2013 Smart Fortwo

THE 2013 SMART FORTWO PURE EDITION (BASE MODEL) SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. WHEN THE DRIVER LEANS FORWARD TO LOOK OUT EITHER SIDE WINDOW TO CHECK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC THE SEAT BELT BECOMES LOOSE AND WILL NOT RETRACT INTO THE GUIDE UNLESS IT IS HAND FED. THIS ALSO REMAINS TRUE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT APPEARS IT IS BEING CAUGHT UP IN THE GUIDE ATTACHED TO THE SIDE OF THE SEATS. *TR

I BOUGHT A KIT TO TOW A SMART CAR WITH MY RV. THERE ARE 2 BRACKETS THAT AFTER INSTALLATION THEY WILL BE ONLY 0.236" AWAY FROM THE FRONT TIRES DURING TURNINGS. I CONSIDER THIS ISTALLATION AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. I DIDN'T INSTALL THIS KIT AND CONTACTED DISTRIBUITOR AND MANUFACTURER TO TELL THEM WHAT I FOUND. THEY REFUSED TO REFUND EVEN I SENT THEM PICTURES AND EXPLAINED WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. PACKAGE, DESCRIPTION AND INSTRUCTIONS DON'T SHOW IF THIS PRODUCT MEETS THE DOT OR SAE STANDARDS. *TR

IN COMPLIANCE WITH MY 2013 SMART FORTWO VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL, I WASHED MY VEHICLE IN AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH, LOCATED AT A FUEL STATION. UPON THE START OF THE DRYING CYCLE, THE FRONT "HOOD ASSEMBLY" DETACHED FROM THE CAR AND FLEW BACK, STRIKING MY WINDSHIELD. IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF ONE OF TWO PLASTIC CLIPS, LOCATED IN THE FRONT GRILLE. THE CLIP WAS STRESSED TO THE POINT OF BREAKAGE. THIS EVENT BLOCKED ALL VISIBILITY, THEREFORE, CAUSING A POSSIBLE CRASH HAZARD AND/OR A PEDESTRIAN STRIKE. THE EVENT ALSO PLACED RISK TO OCCUPANTS, IN THE EVENT OF WINDSHIELD GLASS INJURY AND/OR HOOD PENETRATION INTO THE OCCUPANT CABIN. IN THIS SPECIFIC INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS AT LOW SPEED, AND RISK WAS MINIMAL; HOWEVER, I DO NOT KNOW THE WIND SPEED OF THE DRYER MECHANISM. IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT SIMILAR EXPOSURE TO SUCH FORCES COULD BE REPLICATED NATURALLY, DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN SUCH CASE, THE POSSIBILITY OF MECHANISM FAILURE EXISTS. FOR INSTANCE: IF WIND SPEEDS/GUSTS AND SPECIFIC DIRECTIONALITY IS COMBINED WITH THE OPPOSING DIRECTIONALITY, AND A MUCH HIGHER VELOCITY OF A VEHICLE (THAN THAT OF ONE IN A CAR WASH). RESEARCH CONDUCTED, AFTER THE INCIDENT, INDICATED A HIGH PREVALENCE OF OCCURRENCE; THIS INFORMATION WAS FOUND ON PUBLIC SMART CAR INTERNET FORUMS, BY THE FUEL STATION COMPANY'S DISTRICT MANAGER, AND MANAGEMENT OF A WELL-ESTABLISHED, NATIONAL CAR WASH FRANCHISE. NOTE: ACCORDING TO THE 2013 SMART FORTWO OWNER'S MANUAL, OWNERS CAN UTILIZE AUTOMATIC CAR WASHES. IT DOES NOT WARNS AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ABOVE DESCRIBED SITUATION. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS STATE: "WASHING YOUR VEHICLE IN AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH: WHEN RUNNING YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH, WATER DROPLETS CAN RUN DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE SIDE WINDOWS. UNSCREW YOUR VEHICLE'S ANTENNA BEFORE DRIVING INTO AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH" (P.154, SMART OPERATOR'S MANUAL, OCT 2, 2012). *TR

I WAS ON THE ONRAMP TO A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 50 MPH SO THAT I COULD MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WITHOUT SLOWING TRAFFIC DOWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER BEFORE THE VEHICLE LOST IT'S MOMENTUM. LUCKILY I DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH FAST ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR ABOUT 2 TO 3 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I TRIED AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED. I MANAGED TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY AND MAKE IT HOME, BUT EVER SINCE THIS INCIDENT I AM TERRIFIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND I WILL GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AT THE SMART DEALERSHIP AFTER THIS INCIDENT. IT HAD ALSO BEEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER WE LEASED IT DUE TO THESE INTERMITTENT ISSUES: A LOUD "POPPING" NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, NOT GOING INTO REVERSE AND ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL (THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR WOULD SAY THAT THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL, BUT THE GEAR STICK WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION),AND NOT ACCELERATING. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN, THE SMART DEALER TOLD US THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUES. IT IS AMAZING THAT THEY WOULD OPT TO IGNORE THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE SMART CARS SINCE 2009. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SMART CAR OWNER CASUALTIES BEFORE OFFICIALLY ISSUING A RECALL? *TR