A lot of you have PM me aking about the left side convex mirror that I picked up in Europe. This is the part # A 451 810 05 16. This is NOT a heated mirror. Dont have a # for a heated mirror. A friend of mine ordered one from the dealer here today, $40, no more blind spot! It didn't show up in there parts cat. but if you give them the # they should be able to order it.
Look, if you are having this issue, you need to get it to a service center asap! I just talked to the Smart center here and they said they cant fix it until someone comes in with an issue. They do not have the smarts to tool around with. Teddy, you need to take it in.
I finally got a call from the Service Manager. He left me a message on my cell phone and basically blew me off and said that since the cars were made to be inexpensive then "that's just the way it is." No addressing the issue of the concern about the mirror housing warping, or this being a possible fire hazard, etc.
jediknight36 - It appears so far that EVERY Smart Car owner who has checked this out has the SAME problem. So, WHY should I have to drive over 2 hours (back and forth) just so they can diagnose the problem which is MORE THAN LIKELY evident on EVERY ONE of their demo cars????
I called Smart Car USA directly and told them how unhappy I was with the dealership. I was told that they would report this problem to the Smart Car technicians. I was also told that someone would contact me directly from Smart Car USA.
In the meantime, I watched my son pop off the mirrors. unplug the connection and pop the mirrors back on. No more heated mirrors. If Smart doesn't address this issue, then I guess if we have an ice/snow storm in the area we can always reconnect them.
I finally got a call from the Service Manager. He left me a message on my cell phone and basically blew me off and said that since the cars were made to be inexpensive then "that's just the way it is." No addressing the issue of the concern about the mirror housing warping, or this being a possible fire hazard, etc.
jediknight36 - It appears so far that EVERY Smart Car owner who has checked this out has the SAME problem. So, WHY should I have to drive over 2 hours (back and forth) just so they can diagnose the problem which is MORE THAN LIKELY evident on EVERY ONE of their demo cars????
I called Smart Car USA directly and told them how unhappy I was with the dealership. I was told that they would report this problem to the Smart Car technicians. I was also told that someone would contact me directly from Smart Car USA.
In the meantime, I watched my son pop off the mirrors. unplug the connection and pop the mirrors back on. No more heated mirrors. If Smart doesn't address this issue, then I guess if we have an ice/snow storm in the area we can always reconnect them.
Because if you drive your 2 hrs, then they wont be so upset at you (yes, I asked them about the issue and they told me how unhappy and "irrational" you have been) *I dont know you, and I am not making any judgment for or against you, just repeating what they told me * No one has complained about the "demo" cars, the ones that are on sale because they have been orphaned, and they cannot fix YOUR car until you come in and get it fixed. It is also not smart's fault you bought a car 2 hours away from the nearest dealer, but you also forget the ones that are 6+ hrs away. Im glad you did a temp fix, but I would really suck up your pride and head out there when you have a day off. And if you just dont have time, please PM me. I would pay you for the opportunity to take your lil' bugger in for repair. I live about 20 min away from the dealer, and love to drive.
Last edited by jediknight36; 09-05-2008 at 06:41 PM.
Reason: Dont want to seem like a jerk...
Because if you drive your 2 hrs, then they wont be so upset at you (yes, I asked them about the issue and they told me how unhappy and "irrational" you have been) *I dont know you, and I am not making any judgment for or against you, just repeating what they told me * No one has complained about the "demo" cars, the ones that are on sale because they have been orphaned, and they cannot fix YOUR car until you come in and get it fixed. It is also not smart's fault you bought a car 2 hours away from the nearest dealer, but you also forget the ones that are 6+ hrs away. Im glad you did a temp fix, but I would really suck up your pride and head out there when you have a day off. And if you just dont have time, please PM me. I would pay you for the opportunity to take your lil' bugger in for repair. I live about 20 min away from the dealer, and love to drive.
You have NO idea what you are talking about. I am an office manager who prides herself on excellent customer service and this is NOT what I am getting from my local dealer. Issues are PROMPTLY addressed for our clients in order to prevent them from becoming frustrated and feeling like we have just blown them off. This will NEVER happen in our office, and I expect to be treated the same way by any professional organization.
BTY - I could be going to ANY dealership in Texas since I have not disclosed what part of Texas I live in. So why do you "think" you know that I have been "irrational?" I do NOT have to defend myself to YOU. I am VERY happy to take my car 2 hours back and forth FOR A PROBLEM that truly needs to be diagnosed by having my car present.
In addition to possible ruined spotted mirrors, and possible warped mirror housings, THIS IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE (READ - FIRE HAZARD) that WE can temporarily prevent by doing a simple disconnection ourselves - no thanks to the service centers suggestion - THANKS to the other people on this thread for stating how easy it is.
You said that "No one has complained about the "demo" cars, the ones that are on sale because they have been orphaned," but, as I said before I have NO doubt that ALL the Smart Cars have this problem and this can be EASILY diagnosed on a car or two or three that are ALREADY ON THE LOT, so I wouldn't have to waste my time and gas for them to "diagnosis" the problem.
No one WOULD complain if they didn't KNOW they had the problem, because usually you wouldn't have reason to touch the mirror when it is hot outside, and OBVIOUSLY if there is snow and ice you would know very quickly that the mirrors WERE on. This ENTIRE thread is about finding out if people are AWARE that this is a problem and going out and touching their mirrors when there is a high ambient temperature to SEE if their mirrors are on! My son isn't even sure WHY he touched one of the mirrors in the first place. He thinks he just walked by and wanted to see how the mirrors adjusted and he jumped when he touched the mirror because it was so unexpectedly hot.
This whole experience has NOT been good customer service, and I don't appreciate being told by the service manager that "that's just the way it is" EVEN though the manual CLEARLY states that the heated windows are automatic and will come on at LOW ambient temperatures.
You have NO idea what you are talking about. I am an office manager who prides herself on excellent customer service and this is NOT what I am getting from my local dealer. Issues are PROMPTLY addressed for our clients in order to prevent them from becoming frustrated and feeling like we have just blown them off. This will NEVER happen in our office, and I expect to be treated the same way by any professional organization.
BTY - I could be going to ANY dealership in Texas since I have not disclosed what part of Texas I live in. So why do you "think" you know that I have been "irrational?" I do NOT have to defend myself to YOU. I am VERY happy to take my car 2 hours back and forth FOR A PROBLEM that truly needs to be diagnosed by having my car present.
In addition to possible ruined spotted mirrors, and possible warped mirror housings, THIS IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE (READ - FIRE HAZARD) that WE can temporarily prevent by doing a simple disconnection ourselves - no thanks to the service centers suggestion - THANKS to the other people on this thread for stating how easy it is.
You said that "No one has complained about the "demo" cars, the ones that are on sale because they have been orphaned," but, as I said before I have NO doubt that ALL the Smart Cars have this problem and this can be EASILY diagnosed on a car or two or three that are ALREADY ON THE LOT, so I wouldn't have to waste my time and gas for them to "diagnosis" the problem.
No one WOULD complain if they didn't KNOW they had the problem, because usually you wouldn't have reason to touch the mirror when it is hot outside, and OBVIOUSLY if there is snow and ice you would know very quickly that the mirrors WERE on. This ENTIRE thread is about finding out if people are AWARE that this is a problem and going out and touching their mirrors when there is a high ambient temperature to SEE if their mirrors are on! My son isn't even sure WHY he touched one of the mirrors in the first place. He thinks he just walked by and wanted to see how the mirrors adjusted and he jumped when he touched the mirror because it was so unexpectedly hot.
This whole experience has NOT been good customer service, and I don't appreciate being told by the service manager that "that's just the way it is" EVEN though the manual CLEARLY states that the heated windows are automatic and will come on at LOW ambient temperatures.
My husband said to tell you to "get a life."
Ok, um... you took everything I said the wrong way. I know what dealer you are talking to because I PERSONALLY spoke to the dealer in question. I LET THEM READ THE POSTINGS and they recognized you right away. I never said that you were being irrational, but the dealer rep I spoke to did. And from how angry you are at me, I lean tword agreeing with them.
But, I understand you have an issue. You refuse to get it checked out, and subsequently fixed. Thats the main issue with your particular problem. The smart centers are not at fault for asking you to come in, nor are they at fault for not wanting to send you the part that you, the consumer, think is the issue when they, the techs (not saying they know TOO much more than the consumers, but they do have training and a direct connection to smart) have not diagnosed it.
I have a life, thank you very much. And being on this site, getting questions answered, and conversing over this subject is part of it, just as it is with you. So, as far as your particular concern, as I see you have two choices. 1) Get a service tech to check it out, one way or another or 2) sit there and talk to smart usa and complain, and complain here about your 'horriable' service. As far as number 2 is concerned, the PR people will appologize and then tell you to go take it to the smart center in the end.
As for the demo cars go, they probably wont check it out until they find a car (ie yours, or anyone else who brings in their car) then fix the demo cars. Now, if you had come in and then they blew you off (its happened to me at Toyota) then its time to become "irrational". We had to when after 15K miles, our continental tires were shot. And many here probably wont agree, but many times that's the only way to get what you need out of them is to be "irrational". But they cant find out what is wrong with your specific car with out actually seeing your car. So, you cant expect them to fix the problem over the phone.
And I will say this again, I did not mean for you to get upset, but sometimes hearing (reading) the truth when one dosnt want to will do that. I still offer my help if you cant get it in to be looked at, and honestly until smart does some testing they probably would tell you they did the same thing you did. But you will never know for sure until you let the techs look at it. Again, I dont mean to sound like a jerk.
In a nut shell: Something wrong with car under warranty= get it fixed by dealer for free.
*edit* And we all need to be thanking your son for finding this out. This, at least to me, is a huge issue and until it is solved brand wide, is a huge safety issue.
Last edited by jediknight36; 09-05-2008 at 07:54 PM.
Ok, um... you took everything I said the wrong way. I know what dealer you are talking to because I PERSONALLY spoke to the dealer in question. I LET THEM READ THE POSTINGS and they recognized you right away. I never said that you were being irrational, but the dealer rep I spoke to did. And from how angry you are at me, I lean tword agreeing with them.
But, I understand you have an issue. You refuse to get it checked out, and subsequently fixed. Thats the main issue with your particular problem. The smart centers are not at fault for asking you to come in, nor are they at fault for not wanting to send you the part that you, the consumer, think is the issue when they, the techs (not saying they know TOO much more than the consumers, but they do have training and a direct connection to smart) have not diagnosed it.
I have a life, thank you very much. And being on this site, getting questions answered, and conversing over this subject is part of it, just as it is with you. So, as far as your particular concern, as I see you have two choices. 1) Get a service tech to check it out, one way or another or 2) sit there and talk to smart usa and complain, and complain here about your 'horriable' service. As far as number 2 is concerned, the PR people will appologize and then tell you to go take it to the smart center in the end.
As for the demo cars go, they probably wont check it out until they find a car (ie yours, or anyone else who brings in their car) then fix the demo cars. Now, if you had come in and then they blew you off (its happened to me at Toyota) then its time to become "irrational". We had to when after 15K miles, our continental tires were shot. And many here probably wont agree, but many times that's the only way to get what you need out of them is to be "irrational". But they cant find out what is wrong with your specific car with out actually seeing your car. So, you cant expect them to fix the problem over the phone.
And I will say this again, I did not mean for you to get upset, but sometimes hearing (reading) the truth when one dosnt want to will do that. I still offer my help if you cant get it in to be looked at, and honestly until smart does some testing they probably would tell you they did the same thing you did. But you will never know for sure until you let the techs look at it. Again, I dont mean to sound like a jerk.
In a nut shell: Something wrong with car under warranty= get it fixed by dealer for free.
*edit* And we all need to be thanking your son for finding this out. This, at least to me, is a huge issue and until it is solved brand wide, is a huge safety issue.
We have identified a potential problem. It can be easily checked at the dealership WITHOUT my having to drive there. They should be appreciative to have this problem called to their attention and make an effort to address it appropriately. Instead I was blown off and NOT asked to bring my car in because as far as they are concerned the heated mirrors staying on all the time "is the way it is." (You need to reread my posts - people who short cut things by not reading or understanding what the situation is IS the reason I am so frustrated; and, I guess this is what is termed as irrational - BECAUSE I WON'T go away, BECAUSE I EXPECT GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THIS ISN'T IT.)
I would try EVERYTHING I could to make a customer happy with something so simple as this. It would be SO easy for someone at the dealership to check out a Smart Car on their lot. 30 seconds maybe. This is NOT unrealistic and I shouldn't have to drive all the way there for them to check this out on MY car when I am positive the Smart Cars on THEIR lot have this problem.
Now, once they check this out on THEIR demo and see that "yes" there is a problem, then they can issue a recall or address the situation on an individual basis and THEN I WILL DRIVE the 2 hours to GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. Otherwise, it is just silly and a waste of my time. If other people want to waste their time and gas and drive hours because their dealerships won't check out the cars on the lot, then so be it. But, I won't be one of them and I certainly won't ask you to drive my car to the dealership.
P.S. I will tell my son thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention.
P.P.S. I would never bad mouth one customer to another customer, so once again if you have guessed at the correct dealership, then this would indicate one more reason to think that they are unprofessional.
We have identified a potential problem. It can be easily checked at the dealership WITHOUT my having to drive there. They should be appreciative to have this problem called to their attention and make an effort to address it appropriately. Instead I was blown off and NOT asked to bring my car in because as far as they are concerned the heated mirrors staying on all the time "is the way it is." (You need to reread my posts - people who short cut things by not reading or understanding what the situation is IS the reason I am so frustrated; and, I guess this is what is termed as irrational - BECAUSE I WON'T go away, BECAUSE I EXPECT GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THIS ISN'T IT.)
I would try EVERYTHING I could to make a customer happy with something so simple as this. It would be SO easy for someone at the dealership to check out a Smart Car on their lot. 30 seconds maybe. This is NOT unrealistic and I shouldn't have to drive all the way there for them to check this out on MY car when I am positive the Smart Cars on THEIR lot have this problem.
Now, once they check this out on THEIR demo and see that "yes" there is a problem, then they can issue a recall or address the situation on an individual basis and THEN I WILL DRIVE the 2 hours to GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. Otherwise, it is just silly and a waste of my time. If other people want to waste their time and gas and drive hours because their dealerships won't check out the cars on the lot, then so be it. But, I won't be one of them and I certainly won't ask you to drive my car to the dealership.
P.S. I will tell my son thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention.
P.P.S. I would never bad mouth one customer to another customer, so once again if you have guessed at the correct dealership, then this would indicate one more reason to think that they are unprofessional.
OK, lots of he said/she said, bad service, long winded posts, yada, yada, yada....
So, just the facts, please -- is there a recall on the heated mirrors? Or what is the fix? (This is a forum for sharing information, so please limit reply to only the information required, and I thank you very, very much)
And I can see your frustration in the words you wrote and I feel for you.
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