Shifter stuck in park - Here's the get me home fix.

[artist]

I had same problem last Friday. (see post under won"t shift). ANyhow car had to be towed and today(May 27) dealer says parts are on order and problem is shifter. I have 3700 miles on car and started it 7 times on Friday.

[Billc]

Had mine hauled in today. May be ready Monday late. They had to order the shifter.

1500 miles.

Still love it.

[artist]

Took one week to fix shifter problem. Mechanic at dealership said they don't know what causes shifter to fail, but are sending mine to Germany for inspection. Hope the new shifter last's longer.

[mvukovich]

I've also had that same problem. I have read some folks having the same problem and they have had there car for only one or two weeks. So do they have the shifter problem fixed? Both times my car broke down I've been in a good area while waiting for the flatbed truck to arrive.

[Nate D]

Hi gratefully I read this post previously. My car did the same thing yesterday. I bought some WD 40 and sqirted just a tiny bit around the button. It immediately resolved the problem w/o removing anything.

I cannot believe Mercedes has not taken care of this yet. I read the first posting well before I picked up my car.

Something so trivial surely impacts the "quality of ownership" experience. Fortunately this is my only poor exoperience. Love the car over all. Makes my other car seem obsolete. It is an 07 avalon limited.

[MCOjerry]

Wow, I'm a new member. I joined because I was thinking about getting one of these. It's the only small car with a convertible option.

However, after reading this thread, I doubt I will follow through. Something as simple as a shifter should not fail at this high of a level on a new car. It seriously makes me think about what else could be wrong with the engineering.

You'd think that, with tons of these driving around Europe; they'd not have issues like this with something so simple.

Yes, I am aware that other cars have manufacturer defects and recalls, but the small size of this forum (only approx 3000 members) vs. number of problems is a little offsetting.

I own a 2006 Toyota Solara convertible, so I was excited to see Smart convertible...I'll have to do some more thinking. Thankfully, if I buy; there's a dealership close by.

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by MCOjerry

Wow, I'm a new member. I joined because I was thinking about getting one of these. It's the only small car with a convertible option.

However, after reading this thread, I doubt I will follow through. Something as simple as a shifter should not fail at this high of a level on a new car. It seriously makes me think about what else could be wrong with the engineering.

You'd think that, with tons of these driving around Europe; they'd not have issues like this with something so simple.

Yes, I am aware that other cars have manufacturer defects and recalls, but the small size of this forum (only approx 3000 members) vs. number of problems is a little offsetting.

I own a 2006 Toyota Solara convertible, so I was excited to see Smart convertible...I'll have to do some more thinking. Thankfully, if I buy; there's a dealership close by.

Just a kind reminder: troubles are most likely to come up on top of the heap. Good comments like "I have no problem"... are not that prevalent, because they tend to be boring after a while.
As for membership, last count: 14,737
Hope you make a wise choice, MCOjerry. You will!

[MCOjerry]

Originally Posted by JPaul

Just a kind reminder: troubles are most likely to come up on top of the heap. Good comments like "I have no problem"... are not that prevalent, because they tend to be boring after a while.
As for membership, last count: 14,737
Hope you make a wise choice, MCOjerry. You will!

I know, that's why I am still considering one. I know all cars have their problems, the number vs members was what struck me.

When I clicked on the member list, it only showed just under 3000 members in the top right corner. I guess that must mean something else.

[JPaul]

Yeah, I notice that, 2.293...
But at the bottom of the main forum page, it says... what I wrote. Let's be optimistic!

14.738 (one more since...)

[rawlus®]

if something like a shifter problem in a first-year vehicle is enough to scare you out of buying a smart, then you probably shouldn't get into a smart for a year or two more. there WILL be issues to work out, and some of them might be a PITA waiting for foreign parts to be shipped from overseas, there will be very few people familiar with the vehicles and it's generally going to require an owner who is willing to be patient, wait and who knows that ownership is worth a little hassle sometimes.

this is NOT the vehicle for someone who wants japanese reliability and wide availability of replacement parts and technicians who have been working on the problems for decades.

i would encourage you to look elsewhere for your convertible.