I AM THE OWNER OF HTTP://WWW.SMARTCARSUCKS.COM . I CREATED THIS WEBSITE WHICH HAS DOCUMENTED EVERY INSTANCE OF A SMART CAR FIRE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND ON THE WEB SINCE 2012. MY COMPLETE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT FOLLOWED IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT WEBSITE. AT THE TIME I BELIEVED THAT EVERY CAR FIRE WAS DOCUMENTED BY THE…
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I AM THE OWNER OF HTTP://WWW.SMARTCARSUCKS.COM . I CREATED THIS WEBSITE WHICH HAS DOCUMENTED EVERY INSTANCE OF A SMART CAR FIRE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND ON THE WEB SINCE 2012. MY COMPLETE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT FOLLOWED IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT WEBSITE. AT THE TIME I BELIEVED THAT EVERY CAR FIRE WAS DOCUMENTED BY THE POLICE AND WOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE PROPER REPORTING AGENCY WHICH IS WHY I NEVER REPORTED IT BEFORE. I SAW THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OF THESE CARS WHICH IS WHY I AM REPORTING IT NOW. IF YOU NEED ANYMORE INFORMATION I CAN BE CONTACTED.
NHTSA ODI #10944676
54,000 miles · Jan 3, 2017
Unknown Or OtherFire
I WAS IN AN OFFICE BUILDING WHEN I A CITY FIRE MARSHAL CAME IN AND INFORMED ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I FOUND THIS TO BE VERY HARD TO BELIEVE AS IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR AND ONE HALF. THE FIRE DEPT. HAD BROKEN MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, OPENED THE CAR AND SPRAYED IT WITH CHEMICALS. I WAS INFORMED THE…
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I WAS IN AN OFFICE BUILDING WHEN I A CITY FIRE MARSHAL CAME IN AND INFORMED ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I FOUND THIS TO BE VERY HARD TO BELIEVE AS IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR AND ONE HALF. THE FIRE DEPT. HAD BROKEN MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, OPENED THE CAR AND SPRAYED IT WITH CHEMICALS. I WAS INFORMED THE FIRE HAD STARTED FROM WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY AND DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT ATTENDED NOR WAS THE ENGINE HOT AS IT HAD NOT BEEN IN USE FOR SOME TIME. HAD IT BEEN IN A CLOSED GARAGE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.
NHTSA ODI #10939504
110,000 miles · Aug 31, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other
VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE, FOUND VEHICLE BATTERY BOX AND PASSENGER SEAT FLOODED DUE TO THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION TUBE JOINT LOCATED IN THE BATTERY BOX DISCONNECTED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE WILL NOT START, EVEN AFTER EMPTYING THE WATER FROM THE BATTERY BOX AND RECHARGING THE BATTERY. HAVE A READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS…
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VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE, FOUND VEHICLE BATTERY BOX AND PASSENGER SEAT FLOODED DUE TO THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION TUBE JOINT LOCATED IN THE BATTERY BOX DISCONNECTED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE WILL NOT START, EVEN AFTER EMPTYING THE WATER FROM THE BATTERY BOX AND RECHARGING THE BATTERY. HAVE A READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE ON THE SMART BLOG. POSSIBLE ELECTRIC SHOCK ISSUE AS WELL AS ALL ELECTRICAL AND LIGHTS OUT.
NHTSA ODI #10899842
29,650 miles · May 24, 2015
Equipment Adaptive/mobilityUnknown Or Other
SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT GO INTO PARK. IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED. SUBSEQUENT FAILURES RESULTED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO SELECT REVERSE AND PARK WITH THE SHIFT LEVER, AND THEREFOR, UNABLE TO REMOVE IGNITION KEY.
NHTSA ODI #10721194
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2012
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury
2008 SMART CAR FORTWO, WAS SOUTH BOUND,WHEN IT LEFT THE ROAD ON THE LEFT AND THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE DUG INTO SOFT DIRT. *BF THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE DRIVER HAD A PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION, WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT COULD NOT BE VERIFIED. UPDATED 01/24/…
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2008 SMART CAR FORTWO, WAS SOUTH BOUND,WHEN IT LEFT THE ROAD ON THE LEFT AND THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE DUG INTO SOFT DIRT. *BF THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE DRIVER HAD A PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION, WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT COULD NOT BE VERIFIED. UPDATED 01/24/12
NHTSA ODI #10445379
28,350 miles · Feb 9, 2011
Unknown Or Other
AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, I BEGIN TO TURN RIGHT ONTO ANOTHER STREET AND THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL. I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I STARTED AND STOPPED THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT GO INTO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. I WAS PU…
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AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, I BEGIN TO TURN RIGHT ONTO ANOTHER STREET AND THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL. I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I STARTED AND STOPPED THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT GO INTO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. I WAS PUSHED INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION BEFORE. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO GO INTO REVERSE. AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR WOULD FINALLY SHIFT INTO REVERSE.
NHTSA ODI #10382221
12,610 miles · Jan 20, 2011
Unknown Or Other
FAILED COMPONENT - AIR CONDITIONER (FAN WORKS BUT NO COLD AIR). OPERATION HAS BEEN ERRATIC. IN THE SUMMER, THIS WAS A NUISANCE. IN THE WINTER, IT IS AS SERIOUS AS BRAKE LOSS! I HAVE NOW HAD THREE OCCURANCES OF NINETY PERCENT LOSS OF VISIBILITY AS A RESULT OF COMPLETE FOGGING OF ALL WINDOWS. THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE RIGHT AMBIEN…
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FAILED COMPONENT - AIR CONDITIONER (FAN WORKS BUT NO COLD AIR). OPERATION HAS BEEN ERRATIC. IN THE SUMMER, THIS WAS A NUISANCE. IN THE WINTER, IT IS AS SERIOUS AS BRAKE LOSS! I HAVE NOW HAD THREE OCCURANCES OF NINETY PERCENT LOSS OF VISIBILITY AS A RESULT OF COMPLETE FOGGING OF ALL WINDOWS. THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE RIGHT AMBIENT TEMP., HUMIDITY AND INTERIOR TEMP. INCIDENTS OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MILES AND WERE VIRTUALLY INSTANTANEOUS (LESS THAN 30 SECONDS). AN AC/HEAT BLEND IS NEEDED TO DEHUMIDIFY WINDOWS. THE LOCAL DEALER HAD THIS CAR FOR ONE WEEK (OCT 15 TO OCT 23, 2010 WHILE IT WAS STILL A NUISANCE PROBLEM). DID NOT REPAIR BECAUSE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. FIRST COMPLETE LOSS OF VISIBILITY ON THIS CAR OCCURRED ON NOV. 5TH. WHEN I WAS INFORMED BY MY DEALER THAT THERE WERE NO SERVICE BULLETINS, A LETTER WAS SENT TO SMART CUSTOMER SERVICE (ADDRESS PROVIDED BY LOCAL DEALER) IN BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI. ON NOV. 17, 2010 AND RECEIVED BY THEM ON NOV. 19TH. NO RESPONSE TO DATE. REPEAT PHONE CALLS RESULTED IN NO SOLUTION. MY FINAL ATTEMPT WAS STOPPING AT THE DEALER ON JAN 17TH TO DETERMINE IF A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR, NO BULLETINS HAD BEEN ISSUED AND I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS COMPLAINT. MY THREE INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS ALLOWING ME TO SAFELY MOVE MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND PLAY WITH THE CONTROLS UNTIL THE AC KICKED IN. MY GREATEST CONCERN IS HAVING THIS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED OR HAVING A GUARD RAIL PREVENT A SAFE STOP! (THIS DID HAPPEN WITH THEIR LOANER ON WALDEN CREEK RD WHICH, FORTUNATELY, IS A VERY LITTLE TRAVELED MOUNTAIN ROAD. I WAS FORCED TO STOP ON THE ROAD & PLAY WITH CONTROLS UNTIL AC KICKED IN. THAT VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. DATE OF OCCURRENCE FOR THIS NEW LOANER WAS SATURDAY, OCT. 23RD, INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO DEALER.)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2008-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles. The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deteriorate, and loosen over time, allowing the mat to contact hot exhaust system components.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear insulation mat with an improved one, free of charge. The recall began in July 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018060010.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2008-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles. The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deteriorate, and loosen over time, allowing the mat to contact hot exhaust system components.
Consequence: If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear insulation mat with an improved one, free of charge. The recall began in July 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018060010.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2008-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles. The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deteriorate, and loosen over time, allowing the mat to contact hot exhaust system components.
Consequence: If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear insulation mat with an improved one, free of charge. The recall began in July 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018060010.
SMART USA IS RECALLING 43 MY 2008 FORTWO 451 VEHICLES. A SINGLE BATCH OF PAINT SENT TO THE COMPANY DID NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. A RE-WORK WAS DONE IN THE PLANT USING DIFFERENT FORMULATIONS OF PAINTING MATERIALS. AFTER THE RE-WORK WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COMBINATION OF MATERIALS USED TO REPAINT THE FRAME AND CHASSIS COULD LEAD TO DE LAMINATION OF THE PAINT MATERIALS FROM THE BODY AND FRAME STRUCTURES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SUCH DE LAMINATING CAN TAKE PLACE IN THE AREA OF THE BODY WHERE THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF HAVE BEEN AFFIXED WITH ADHESIVE, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE ADHESION OF THOSE COMPONENTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEPARATION. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH IF THE ROOF OR WINDSHIELD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAINT THE AFFECTED AREAS TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SMART USA AT 1-248-648-2451.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA17003 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened Sep 1, 2017 · Closed Aug 21, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On April 30, 2018, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, (Mercedes-Benz) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a defect that could result in a vehicle fire starting from the engine compartment in 42,781 model year (MY) 2008 and 2009 Smart Fortwo cabrio and coupe vehicles (451 platform).According to Mercedes-Benz?s DIR, ?the rear insulation mat within the engine compartment might deform, deteriorate, loosen and over time, subsequently be able to contact hot components of the exhaust system.This could lead to an ignition of the insulation mat and possible fire in the engine compartment.?The US-specification exhaust system has an external catalytic converter packaged close to the insulation mat, where temperatures in the vicinity of the insulation mat reach high values.Over time, these temperatures can lead to a change in the insulation mat's material characteristics and ultimately allow the material to deform. Depending on the magnitude and the specific location of the deformation, the insulation mat could contact hot components of the exhaust system and ignite.Mercedes-Benz will replace the rear insulation mat on the affected vehicles with the improved mat first implemented in the United States in MY 2010 vehicles.ODI?s analysis of fire incident field data reported to NHTSA and Mercedes-Benz show an increasing trend of non-crash fires in the subject vehicles that begins after 4 years of service and accelerates after 7 years of service.The analysis shows that this trend is driven by fires occurring in the engine compartment.Forensic investigations of fires occurring in the past year identified the insulation mat as a likely or possible cause of most of the fires originating in the engine compartment.This investigation is closed based on Mercedes-Benz insulation mat recall.For more information about field data trends and fire investigations, see the closing resume in the document file for this investigation.
PE16016 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened Dec 16, 2016 · Closed Nov 20, 2017
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On December 16, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-016 to investigate eight complaints alleging incidents of engine compartment fire while driving or shortly after engine shutdown in model year (MY) 2008 through 2009 Smart Fortwo vehicles.The complaints appeared to indicate an increasing trend, with all eight fires occurring since January 2015.As part of PE16-016, ODI analyzed information related to incidents reported to the Office by consumers, analyzed field data and technical information submitted by Mercedes-Benz USA (Mercedes) in response to the PE16-016 information request letter, and analyzed non-crash vehicle fire claim data provided by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).To date, ODI's analysis of incidents reported by consumers and provided by Mercedes has identified 27 incidents of open flame fires originating in the engine compartments of the subject vehicles, 14 of which were reported to ODI by Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and 18 involving complaints or field reports to Mercedes (5 of the incidents were reported to both ODI and Mercedes).One incident reported to Mercedes includes an allegation of an injury from smoke inhalation.Nineteen (19) of the incidents occurred since January 2015.Mercedes has only investigated 2 of the 27 fire incidents, and the company was unable to identify a vehicle-based cause for either incident.To further assess incident rates and trends, ODI requested fire claim data for the subject vehicles and eight peer vehicles from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).HLDI collects insurance claim data from companies representing over 80 percent of the market for private passenger vehicle insurance in the United States.ODI?s analysis of the HLDI data, which covered the period from 2010 through late-2016, found that the MY 2008 Fortwo vehicles had a significantly higher claim frequency than its peers and, similar to ODI?s complaint trend, experienced a sharp increase in claims in 2015.This investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA17-003) to continue to investigate the high frequency and increasing trend of non-crash engine compartment fire incidents in the subject vehicles.The VOQs associated with the opening of this investigation were:10676359, 10780222, 10790017, 10820891, 10872656, 10944676, 10916505, 10924311, 10924637, 10939504, 10945296, 10993895, 11011100, 11011565.
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