The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer scheduled an appointment at the dealer; however, the dealer contacted the contact and decline to honor the recall repair appointment. The contact contacted two dealers and was informed that they do not perform repair on Mercedes-Benz Smart Cars. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2009 smart Fortwo engine problems
28 complaints (28% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 50,000.
- owner complaints
- 28
- of this car's complaints
- 28%
- typical mileage
- 50,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
smart Fortwo engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 smart Fortwo engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2008-2009 smart fortwo cabrio and fortwo coupe vehicles. The rear insulation mat in the engine compartment may deform, deteriorate, and loosen over time, allowing the mat to contact hot exhaust system components.
- Risk
- If the mat contacts hot exhaust system components, it can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear insulation mat with an improved one, free of charge. The recall began in July 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018060010.
Recall number 18V273000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Engine Compartment Fire
On April 30, 2018, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, (Mercedes-Benz) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to the federal safety agency regarding a defect that could result in a vehicle fire starting from the engine compartment in 42,781 model year (MY) 2008 and 2009 Smart Fortwo cabrio and coupe vehicles (451 platform).According to Mercedes-Benz?s DIR, ?the rear insulation mat within the engine compartment might deform, deteriorate, loosen and over time, subsequently be able to contact hot components of the exhaust system.This could lead to an ignition of the insulation mat and possible fire in the engine compartment.?The US-specification exhaust system has an external catalytic converter packaged close to the insulation mat, where temperatures in the vicinity of the insulation mat reach high values.Over time, these temperatures can lead to a change in the insulation mat's material characteristics and ultimately allow the material to deform. Depending on the magnitude and the specific location of the deformation, the insulation mat could contact hot components of the exhaust system and ignite.Mercedes-Benz will replace the rear insulation mat on the affected vehicles with the improved mat first implemented in the United States in MY 2010 vehicles.ODI?s analysis of fire incident field data reported to the federal safety agency and Mercedes-Benz show an increasing trend of non-crash fires in the subject vehicles that begins after 4 years of service and accelerates after 7 years of service.The analysis shows that this trend is driven by fires occurring in the engine compartment.Forensic investigations of fires occurring in the past year identified the insulation mat as a likely or possible cause of most of the fires originating in the engine compartment.This investigation is closed based on Mercedes-Benz insulation mat recall.For more information about field data trends and fire investigations, see the closing resume in the document file for this investigation.
EA17003
Engine Compartment Fire
On December 16, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-016 to investigate eight complaints alleging incidents of engine compartment fire while driving or shortly after engine shutdown in model year (MY) 2008 through 2009 Smart Fortwo vehicles.The complaints appeared to indicate an increasing trend, with all eight fires occurring since January 2015.As part of PE16-016, ODI analyzed information related to incidents reported to the Office by consumers, analyzed field data and technical information submitted by Mercedes-Benz USA (Mercedes) in response to the PE16-016 information request letter, and analyzed non-crash vehicle fire claim data provided by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).To date, ODI's analysis of incidents reported by consumers and provided by Mercedes has identified 27 incidents of open flame fires originating in the engine compartments of the subject vehicles, 14 of which were reported to ODI by Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and 18 involving complaints or field reports to Mercedes (5 of the incidents were reported to both ODI and Mercedes).One incident reported to Mercedes includes an allegation of an injury from smoke inhalation.Nineteen (19) of the incidents occurred since January 2015.Mercedes has only investigated 2 of the 27 fire incidents, and the company was unable to identify a vehicle-based cause for either incident.To further assess incident rates and trends, ODI requested fire claim data for the subject vehicles and eight peer vehicles from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).HLDI collects insurance claim data from companies representing over 80 percent of the market for private passenger vehicle insurance in the United States.ODI?s analysis of the HLDI data, which covered the period from 2010 through late-2016, found that the MY 2008 Fortwo vehicles had a significantly higher claim frequency than its peers and, similar to ODI?s complaint trend, experienced a sharp increase in claims in 2015.This investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA17-003) to continue to investigate the high frequency and increasing trend of non-crash engine compartment fire incidents in the subject vehicles.The VOQs associated with the opening of this investigation were:10676359, 10780222, 10790017, 10820891, 10872656, 10944676, 10916505, 10924311, 10924637, 10939504, 10945296, 10993895, 11011100, 11011565.
PE16016
What 2009 smart Fortwo owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz 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 local dealer and several unknown dealers were contacted and informed the contact that they did not service Smart vehicles. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2009 Smart ForTwo. The contact stated that on multiple occasions when the vehicle was parked and the gear shifter was shifted, the transmission would only shift into neutral. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Additionally, the tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact also received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, parts to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo. The contact stated while attempting to have the vehicle repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) but was denied repair due to the vehicle being a smart car. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that since the vehicle was not a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, they would not honor the recall repair. Parts distribution disconnect.
I sent an email not to long ago regarding my smartfortwo. I wanted to cancel or delete my complaint. Appears that my issue has nothing to do with key reprogramming. My issue is likely clutch / actuator issue. Please cancel, delete, ignore the complaint that is in error.
Today I received a third (3rd) recall notification for my 2009 smart four two coupe rear engine insulation mat. The notice states the current mat could increase the risk of fire. Each time I have contacted the dealer (55 miles distant) they have informed they are out of stock of this item. I've asked them to notify me when the item is in stock. I have never been notified. Could you please look into this apparent fire hazard. This has been going on for almost 2 years. I would be happy to install this easy fix if they would send me the insulation pad itself.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 smart fortwo. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in and repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v273000 (engine, engine cooling). Mercedes-benz of westminister (located at 10391 westminister blvd, westminister, co 80020, 303‑410‑7800) performed the repair. After the repair, the vehicle began to make a booming noise when the engine and/or radio were activated. The contact had not taken the vehicle back to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
2009 smart fortwo pure/passion. Consumer writes in regard to safety the federal safety agency recall notice #18v273. *as the consumer stated the dealer was to arrange having the vehicle repaired locally due to the consumer's disability. The dealer did not make an arrangement that the consumer found reasonable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 smart fortwo. While driving 25 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal noise and the ABS and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v273000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that mercedes-benz of edison (located at 910 us-1, edison, nj 08817, (732) 394-1870) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The part was not available for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was 89,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 smart fortwo. While driving 40 MPH, the contact felt heat coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact noticed that the rear carpet and plastic from the trunk cover caught fire. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact called mercedes-benz of tampa (located at 4400 n dale mabry hwy, tampa, fl 33614, (813) 579-2138) where an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v273000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided email id number: 1-kemgkl. The approximate failure mileage was 58,232.
Questions about the 2009 smart Fortwo engine
Does the 2009 smart Fortwo have engine problems?
Owners have filed 28 complaints about the engine of the 2009 smart Fortwo, 28% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2009 smart Fortwo engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 50,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2009 smart Fortwo engine?
Yes, 1 recall: 18V273000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the smart Fortwo have bad engine?
The smart Fortwo model years with the most engine complaints are 2008 (45 complaints) and 2009 (28 complaints).
Other 2009 smart Fortwo problems
Transmission 27Electrical 14Body 10Fuel system 9Airbags 5Seat belts 5Tires 5Wheels 5Brakes 3Suspension 2Acceleration 1Driver assistance 1Lights 1Locks 1Visibility 1
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