2009 SMART FORTWO Engine Problems

I SENT AN EMAIL NOT TO LONG AGO REGARDING MY SMARTFORTWO. I WANTED TO CANCEL OR DELETE MY COMPLAINT. APPEARS THAT MY ISSUE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH KEY REPROGRAMMING. MY ISSUE IS LIKELY CLUTCH / ACTUATOR ISSUE. PLEASE CANCEL, DELETE, IGNORE THE COMPLAINT THAT IS IN ERROR. *TR

TODAY I RECEIVED A THIRD (3RD) RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR MY 2009 SMART FOUR TWO COUPE REAR ENGINE INSULATION MAT. THE NOTICE STATES THE CURRENT MAT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF FIRE. EACH TIME I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER (55 MILES DISTANT) THEY HAVE INFORMED THEY ARE OUT OF STOCK OF THIS ITEM. I'VE ASKED THEM TO NOTIFY ME WHEN THE ITEM IS IN STOCK. I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS APPARENT FIRE HAZARD. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO INSTALL THIS EASY FIX IF THEY WOULD SEND ME THE INSULATION PAD ITSELF.

Mileage: 56,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AND REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING). MERCEDES-BENZ OF WESTMINISTER (LOCATED AT 10391 WESTMINISTER BLVD, WESTMINISTER, CO 80020, 303-410-7800) PERFORMED THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A BOOMING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE AND/OR RADIO WERE ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

Mileage: 55,000

2009 SMART FORTWO PURE/PASSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SAFETY NHTSA RECALL NOTICE #18V273. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS TO ARRANGE HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED LOCALLY DUE TO THE CONSUMER'S DISABILITY. THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT THAT THE CONSUMER FOUND REASONABLE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ OF EDISON (LOCATED AT 910 US-1, EDISON, NJ 08817, (732) 394-1870) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Mileage: 89,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT HEAT COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR CARPET AND PLASTIC FROM THE TRUNK COVER CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF TAMPA (LOCATED AT 4400 N DALE MABRY HWY, TAMPA, FL 33614, (813) 579-2138) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED EMAIL ID NUMBER: 1-KEMGKL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,232.

Mileage: 58,232

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF BEDFORD (18122 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146, (440) 439-0100) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN AND CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF TYSONS CORNER IN VIENNA, VA (703-442-8200) AND REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

I WAS ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, AS I MOVED TO THE SHOULDER IT DIED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE RADIO CUT OFF, THE HORN STAYED ON, ALL THE WIPERS WENT FULL FORCE AND THE DOORS LOCKED. WHEN I FINALLY KICKED THE DOOR OPEN I WENT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE GOOD. I BEGAN SO SMELL BURNING PLASTIC AND WENT TO THE DRIVER SIDE AGAIN. WHEN I GOT THERE, THERE WERE FLAMING DRIPS COMING FROM UNDER THE PANELS. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THEM OUT BUT IT WAS FUTILE. I REMOVED MYSELF FROM THE SITUATION AND CALLED FIRE RESCUE. THE WHOLE THING TOOK 2 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WAS TOAST

Mileage: 67,000

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

Mileage: 50,000

CAR CONTINUE TO THROW OUT P0302 CODE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY MANUFACTURER AVOUT VALVE NOT SEATING PROPERLY BUT HAVE NOT ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

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.

Mileage: 110,000

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.

Mileage: 29,000

DRIVING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE, ABOUT A 10-15 MIN. DRIVE... FRIEND SAY HE SMELLS SMOKE, LOOK TO THE RIGHT SIDE ONTO THE MIRROR AND ITS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK SIDE OF MY CAR. OPEN THE BACK TO LOOK AT THE ENGINE - A LOT OF SMOKE IS COMING OUT AND AS THE SMOKE IS CLEARING MY FRIEND SEES FLAMES AND WE QUICKLY AFTER GRAB A HOSE AND CALL 9-1-1. DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, FIREMEN SAID NOT TO START THE CAR CALLED AAA. FIREMEN SAID WE GOT LUCKY IT DIDN'T REACH THE GAS TANK.

Mileage: 29,000

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY OVER HEAT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND ABOUT 20 SECONDS LATER THE CAR LOSS ALL POWER. I ALMOST GOT HIT MY THE CAR BEHIND ME, BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 46,057

WHEN I START MY CAR AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT SHOWS REVERSE ON THE SCREEN OR NOTHING AT ALL. THEN MY CAR WILL BACK UP INSTEAD OF GOING FORWARD. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT A FEW TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ME MORE THAN ONCE. THE AIR TUBES IN THE ENGINE ALREADY HAVE CRACKS IN THEM LIKELY BECAUSE A CHEAP MATERIAL WAS USED TO PRODUCE THEM, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FIRES IN MANY OF THESE VEHICLES. IN ADDITION, SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE ALREADY WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR IS NOT EVEN THAT OLD. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

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

Mileage: 29,120

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

Mileage: 63,442

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SMART FORTWO PASSION. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 19,000. UPDATED 6/4/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO ASSIST IN REPAIR COST. THE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 06/07/12 *JS

Mileage: 19,000