2008 smart Fortwo: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 25, 2024 · Engine · 80,000 miles · VA · fire

The contact owns a 2008 Smart Fortwo. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V273000(Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed there was smoke coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle had caught on fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle quickly and entered a mechanic shop and a mechanic put on safety gloves to extinguish the fire with a fire hose. The fire was able to be extinguished by the mechanic. The mechanic mentioned that the insulation mat detached from the vehicle and caught on fire. No injuries were sustained. A fire report was not filed since the fire department was not at the scene. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's parents' home where it remained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Parts Distribution Disconnect

Filed Sep 15, 2022 · Brakes, Electrical · NC · fire

We were driving in Greensboro NC this afternoon on the way to my husbands birthday dinner when off of Bridford? Parkway our 2008 smart car passion for two started malfunctioning all lights flashing on instrument panel & brakes quit & another motorist drove up beside us with window down screaming GET OUT YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE!!! We managed to stop on side of road at woods & jumped out car was on fire looked like under back tires and engine in back! We grabbed what we could save & ran. 911 was called & fire and police came. 2 Witnesses also to event we have photos & videos. Our car burned all the way down to frame! Total loss! We could have died because we couldnt see the fire behind us under car & if not for the man we may have blown up!!

Filed Jun 28, 2021 · Engine · 80,000 miles · WA · fire

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was on fire under the hood. The fire department was called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was not towed. There was no injury sustained. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency campaign number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Jul 16, 2020 · Engine · 150,000 miles · NY · fire

While driving on the highway and we noticed sudden smoke within the car. The car got very hot. We stopped and opened the engine compartment in the trunk and noticed that the insulation mat in the engine compartment was on fire. We did not notice any causes that could have lead to the burn besides the mat itself.

Filed May 8, 2020 · Engine · 87,000 miles · LA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 smart fortwo. The contact stated while her son was driving the vehicle at 45-55 MPH he unexpectedly smelled burning plastic in the vehicle. The contact's son continued to drive the vehicle when he discovered the vehicle emitted smoke from the rear. Shortly after coming to a complete stop the contact's son opened the rear hatch and noticed fire. The fire was extinguished with a water hose and the fire department was not called. There were no injuries. The vehicle was totaled. The dealer was not notified of the fire. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000 the contact stated received the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v273000 (engine and engine cooling) after the failure occurred.

Filed Oct 1, 2018 · Engine · 37,988 miles · PA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 smart for two. The vehicle was taken to euro motorcars devon mercedes-benz (214 w lancaster ave, devon, pa 19333, (610) 687-1500) to be repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v273000 (engine and engine cooling). After leaving the dealer and driving 35 MPH, the contact detected a burning odor inside the vehicle. The contact also mentioned that the brakes failed as the vehicle lost power. The contact detected smoke coming out the rear of the vehicle, which resulted in a fire. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 37,988. *tt updated 11/19/18

Filed Aug 24, 2018 · Engine · 72,000 miles · NY · fire

I learned of a recall on my vehicle earlier this year - I never received a letter because I had moved since I bought the car. The recall was for a sagging insulation mat in the engine compartment, which had apparently caused fires in other smart cars. I contacted my dealer, keeler of latham, who told me the parts were not in for the repair, and suggested I call mercedes, the manufacturer. I called them, gave my updated address, they told me they'd be in touch when the recalled parts were available. I had my car serviced for an unrelated reason a month or so later, they never checked my vehicle to see if the recalled parts were affected. I asked about it, they told me the parts were not yet available. I received a letter from mercedes stating the recall fix was not ready but that it was safe to continue to drive the car. On 7/31/18, my car caught fire. I don't know exactly when, but about an hour after I parked the car at my friend's home, his wife came inside and said "your friend's car is on fire". We went outside, smoke was coming from the back of the car. The fire department came and put out the fire. My car is now totaled. Thankfully no one was hurt. Insurance will pay for part of what it would cost to get me into a new used car, but mercedes has offered only to pay my $500 deductible, or to take a small discount off my purchase of a mercedes or smart car from an authorized mercedes dealer. Mercedes has accepted responsibility for the fire, as their investigation showed it was caused by the sagging insulation mat. I was hoping that something in the law would help force mercedes to make me whole. I just want to be back in a reliable used car without a car payment. If they had repaired the recall in a timely manner, I would still have my car, which was in great shape and had no payment. I don't want to buy a new mercedes car. I thought I should report this. Thanks. - (recall related incident) ts

Filed Jul 19, 2018 · Engine · 50,000 miles · NY · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 smart fortwo. While driving 25 MPH, smoke emerged from the air vents and flames appeared under the hood. There were no warning indicators illuminated. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The contact's father extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was awaiting diagnostic testing and repairs. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed May 18, 2018 · Engine · 103,000 miles · GA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz smart fortwo. While waiting to make a turn, the contact noticed smoke emerging from the rear of the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and exited the vehicle as it became engulfed in flames. The police arrived and called the fire department to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and retreived by the insurance company. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The contact researched online and found the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v273000 (engine) for the first time. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

Filed May 14, 2018 · Engine · 205,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 mercedes-benz smart fortwo. While the vehicle was parked in a parking garage, the garage attendant called the contact and informed him that smoke was emerging from under the hood. The vehicle caught fire without warning or impact. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the fire was not determined. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 205,000.

Filed May 3, 2018 · Engine · 100,400 miles · NY · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 smart fortwo. The contact stated that the vehicle burst into flames after it was parked. The contact was unaware of how the fire started or where it originated, but it was believed to be near the engine compartment. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an insurance auto auction. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. A local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,400.

Filed Apr 9, 2018 · 100,000 miles · IN · fire

Spontaneously caught on fire while driving