general problems of the 2008 Smart Fortwo

The contact owns a 2008 Smart Fortwo. After the vehicle was started and shifted into reverse, it failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to mercedes-benz of orlando (810 orlando Ave, maitland, FL 32751, (407) 680-0784) to be diagnosed, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure occurred at least four times previously. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

Tl the contact owns a 2008 Smart Fortwo. After starting the vehicle, the transmission shifter would not switch to the reverse position. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 45,000.

It will stop working and will not go into drive at all the car just sit there and will not drive at all, this is not good when sitting in traffic lights.

The cars transmission will not switch to reverse intermittently its an electrical things.

While driving rear motor caught fire,.

While driving car will drive fine. . Stop to parallel park or reverse. . . Car will not go into reverse gear. . Or drive gear. . . . Shut car off to reset everything then car will not start up for awhile. . . . . If at all taken to Smart center to no avil called Smart all they want to do is give me a $500 dollar discount on another Smart car. . . And no answer to the current problem im having with a current Smart car car only has 43,277 miles.

In traffic, attempting to parallel park, car fails to shirt into "r" must turn car off in middle of road, restart three times to finally get car to engage "r" or "d" to move the car safely out of traffic. 1- this has happened to me many dozens of times, I previously reported a similar problem. 2- I see many other similar complaints. Why has there not been a recall issued?.

The car just shuts off at anytime whiledriving in d your just a sitting duck cant use gear to unlock trammission so it could be moved out of way of on comming traffic, theres no warning the cars is in the shop now, this has happen to other Smart Fortwo owners, its a death trap wating to happen needs to be fixed before more people lose there life, look at gm . 54cent could have saved many lose lives. Please help the public,,.

Put car into reverse. Display would not show reverse nor would it go into reverse. I turned car off, waited until computer reset then turned the key. Car sequenced through the gears to 'relearn' the sequence. I started the car and it still won't find the reverse gear. This is extremely dangerous. Clutch ewas replaced by dealer 5 months ago and software was upgraded.

It was a very hot day and had been driving on the interstate for about an hour. I slowed down to turn onto ramp and car went out of gear (while driving!). Screen went blank. This has happened to me once before in a similar circumstance so I pulled over. Turned off car and found advice on the Smart car forum (this has obviously happened to others as well). After about 3 times of completing the cycle to reboot the system, it finally worked and I continued on my way. The first time this happened dealer did a software update at my cost ($200+) because it was out of warranty. This car is dangerous. . . Will someone need to die before something is done with a recall of these cars?.

I have a Smart Fortwo having trouble with the reverse call the dealer they told me that it was a software problem and that this is the second time that they had to up date it so the reverse would work I have call many Smart car dealers thru out the states and it is a problem so my question is why isn't this a recall because I have to pay for this because the factory warranty is up and my reverse went forward to I don't think its fair that I have to pay for this since this has been an on going problem with these cars please help.

The contact owns a 2008 Smart Fortwo. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into reverse gear and the failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing and the vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000 and the current mileage was 29,942.

Smart car had history of not going in reverse. "r" would not come up on screen, car would just roll forward, hitting vehicle(s) in front. Then for a couple of months, (2 years) car would go into neutral while driving, (even on highway) coast for a while, then shut down, and not restart. If you waited 10 minutes, it would usually restart. If tried sooner, it either would not restart, or only go into neutral. It would not shift into any other gear. The other day, after approaching hill, at red light, car went into neutral, then shut down, and brakes would not respond quick enough since car turned off, and hit two (2) pedestrians, crossing in intersection. Car would not restart, waited 1 1/2 hours, would restart at times, but stayed in neutral, (10/2013). Had to be towed to Smart/mercedes center, quoted me $3000, to change actuater, clutch motor, clutch press, clutch plate, and maybe more if need to replace clutch. Smart forums are all full of the same problems, with the Smart cars, especially the 2008. Manufacturer must have been made aware by now, but is ignoring the problem, apparently changed design and clutch plate assembly for 2009 Smart cars. But has not recalled 2008 year where problems are common, and very dangerous.

Driving on interstate on a hot day. After approx. 1 hour of driving, slowed down to change lanes, put on brakes, screen went blank and there were no gears. Nothing. . . The car was still running, but there was no way to move, as if it was in neutral. Went online and found that other owners had same problem. Went through a computer reset and it ran fine. Took it to dealer and they charged me $200 for a software update (after I had to rent a car for $300 to get home).

Vehicle started not going into reverse when shifting into reverse from drive. Also if idling then shifting into reverse it will not go, it would go to neutral.