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FaultScore report

2013 Smart Fortwo problems

Owners have filed 35 complaints about the 2013 Smart Fortwo with NHTSA between 2013 and 2024. The largest single group is the seat belts. Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 9 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Smart Fortwo All 2013 cars
C

FaultScore 50/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Smart Fortwo.

How this is worked out

The numbers

35

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

3

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

12,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

84%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 34 vs 50 Severity 44 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 34
Against the median year of the Smart Fortwo. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 44
8.6% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100
84% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2013 compares with every other Smart Fortwo

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2013 Smart Fortwo

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Seat Belts 7 20.0%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 6 17.1%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 15,950 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 5 14.3%

Median failure at 39,000 miles

Electrical System 3 8.6%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 9,000 mi

Other & Unspecified 2 5.7%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 7,500 mi

Seats 2 5.7%

Median failure at 18,500 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 5.7%

Median failure at 1,400 miles

Body & Structure 2 5.7%

Median failure at 1,000 miles

Equipment & Accessories 1 2.9%
Tires 1 2.9%

Median failure at 13,000 miles

Lights 1 2.9%

Median failure at 1 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 2.9%

Median failure at 11,000 miles

Brakes 1 2.9%

Median failure at 7,000 miles

Airbags 1 2.9%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 5 16.1%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 7 22.6%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 9 29.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 6 19.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 3.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 6.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 3.2%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 2013 peak 3 Dec 2024

NHTSA investigations into the 2013 Smart Fortwo

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

DP22005 Opened 27 Jan 2023 Closed 7 Aug 2023 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM

Pedestrian alert sounds

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 15,000 miles Emporia, KS Fire

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16TH WHEN TRYING TO START MY 2013 SMART FORTWO BRABUS, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLICKING, SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE AC VENTS, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED, FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY ON A CITY STREET AT THE TIME. HERE IS A LINK TO AN ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER: HTTP://WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM/AREA_NEWS/ARTICLE_8D176B4C-1351-11E8-99E4-A352E891F430.HTML AND I'VE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE FIRE DEPT. REPORT.

NHTSA complaint #11074117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,000 miles Redwood City, CA Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SMART FOR TWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANSICO DEALER LOCATED AT 500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CAWHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT DAMAGED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THE REPAIR DUE TO NEGLIGENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A TEN PERCENT DISCOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000. *LN UPDATED 9/7/18

NHTSA complaint #11033202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles SAN Fransisco, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SMART FORTWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY CASING MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CHARGING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA complaint #10766514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Medford, OR

SEAT BELTS

Seat belt anchor to vehicle on driver side of vehicle frayed and broke away with normal routine use.

NHTSA complaint #11628640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nevada, MO

SEAT BELTS

The drivers side seatbelt connecting floor (I think it's the belt force limiter) has a cable that has broken off. This is the 2nd time this has happened to my SmartCar. It is a design flaw because the cable runs against the metal of the seat cutting thru the cable. It isn't usually noticed until it breaks off making the seatbelt complete become broken from the floor. Additionally, SmartCars including this one have a known issue where AirBags become I op (light on) due to connection issue under seat. So now I have no restraints in my car.

NHTSA complaint #11469109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Schaumburg, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Software for power control module is not correspond to the series level Software configuration. Basically it doesn't want to take charge due to the Software issues from manufacturer.

NHTSA complaint #11439125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN

THE GEAR CANNOT GO REVERSE. IT STUCK AT NEUTRAL. I CAN DRIVE FORWARD, NEUTRAL BUT NOT GO REVERSE.

NHTSA complaint #11416476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles Aguas Buenas, PR

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

REGARDING LIGHTNING: WATER/HUMIDITY HAD ACCESS TO THE SAM UNIT AND THE RIGHT-SIDE SIGNALS/STOP LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. REGARDING BODY/OTHER: SOME OF THE CONVERTIBLE-ROOF STEEL FRAME/BARS GOT BENT WHEN CLOSING THE TOP AND THE BENT BARS WOULD PREVENT THE TOP FROM CLOSING UNLESS YOU FORCED THE STEEL/METAL BARS.

NHTSA complaint #11376789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles Aguas Buenas, PR

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

REGARDING LIGHTNING: WATER/HUMIDITY HAD ACCESS TO THE SAM UNIT AND THE RIGHT-SIDE SIGNALS/STOP LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. REGARDING BODY/OTHER: SOME OF THE CONVERTIBLE-ROOF STEEL FRAME/BARS GOT BENT WHEN CLOSING THE TOP AND THE BENT BARS WOULD PREVENT THE TOP FROM CLOSING UNLESS YOU FORCED THE STEEL/METAL BARS.

NHTSA complaint #11376789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles Aguas Buenas, PR

STRUCTURE:BODY

REGARDING LIGHTNING: WATER/HUMIDITY HAD ACCESS TO THE SAM UNIT AND THE RIGHT-SIDE SIGNALS/STOP LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. REGARDING BODY/OTHER: SOME OF THE CONVERTIBLE-ROOF STEEL FRAME/BARS GOT BENT WHEN CLOSING THE TOP AND THE BENT BARS WOULD PREVENT THE TOP FROM CLOSING UNLESS YOU FORCED THE STEEL/METAL BARS.

NHTSA complaint #11376789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,300 miles Sheridan, WY

POWER TRAIN

DRIVER SEATBELT WILL NOT STAY IN TENSION RING. AT TIMES STUCK IN PARK & WHEN UNSTUCK WILL NOT ENGAGE ANY GEAR AND STOPPING AT RED LIGHT WHILE IN DRIVE SOON AFTER STARTING CAR IT WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS ENGAGED. IN ALL CASES ENGINE MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN TURN TO POWER ON ONLY FOR 10 TO TWENTY MINUTES DURING WHICH EVENTUALLY CLICKING/CLUNKING SOUNDS ARE HEARD. AFTER HEARING THESE SOUNDS START AND SHIFT. REPEAT SOMETIMES TWICE BEFORE TRANSMISSION UNLOCKS. YOU MUST LEAVE ONE HOUR EARLY TO WORK OR APPOINTMENTS ANTICIPATING TRANSMISSION LOCKUP AND RESET PROCESS. USING THE YELLOW LEVER UNDER SHIFT CONSOLE WILL UNLOCK SHIFTER BUT WILL NOT AIDE WITH GEARS ENGAGING. USING GOOGLE SEARCH I FOUND OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11354621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,300 miles Sheridan, WY

SEAT BELTS

DRIVER SEATBELT WILL NOT STAY IN TENSION RING. AT TIMES STUCK IN PARK & WHEN UNSTUCK WILL NOT ENGAGE ANY GEAR AND STOPPING AT RED LIGHT WHILE IN DRIVE SOON AFTER STARTING CAR IT WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS ENGAGED. IN ALL CASES ENGINE MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN TURN TO POWER ON ONLY FOR 10 TO TWENTY MINUTES DURING WHICH EVENTUALLY CLICKING/CLUNKING SOUNDS ARE HEARD. AFTER HEARING THESE SOUNDS START AND SHIFT. REPEAT SOMETIMES TWICE BEFORE TRANSMISSION UNLOCKS. YOU MUST LEAVE ONE HOUR EARLY TO WORK OR APPOINTMENTS ANTICIPATING TRANSMISSION LOCKUP AND RESET PROCESS. USING THE YELLOW LEVER UNDER SHIFT CONSOLE WILL UNLOCK SHIFTER BUT WILL NOT AIDE WITH GEARS ENGAGING. USING GOOGLE SEARCH I FOUND OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11354621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Clarksville, TN

SEAT BELTS

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT MOUNT, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS A STEEL CABLE, HAS MOSTLY BROKEN AND FRAYED RENDERING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IT WOULD CERTAINLY BREAK COMPLETELY. I ONLY NOTICED IT YESTERDAY WHILE CLEANING, THE BREAKAGE WOULD'VE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IT. I'VE CONTACTED SMART USA, AND GOTTEN NO RESPONSE. I'VE CONTACTED MERCEDES USA, AND THEY TELL ME THAT MY WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MANDATORY SAFETY FEATURE THAT HAS COMPLETELY FAILED FROM NORMAL USE.

NHTSA complaint #11327242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,086 miles DES Moines, IA

POWER TRAIN

THIS CAR IS AN EV. WATER IN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WILL NOT LET THE CAR RECHARGE. WATER AND MUD IN THE 12V POWER CABLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE BATTERY PACK HAS CAUSED A 12V POWER CABLE FITTING TO CRACK. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE CAR. THESE PROBLEMS WILL NOT LET THE CAR RECHARGE! THIS IS NOT A FLOOD CAR! IT HAS 76,087 MILE ON IT!!!!! MY DEALER IS A JOKE! I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY FOR 8 MONTHS. ALSO THE KEY FOB IS BROKEN. THIS ALSO WILL NOT LET ME DRIVE MY CAR. I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS PIECE OF JUNK! (XXXXXX) OWNER. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11315586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,086 miles DES Moines, IA

ENGINE

THIS CAR IS AN EV. WATER IN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WILL NOT LET THE CAR RECHARGE. WATER AND MUD IN THE 12V POWER CABLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE BATTERY PACK HAS CAUSED A 12V POWER CABLE FITTING TO CRACK. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE CAR. THESE PROBLEMS WILL NOT LET THE CAR RECHARGE! THIS IS NOT A FLOOD CAR! IT HAS 76,087 MILE ON IT!!!!! MY DEALER IS A JOKE! I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY FOR 8 MONTHS. ALSO THE KEY FOB IS BROKEN. THIS ALSO WILL NOT LET ME DRIVE MY CAR. I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS PIECE OF JUNK! (XXXXXX) OWNER. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11315586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Hillsboro, OR

SEATS

RED LIGHT WITH SEAT WITH A RED DOT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND LOOKED UP WHAT THE SYMBOL MEANT. WHEN IT DIDN'T INVOLVE OIL OR WATER, I DROVE IT TO DEALER. THEY PERFORMED 30,000 MILE SERVICE AND WHEN I DROVE IT HOME IT STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #11203624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Hillsboro, OR

SEAT BELTS

RED LIGHT WITH SEAT WITH A RED DOT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND LOOKED UP WHAT THE SYMBOL MEANT. WHEN IT DIDN'T INVOLVE OIL OR WATER, I DROVE IT TO DEALER. THEY PERFORMED 30,000 MILE SERVICE AND WHEN I DROVE IT HOME IT STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #11203624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Hillsboro, OR

AIR BAGS

RED LIGHT WITH SEAT WITH A RED DOT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND LOOKED UP WHAT THE SYMBOL MEANT. WHEN IT DIDN'T INVOLVE OIL OR WATER, I DROVE IT TO DEALER. THEY PERFORMED 30,000 MILE SERVICE AND WHEN I DROVE IT HOME IT STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #11203624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Port Townsend, WA

SEAT BELTS

LEFT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS CONNECTED BY A CABLE TO THE CAR BODY. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE HAD FAILED AND ONLY A COUPLE OF STRANDS WERE HOLDING THE SEAT BELT TO THE CAR. MY WIFE DISCOVERED IT BY ACCIDENT WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. PHOTOS ATTACHED. MERCEDES CHARGED ME $450 TO REPLACE SEAT BELTS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #11192294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Laurinburg, NC

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK IN PARK AND SOMETIMES SEEMS LIKE IT STRUGGLES TO CHANGE GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #11131952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Emporia, KS Fire

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16TH WHEN TRYING TO START MY 2013 SMART FORTWO BRABUS, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLICKING, SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE AC VENTS, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED, FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY ON A CITY STREET AT THE TIME. HERE IS A LINK TO AN ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER: HTTP://WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM/AREA_NEWS/ARTICLE_8D176B4C-1351-11E8-99E4-A352E891F430.HTML AND I'VE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE FIRE DEPT. REPORT.

NHTSA complaint #11074117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,000 miles Redwood City, CA Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SMART FOR TWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANSICO DEALER LOCATED AT 500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CAWHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT DAMAGED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THE REPAIR DUE TO NEGLIGENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A TEN PERCENT DISCOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000. *LN UPDATED 9/7/18

NHTSA complaint #11033202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,000 miles SAN Diego, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

THE "BRAKE MALF" LIGHT WENT ON AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN HILL, COMING HOME FROM WORK. I PULLED TO A SIDE STREET. THE BREAK WOULD WORK IF YOU PRESSED REALLY HARD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SMART DEALERSHIP.THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT WATER LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT AND CORRODED THE FUSE BOX CONNECTED TO THE BREAKS. I ASKED HOW WATER COULD GET THERE HE SAID FROM A SPILL. I INFORMED HIM THAT NOTHING HAS SPILLED ON THAT SIDE AND ASKED IF IT COULD BE FROM THE RAIN OR LEAKING WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID. HE SAID THE RAIN CAN'T GET IN UNLESS THE CAR WINDOW OR DOOR IS OPEN AND THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID IS SOMEWHERE ELSE. THERE WAS NO SPILL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SO I AM NOT SURE HOW THE FUSE BOX GOT CORRODED. EVEN IF THERE WAS A SPILL, HOW CAN A SPILL INSIDE YOUR OWN CAR CAUSE THE BREAKS TO MALFUNCTION!?? THEY NEED TO FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW!!!! HAVING YOUR BRAKES NOT WORK IS A DEADLY SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER TO BE IN.

NHTSA complaint #10824087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,000 miles Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR HESITATED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS SLOW TO RESPOND AND ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, BRAKES, AND ROTORS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO CHANGE GEARS BACK AND FORTH DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION BEING SLOW TO CHANGE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MORE THAN TWO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA complaint #10810493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,000 miles Chicago, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR HESITATED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS SLOW TO RESPOND AND ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, BRAKES, AND ROTORS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO CHANGE GEARS BACK AND FORTH DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION BEING SLOW TO CHANGE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MORE THAN TWO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA complaint #10810493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles SAN Fransisco, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SMART FORTWO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY CASING MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CHARGING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA complaint #10766514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,900 miles Pahrump, NV

ENGINE

ONE OF THE TWO V BELT FOR THE ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY I GET TO PULL OVER WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HEARD THE BELT SNAP WHILE DRIVING AND IT A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SMART CAR. HTTP://WWW.EVILUTION.CO.UK/INFO/MHD_BELT_FAILURE.HTM.

NHTSA complaint #10743284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED BRIEFLY AND WENT OFF. WITHIN ONE MILE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. AS I SLOWED TO A STOP, A LARGE CLOUD OF STEAM ERUPTED. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH AND MOST OF THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. NO EXPLANATION OF LACK OF WARNING LAMPS. A SECOND TWO WEEK TRIP TO THE DEALER WAS NEEDED TO RESOLVE ALL THE ISSUES. CAR STILL HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON

NHTSA complaint #10608766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.