2013 Smart FORTWO: complaints, problems and recalls

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503982 at NHTSA ↗

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 E…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522854 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10526050 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN. ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER AND THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE, STOP AND TURN THE CAR ON IN THE RIGHT LANE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545986 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555019 at NHTSA ↗

KUHMO TIRE WENT FLAT AFTER ONLY 13,000 MILES, DEALER RECOMMENDS ALL TIRES BE REPLACED. I DROVE CARS WHEN THEY HAD INNER TUBES AND NEVER HAD TIRES WEAR OUT THIS FAST. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579557 at NHTSA ↗

1ST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A PINE NEEDLE ON DRIVERS SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. TRIED TO REMOVE ONLY TO DISCOVER A HAIRLINE CRACK. CALLED DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE AS IT WAS 99% A ROCK CRACK. IT'S NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY POOR INSTALLATION. THE [XXX] CRACK IS NOW 13 INCHES LONG JUST ACROSS MY LINE OF VISION. MY MILEAGE IS JUST OVER 5000 MILES AFTER 9 MONTHS OF USE AND FIND IT MORE THAN DIFFICULT TO PAY OVER 800.00 FOR REPLACEMENT OF SOMETHING THAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587577 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608766 at NHTSA ↗