAT "REPROGRAMING THE TRANSMISSION" WAS OPTION BUT THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAVE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS 'REPROGRAMMING' DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD IT MAY ONLY SOLVE THE "REVERSE" SELECTION PROBLEM. THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF MY PROBLEMS HAPPENING IN OTHER MODELS OR OF ANY RECALLS, SO MAYBE OTHER OWNERS ARE SLOW TO COMPLAIN LIKE ME. *JS

NHTSA ID

10458572

Incident

Mar 15, 2009

Mileage

150 mi