general problems of the 2009 Smart Fortwo

Possible safety issue with Smartcar 2009, VIN: [xxx] intermittent issue with gearbox shifter not allowing car to be shifted into reverse. Safety issue. When trying to back into a parking space, or leave a parking space. If a similar smarcars are stuck on train tracks, and cannot maneuver to get off the tracks this could be a very serious safety issue. . Read more...

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!!!!.

I am original owner since Feb 09 (manf 12/08) and its now 7 yrs old and reqs new battery. Lifting up floor mat to remove old battery I noticed sticky red oily substance (unkown source but now suspect battery vapor condensation) around top of compartment (mostly where holddown bracket connects). Removing the battery then exposed corroded floor paint from battery acid. In attempting to clean up the mess, I had to remove the battery vent tube exiting the floor. This tube had a spider nest inside about 2" from opening. Wd40 did not penetrate nests end seals & had to extract spider & nest manually. I can not prove this is safety related but im wondering if other vented battery cars have this vent blockage-corrosion problem and also if these blocked fumes were toxic to occupants of my car? I took some phone photo evidence. On unrelated problem. In the last 1-2 years I also have the peeling top clearcoat problem reported by other owners of 2009 red paint (non metalic) which is primarily on hood panel & other top surfaces exposed to direct sun which leaves the dull red base color of the plastic panels. (this is only exhibited on 2009 red models).

Upon starting car, attempt to shift into reverse. Car shows either a blank where the gear (p, r, n, d) would normally appear, or shows 'n' when shifter is in the 'r' position. If 'n' is showing, car begins beeping as it would if seatbelt weren't fastened. Shifting into 'd' makes no difference, car can only have 'n' or 'p' selected at this point. Car must be shifted into park and then turned off and back on (sometimes multiple times) for the problem to resolve.

Ok the motion sensor stopped working, the radio was drawing 870ma while car is shut off so had to get that disconnected. The heater fan went they replaced the heater fan from my extended warrity but the other two things was not so now im with out a radio that was put in by the Smart car people and when my top is down I have no motion sensor the radio drew so bad of a draw that the battary would die over night while the car was off yes the car was off and so was the radio. I am up set that being it was not my doings at all of the miss hapes of the radio and motion sensor that I should have to go with out a radio or sensor in my 2009 car im now affaid to drive it cause of the prombles and that I have no radio in it or motion sensor. I cant afford to pay the dealer ship or anyone else for a new one I ddint brake it its only 5 years old with 23,000 miles on it please help me.

The car has a problem with not going in reverse when you put the gear shifter in 'r' position? usually after driven and the car is warmed up. The car just rolls when put in reverse, as if though it's in neutral. . When giving gas it just revs the engine and nothing happens. . The car is automatic transmission. And it can be dangerous putting the car in reverse if it's on a slope. The vehicle can roll. This is a normal problem with the 08-09 year. This should defiantly be a recall issue. Thank you for taken the time to read my complaint.

When I start my car and put it in drive it shows reverse on the screen or nothing at all. Then my car will back up instead of going forward. I almost got into an accident a few times because of this problem. This problem has happened to me more than once. The air tubes in the engine already have cracks in them likely because a cheap material was used to produce them, this is very dangerous because it can lead to engine fires in many of these vehicles. In addition, something seems to be already wrong with my transmission and the car is not even that old.