The Power Electronics Control Unit (ECM), Part No. A453-900-72-11, and the DC-to-DC converter have both failed, rendering this all-electric vehicle completely inoperable. There is no backup propulsion system. The DC-to-DC converter powers safety-critical systems including lighting, turn signals, and hazard flashers — its failure could cause loss of safety-critical functions while driving. Total repair estimate is $20,560.43. The manufacturer Mercedes-Benz USA denied warranty coverage using a Canadian warranty document for the wrong vehicle model. MBUSA has shut down the Smart warranty portal at the dealer level and their website returns no warranty data for Smart vehicles despite active warranty obligations. Smart exited the US market and MBUSA appears to have abandoned warranty support while warranties remain active.
NHTSA complaint #11730040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have had it for 6 years. And it has been in for repair, at least 7 times in those somewhere around one time per year. Sometimes twice. All for heating 3 times same piece not sure what to do but it always has to do with no heat to car or overheating my insurance through carmax bout to end gonna cost me alot to keep it even though I love the car seems like a massive problem that mercedes should do something about I've called and got tge run a round
NHTSA complaint #11722865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sunday 3/23 I was driving west on 225 heading towards work, all of a sudden the check engine light comes on and all kinds of other lights on the dash came on. I got pulled over and looked in the rear view mirror I seen flames. Quickly grabbed my stuff and got out of the car. The investigation at the time stated most of the heat was coming from the engine
NHTSA complaint #11650674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 Smart Fortwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000(Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed there was smoke coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle had caught on fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle quickly and entered a mechanic shop and a mechanic put on safety gloves to extinguish the fire with a fire hose. The fire was able to be extinguished by the mechanic. The mechanic mentioned that the insulation mat detached from the vehicle and caught on fire. No injuries were sustained. A fire report was not filed since the fire department was not at the scene. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's parents' home where it remained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Parts Distribution Disconnect
NHTSA complaint #11616352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 Smart Fortwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000(Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed there was smoke coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle had caught on fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle quickly and entered a mechanic shop and a mechanic put on safety gloves to extinguish the fire with a fire hose. The fire was able to be extinguished by the mechanic. The mechanic mentioned that the insulation mat detached from the vehicle and caught on fire. No injuries were sustained. A fire report was not filed since the fire department was not at the scene. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's parents' home where it remained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Parts Distribution Disconnect
NHTSA complaint #11616352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mercedes-Benz USA has no service centers on Long Island,NY that might fix the recall issue. For a time they were the only Smart Car service provider after Smart Car dealers were abandoned. MB USA currently will not do the recall and offers no reasonable alternative. The issue is potential engine compartment/total vehicle fire due to compartment insulation failure. Offers no suggestions for doing the recall service except one MB dealer in CT at one time might be able; if I research them.
NHTSA complaint #11613305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact's mother owns a 2008 Smart ForTwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was notified of the recall but informed the contact that the recall could not be serviced at their location. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to a dealer that was 180 miles away. The manufacturer was informed that the owner of the vehicle was elderly and would not be able to travel that far a distance yet was offered no additional assistance. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11612995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer scheduled an appointment at the dealer; however, the dealer contacted the contact and decline to honor the recall repair appointment. The contact contacted two dealers and was informed that they do not perform repair on Mercedes-Benz Smart Cars. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11612872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 Smart ForTwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer suggested that the vehicle be towed to another local dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11611786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz Smart Fortwo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and several unknown dealers were contacted and informed the contact that they did not service Smart vehicles. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11611680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car shuts down while driving. This happens usually after quick stops or sudden starts like at a red light or when a car suddenly stops on front of me. I have had this issue happen to me several times. I have tried contacting Mercedes-Benz and the dealership where I bought tge car but they do nothing. I need help getting this issue repaired.
NHTSA complaint #11598820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The parts were available; however, the dealer list the manufacturer provided that the recall repair instructions were not available. The contact called multiple dealers however services could not be provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11592424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated with a loud whirring noise. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the air intake changeover valves had failed. The independent mechanic advised the contact that the parts needed to fix the vehicle were difficult to locate. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that about a month later, the check engine warning light illuminated again. The contact took the vehicle to the same independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a secondary air injection pump failure. The independent mechanic advised the contact that the parts were difficult to find. The contact found the parts, and the vehicle was repaired. The check engine warning light illuminated again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 58,299.
NHTSA complaint #11585774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11520076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car just shuts off while I am driving. I can tell now when it is about to shut off. I have had this problem since I purchased the car in 2016. I have taken the car to the dealership and called Mercedes Benz several times and they will not do anything. I will die because the car is getting worse and shuts off more frequently now. Can you get Mercedes Benz to help me? They told me that they don't care if I die due to a bad product they sold me. Please help. Please, I am begging you I do not want to hurt someone else due to this bad car.
NHTSA complaint #11517032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We were driving in Greensboro NC this afternoon on the way to my husbands birthday dinner when off of Bridford? Parkway our 2008 smart car passion for two started malfunctioning all lights flashing on instrument panel & brakes quit & another motorist drove up beside us with window down screaming GET OUT YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE!!! We managed to stop on side of road at woods & jumped out car was on fire looked like under back tires and engine in back! We grabbed what we could save & ran. 911 was called & fire and police came. 2 Witnesses also to event we have photos & videos. Our car burned all the way down to frame! Total loss! We could have died because we couldnt see the fire behind us under car & if not for the man we may have blown up!!
NHTSA complaint #11484742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Since I purchased the car from Hampton Auto Mall 757 865 8000 there has been an issue with the steering, brakes, gas system, fuel gauge etc.. The dealership or Mercedes refuses to fix the problem since I purchased it in 2016. I have almost died due to steering problems and gas tank. Please get a mechanic to check the steering and for small tears in your gas tank on Smarts. The dealership I bought my car from refuses to fix issue because of lemon laws the Service Advisor told me so.
NHTSA complaint #11457491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine fire destroyed vehicle while driving on Interstate at 65 MPH. Vehicle was serviced and maintained per manufacturer maintenance schedule at authorized dealer. No prior issues with vehicle. Vehicle also passed emission check on 09/29/2021 with no OBD error codes reported during inspection. Mileage: 60K
NHTSA complaint #11436171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am seeing melted and possible burnt material on the underside of the engine compartment cover and I am concerned for a fire to develop.. i have photos i will send
NHTSA complaint #11433011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact stated while attempting to have the vehicle repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) but was denied repair due to the vehicle being a smart car. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that since the vehicle was not a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, they would not honor the recall repair. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11429035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.