The Two Things You Need To Watch Out For
After speaking with other owners, one which spent considerable time talking to the mechanic at the Smart dealership, there seems to be two issues that are known, one of them rather major.
1. The shifter has a defect that will, one day, fail to shift your car into gear. If you shift into reverse, then put it into D, the shifter may fail. If it starts working again you need to contact Smart FAST before it fails completely and you're stuck somewhere waiting for a flatbed.
2. Your engine light will come on eventually. Don't let anyone just reset it, they just need to replace a simple $40.00 part. I have forgotten what the error code is but it has to do with the injection system/computer.
3. If you have the sunroof with the screen, it works like blinds. If you roll it back from a closed position to half open then close it again, it may, or will eventually, do what blinds do and stop working properly. The solution is to "finish what you start"... don't close after opening half way.
4. The radio will turn on when the car starts every time. Damned annoying to me but not a deal-breaker.
Okay, that's four things, two rather minor.
The maintenance guy at Smart says those are the only issues they are aware of country-wide.
1. The shifter has a defect that will, one day, fail to shift your car into gear. If you shift into reverse, then put it into D, the shifter may fail. If it starts working again you need to contact Smart FAST before it fails completely and you're stuck somewhere waiting for a flatbed.
2. Your engine light will come on eventually. Don't let anyone just reset it, they just need to replace a simple $40.00 part. I have forgotten what the error code is but it has to do with the injection system/computer.
3. If you have the sunroof with the screen, it works like blinds. If you roll it back from a closed position to half open then close it again, it may, or will eventually, do what blinds do and stop working properly. The solution is to "finish what you start"... don't close after opening half way.
4. The radio will turn on when the car starts every time. Damned annoying to me but not a deal-breaker.
Okay, that's four things, two rather minor.
The maintenance guy at Smart says those are the only issues they are aware of country-wide.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tom Clark on -
My roof sunshade has failed now twice, popped out of the clips (similar to 4-Paws experience) my sales person also said it would get easier in time and the grease it with silicone to boot, I took it to the dealer they fixed it once and imeadiately ordered a new one, and of course the part is on back order, they seemed to have expected the failure, so hopefully when it comes in it will be a better unit.. we shall see.
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Permalink Reply by toes on -
I'll throw my hat in for the sunroof blind. The track came out of the passenger side clip and the mechanic managed to actually get it to jump out of the driver side track as well and kill the retracting coil, so now I roll up the roof by twisting the tube, until we finally get the (backordered) replacement part. I calm myself with the fact that I am at least not waiting for the car anymore. I think the shade is just not a good design.
I have not had an issue with the shifter or engine light, but my tire pressure monitor does not seem to like the frequent change in outside temperature and change of altitude/air pressure going up and down the mountains.
I am at 1,500 miles now.
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Permalink Reply by M. Rhodora Woodard on -
I wish I saw this prior to my posting. This explains my husband's smart car shifter failure. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by tommyk on -
if this is true about the shifter why does smart usa tell us to come in and replace the part before this happens. also i have heard others say theat the radio comes on everytime they start the car. but that does not happen with my car. but the shifter thing worries me. hey dave what up with that?
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Permalink Reply by L Kern on -
I had my shifter fixed a while ago, and just yesterday my buddy had his done as well. He struggled for 15 minutes to get it out of park then drove right to the dealer. So the score here in central Illinois: Four smarts, 3 shifters, two sensors, two sun shades. Other then that? I still like the critter, and no other issues have surfaced here. And my gas mileage is actually getting BETTER. I'm averaging 45, up from 43. Last week I did a lot of highway driving and for a few tanks it was 54. I am THRILLED.
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Permalink Reply by ANNE-MARIE on -
I have to report my sunscreen has also jammed. I have been very careful with it ( no half way pulls ). I've only had the thing 2 months and haven't reached 1000 miles. My dealer is 100 miles away.
Is there a do-it-yourself fix?
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Permalink Reply by Tom Lavender on -
My shifting problem is, some times it won't backup. Indicator on the floor shows in R, but indicator on the dash is blank. Had it to the dealer in Coral Gables they claimed they have had no shifter problems. Coral Gables said there is an on line dealer network that records all problems for other dealers to see. They must not read the smart insider as it sounds like there are lots of shifter problems. Coral Gables had the car for most of the day and said they could get it to not backup! Went to dinner that evening, wouldn't backup. Have found that if I put in park turn the car off and restart it must reset the computer because it will then usually backup. I have 5500 miles and that has been my only problem. The Smart is the Ideal Key West car it just the 150 mile trip to the dealer that sucks.
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Permalink Reply by Karl A Roth on -
Car is going on 10 months old now have not had any of the things above go "wrong" with my car and the only failure was the battery that was replaced under warranty with the car getting hauled on a flat bed from where my spouse works to the dealer and back to our front door the next day. Still very happy with the car.
karl
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Permalink Reply by Mike Knotts on -
I've got 7600 miles on my smart. I have not had any problems yet. Shifter works good, sunshade works fine, never had the engine light come on. Radio comes on, but I have always left the radio on in any car I drive so not a problem. All in all my smart is more trouble free than my GMC.
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Permalink Reply by SMARTED on -
Had my 2000 mi. (now 3000) in a 7/11 parking light. Would not go into gear. I read in one of the postings to shut the engine off, turn on key, and go up and down the gears. It worked after that. Has not repeated yet.
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Permalink Reply by L Kern on
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Well, it turns out that the sun screen IS defective, and Smart is replacing them free of charge. Contact your dealer today.
Found out from my friend who's screen disintegrated recently.
Hoop-ah.
Now we just need a recall on the sensor and the shifter.
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Permalink Reply by toes on
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Yep, I got a new sunscreen replacement as well and had the window tracks greased (they were screeching a little). Otherwise: I asked about the shifter issue when I picked up the car and they grease them before handing over the keys (at least at our smartcenter).
And: knowing about the sunscreen issue when I got my smart I only ever opened and closed it all the way (still do that) and treated it gingerly, yet it still failed. What I hope will happen is that there will be a slight redesign for the sunscreen, as I noticed the new one is still the same design and looks like it might fail any time (it's those flimsy clips on either side on the back).
t,
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