31 of the
475 complaints filed about the Smart Fortwo
are about the fuel system —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
The 90 degree fittings(integral to the fuel pump) on top of the fuel pump cracked and leaks gasoline leading to a potential fire that could cause bodily injury for the driver and passenger. It is noticeable because of strong gasoline smell inside and outside of the car. There are many of the same complaints from Smart Car drivers in various forum.
NHTSA complaint #11661330 — 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.
Since purchasing the car the power steering has been bad. The dealership where I purchased the car and Mercedes refused to fix the issue. There is electrical issues and the gas tank gauge and gas tank have been replaced 3 times. Please do not purchase a Smart Car thecmakers do not stand behind their product. I took it to Mercedes Hampton VA Auto Mall and they are so rude. I have almost died 4 times due to bot bring able to turn steering wheel.
NHTSA complaint #11457487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR HAS MAJOR DELAYS MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL - YOU CAN BE TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AT TIMES AND THERE'S A MAJOR DELAY TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL - THIS DELAY IN GETTING THE CAR MOVING COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CRASH. MOTOR MOUNTS WEAR OUT UNDER 50,000 MILES SEEMS TOO SOON WHEN COMPARED TO MOST OTHER VEHICLES - SUSPENSION (SHOCKS) COME SUPER HARD FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #11413227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING BAD. THEY HAVE BEEN SLIPPING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2016. THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING AND HAS LEAKED INTO THE CAB OF THE CAR. THE GAS TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #11353926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MERCEDES BENZ ON MONDAY 5/4/2020 LETTING ME KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR, A REAR INSULATION MAT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED OUT TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE. I CALLED THE MB DEALERSHIP IN ANCHORAGE AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT WORK ON SMART VEHICLES. I CALLED THE PHONE NUMBER FOR MBUSA TO FIND A DEALERSHIP OR AN APPROVED TECH TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I LEFT A MESSAGE AND WAS CALLED BACK YESTERDAY 5/7/2020 BY [XXX]. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NO DEALERSHIP OR APPROVED REPAIR CENTERS IN ALASKA AND THAT SINCE I CHOSE TO LIVE REMOTE THAT 'UNFORTUNATELY' IT'S MY PROBLEM. I WROTE A LETTER TO THE COMPANY OFFERING THE SAME POSSIBLE OPTIONS TO GET IT FIXED THAT I HAD SUGGESTED TO HIM; 1) SEND THE PART AND I'LL FIX IT MYSELF; 2) SEND THE PART TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP OF MY CHOICE AND PAY THEM TO FIX IT OR 3) SEND A TECHNICIAN TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN ANCHORAGE TO PERFORM THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIR. THE LETTER WAS SENT BACK TO HIM AND HE CALLED ME TODAY TO REINTERATE THAT 'UNFORTUNATELY' MBUSA WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANY OF THESE THINGS AND THAT AS A SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR THEY HAVE FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATION TO ME. IT'S MY PROBLEM TO GET IT TO A DEALERSHIP OF MY CHOOSING. ALL DEALERSHIPS ARE IN THE CONTIGUOUS 48 STATES. I ASKED HIM IF A LAW SUIT RESULTING FROM A FIREY DEATH WAS A CONCERN TO MBUSA OR IF THEY INFORM PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE THE VEHICLES THAT IF THEY CHOSE TO TAKE THEIR CAR WITHIN THE UNITED STATES TO AN AREA WITHOUT A DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN. HIS RESPONSE WAS HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT DEALERSHIPS TELL PEOPLE AND AGAIN, WHILE THEY WOULDN'T LIKE TO HAVE MY CAR CATCH FIRE IT IS REALLY MY ISSUE. SEE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE. SO I AM IN A SPOT TO EITHER PARK IT OR DRIVE IT KNOWING I COULD HAVE A PROBLEM. I CAN'T EVEN SELL IT WITHOUT IT BEING FIXED. THIS IS NOW A FINANCIAL ISSUE & A SAFETY ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11323846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AT 60 MPH WHEN HE SMELLED PLASTIC BURNING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER, SMOKE BEGAN TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM BEHIND THE DRIVER SEAT; NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND WALKED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN HE DISCOVER THAT FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR LEFT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN RETRIEVED A BOTTLE OF WATER FROM THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FIRE BEGAN SPREAD AND COMPLETELY ENGULFED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND THEN DIALED 911. FIRE AND STATE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT. THE FIRE WAS EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED. NO INJURIES OCCURRED DURING THE INCIDENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE FIRE AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WITH HIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT HIM A QUESTIONNAIRE IN RELATION TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
NHTSA complaint #11252270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TYSINGER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON 08/30/2018. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANG AND THEN THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 45 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, BUT IT HAS NOT. THE CAR STALLS AT RED LIGHTS AND DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AFTER IT STALLS.
NHTSA complaint #11129713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL FUSES TEND TO CAUSE ELECTRICAL SHORTS, WITH A/C COMING ON AND OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME, OFTEN WHEN I HIT SPEED BUMPS. THE LIGHTS CAN BE CAUSED BY THIS AS WELL HITTING THE SIMPLE RIGHT CORNER TURN CAN POP THE LIGHT RIGHT OUT. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD THEM THAT IT NEEDS BETTER SHOCKS. I HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHTS BOTH FRONT AND BACK AT A VERY MINIMUM OF 12 TIMES A YEAR. THAT'S RIDICULOUS IN MY EYES.IT SHOULD BE SMARTER THAN THAT!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11123294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING ROUTINE DRIVING, GRADUALLY SMELLED STRONGER GASOLINE ODORS. ODOR REMAINED WITH CAR WHILE PARKED & UNUSED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WHEN ENGINE RUNNING WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. OBSERVED GASOLINE IS SLOWLY DRIPPING UNDER CAR, FORWARD OF THE REAR-MOUNTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FROM HOLE LOCATED IN PLASTIC UNDERCAR SHIELD. HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM LIKELY WITH FUEL TANKS THAT SMARTUSA OR MERCEDES REQUIRED TO BE MODIFIED BY G&K FOR AN EMISSIONS SYSTEM UPDATE PRIOR TO RETAIL SALE, MANY OWNERS REPORT GAS TANK CRACKS WHERE MODIFICATION HOSE FITTING ADDED, OR LEAKS AT THE MODIFIED FITTING DUE TO ADHESIVE OR SEALANT FAILURE. WORST-CASE, RAW GASOLINE OR GASOLINE VAPORS DRIFTING REARWARD ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS LIKE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPRESENT A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. I DON'T YET KNOW THE EXACT SOURCE OF GASOLINE LEAK. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THE SMART FORTWO CATCHING FIRE DURING OPERATION. PRAY THIS DEFECT WILL RECEIVE ATTENTION PRIOR TO FATALITY.
NHTSA complaint #11023751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2008 SMART PASSION, 116K MILES, MAINTAINED AT RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS: CONDITION: VEHICLE IN USE, VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS: "OLD GAS" SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE AFTER A BREAK FROM USAGE OF ~4-8 HOURS. "FRESH GAS" SMELL OUTSIDE VEHICLE NEAR THE REAR, AFTER VEHICLE IS USED. NO SMELL INSIDE OR OUTSIDE IF VEHICLE IS LEFT TO STAND 2-3 DAYS. INSPECTION: NO FLUID LEAKS OBSERVED UNDER CAR. CONDITION IS REPEATING/REPEATABLE. UPON REMOVING RH REAR LAMP INSPECTION PLATE, GAS SMELL WAS FOUND TO BE GREATER. NO VISUAL EVIDENCE OF OVERFILL ON THE FUEL FILLER TUBE OBSERVABLE INSIDE INSPECTION COVER. NO WET OR MOIST DUST/DIRT FOUND IN OR NEAR SAME. INSPECTED UNDER-CAR, FORWARD OF ENGINE FOR EVIDENCE OF LEAKING, NONE FOUND. INSPECTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL RAIL AND FUEL RETURNS. NO LEAKS/SEEPS FOUND. NO INSULATION DEGRADATION FOUND, NO MODIFICATIONS OR FOREIGN MATERIAL FOUND. CONCERN: SIMILAR YEAR/MODEL/MILEAGE SMARTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS HAVING CAUGHT FIRE "IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT". ONE ONLINE RESOURCE HAS DOCUMENTED CRACKED/BROKEN FUEL PUMP OUTLET/INLET/BYPASS NIPPLES (WHICH RESULTED IN AN OBSERVED POOL OF GAS UNDER THE CAR). ACTION: FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE FUEL TANK, PUMP AND VAPOR-RECOVERY SYSTEMS ARE PLANNED.
NHTSA complaint #11021082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS MY WIFE WAS FILLING THE GAS TANK IT FAILED TO BUILD BACK PRESSURE THAT WOULD NORMALLY SHUT OFF THE GAS PUMP. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE. THEN ON MON. THE 19TH OF JUNE AFTER WORK MY WIFE COMPLAINED OF A STRONG GAS ODER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE THE CAR TO WORK ON TUES. MORNING AND HAD THE SAME STRONG GAS SMELL. SHE THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE DUE TO OVERFILLING THE TANK. WHEN SHE GOT HOME ON TUES. NIGHT WE NOTICED A STEADY STREAM OF GAS POURING OUT OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE CAR NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE GAS ONLY STREAMED OUT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. ONCE WE SHUTOFF THE CAR IT WOULD DRIBBLE OUT FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES THEN EVENTUALLY STOP. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON IT WOULD BEGIN FLOWING FUEL ONTO THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ\SMART CAR DEALER LOCATED NEAREST TO ME. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED I STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS POSTED TO CHAT ROOM BOARDS REGARDING A FUEL LEAK AND A BROKEN DISCHARGE LINE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE ENGINE. WHAT I WAS EVEN MORE STARTLED TO FIND WAS LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT VIDEOS OF SMART CARS CATCHING ON FIRE. I SOON DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION WITH THE NHTSA FOR ENGINE FIRES ON MODEL 2008-2009 FORTWO SMART CARS. THE INVESTIGATION NUMBER IS PE-16-016 THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TODAY AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING GAS ON TOP OF THE TANK AND THAT THE FUEL PUMP WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY HAVE NOT DROPPED THE FUEL TANK YET. THEY WITNESSED THE FUEL LEAK USING A MIRROR. IT IS NOW FRIDAY AT 2:15PM PST, AND TO LATE FOR THEM TO START REPAIRING THE FUEL PUMP TODAY. THE DEALERSHIP PLANS TO DROP THE TANK AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP ON TUES. MORNING. I WILL BE THERE TO PHOTOGRAPH THE LOCATION OF THE BREAK ON THE FUEL LINE AND UPDATE THIS COMPLAINT AFTER THAT.
NHTSA complaint #11000905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL LEAK OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN/CAUSE WHILE STATIONARY, FORMING A PUDDLE BENEATH THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. VEHICLE OTHERWISE IN PRISTINE CONDITION. NO ACCIDENT OR OTHER IMPACT TOOK PLACE -- NORMAL DRIVE HOME, GARAGED THE CAR, FOUND PUDDLE IN THE MORNING AND GARAGE FILLED WITH GAS FUMES, OBSERVED DRIPPING FROM UNDERSIDE OF CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10968584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SMART FORTWO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED AND THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 01/31/2017
NHTSA complaint #10933903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR BROKE DOWN ON EXIT 231 B IN VIRGINIA. THE SMART HAD A GAS TANK DEFECT. I WAS NEARLY KILLED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TYSINGER MOTORS IN VIRGINIA MULTIPLE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10914887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.