Bought a Cabrio in the end of May. 50 miles into it, check engine light. I called the dealer and they said dont worry about it.
650 miles into it, the check engine light had come on atleast 5 more times. (car ran horrilbe each time)
The Chandler, AZ Smart Center checked into the car. They never told me they wanted to replace the sparkplugs but had none. Sent me on my way and I didnt realize they did no work till I got home 45mins later.
Went back, and they replaced the spark plugs, 950 miles the check engine light came on and stayed on.
Smart is now saying it needs a new engine, and they are replacing it.
My first visit to the dealer the service guy told me I had gotten normal gas milage and blew off my question about low mileage. However they said the car needed the 3 spark plugs go figure. Then my low tire pressure gauge came on one day. I found all four tires to be 10 lbs lower then the door jam pressure said they should be. Looks like three times at service, and even when I bought it nobody ever tested it.
One day my tow alarm came on, and the dashboard "bonged" for abut 3 mins till then it just went away.
I've lost trust in the brand, and in Smart service. I feel I can agrue a lemon on a new car that needs a new engine. The law may not be fully applied here yet, but it maybe leading to that.
Anyones feelings on this may help my head alot. And even if not, then i'm glad I was able to put it on the forum incase anyone else had these sorta issues. They've not told me why they are replacing the engine, just that Smart told them that was the solution.
Last edited by Mr.RadioActive; 09-21-2008 at 09:44 PM.
Then my low tire pressure gauge came on one day. I found all four tires to be 10 lbs lower then the door jam pressure said they should be. Looks like three times at service, and even when I bought it nobody ever tested it.
Lighten up Francis.
I suppose you want the dealer follow you around with a tire gauge?
It's terrible that your car needs a new motor already, but it's not smart's responsibility to maintain the air pressure in your tires.
You dont think when a dealer preps your car or it goes into service, they should check tire pressure? Im not claiming the air pressure thing is a big issue, but it doesnt give a buyer much confidence that the service dept is all that concerned with the product when the dont check tire pressure when they prep the car or service the car. I was complaining about fuel mileage...tire pressure affects fuel usage as well. I apprecaite your reply.
Michael
Air pressure is one thing... sure, it's easy enough for the owner to add air once or twice. My own tires lose pressure at about 3psi per month (all four, evenly)... I think that's in the wheel design for some reason. Any faster than that suggests a leak worth investigating. Still, the dealer should have verified all systems working properly (air included) on delivery.
But spark plugs? Engine? A dealer that said to ignore the check engine light? Something's not right and any car's owner deserves a second opinion at a different dealer. The manual says specifically that you're supposed to get service asap when the check engine light comes on; that's in writing. A phone call to a dealer won't hold up in court, so if the dealer is telling you by phone not to worry, document the call and person's name, and consider another dealer for service.
People have had the same bad experiences with Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and Mazda... brand new car comes back for service and the selling dealer doesn't want to put in the time to fix it. Don't blame the brand for one dealer's actions... there are a million other Smarts on the world roads, and if these problems were epidemic we'd have a million in junkyards.
See how the new engine holds up... maybe it will be a cure-all, but I don't know how the tow alarm would be triggered by a bad engine. All this stuff does have a common thread: the electrical system and SAM. If you have a short or bad ground, or a bad SAM, then you'll be run ragged with all the troubles. That goes for almost any car built after 1990, but the Smart is far more computer-dependent than most other cars.
Well nothing is odd with the "story" You'd of course not have the same experience since your smart has no issues at 8000 miles. If I bought a Smart, and had 8000 miles with no problems I'd be as happy as you are.
I have a E class Benz from them with no issues. Im glad to hear your car doesnt have issues, mine does.
The person that I spoke to was Alex that told me don't worry. She said that since the service light had gone off after the "50 mile" check engine light came on.
My car is at Chandler Smart right now in their service dept. Its been there over 1 week. The service advisor has been very nice, and also the Smart Manager has assured me she was going to step in. Ive had nothing but issues, they've even goofed up my title. Thats neither here nor there.
I dont think this is the normal for Smart or the Chandler Smart Center. It perhaps is a isolated issue. But doesnt give me any assurance about the brand. And perhaps you'd feel the same if your check engine lights come on since the first day you bought it, and the car ran horrible more then its run good. Then you'd perhaps not feel assured when you find out the same dealer didnt check tire pressure. And once sent you on the way without fixing the car since they didnt have the spark plugs in stock.
You dont think when a dealer preps your car or it goes into service, they should check tire pressure? Im not claiming the air pressure thing is a big issue, but it doesnt give a buyer much confidence that the service dept is all that concerned with the product when the dont check tire pressure when they prep the car or service the car. I was complaining about fuel mileage...tire pressure affects fuel usage as well. I apprecaite your reply.
Michael
I am shocked that people here are dismissing your experience. Shame on you all!! It's not the dealer's job to check the tires after it had been there every time for service? Sorry, service means ROAD READY! And if I had the problems this guy is having, I would expect a hell of a lot more.
I think you should pursue the lemon law if you cannot get resolution to your satisfaction. I also hope that they can replace the engine and all will be well.
I had a lemon in the past and the dealer dismissed me up until they had to tow it in for the weirdest problem they had ever seen. Up until then I was just some idiot woman (and yes, the service manager said that to me). Surprise, surprise, I wasn't.
We pay good money for a car and while I understand that manufacturing problems exist, it is up to the company to ensure that the buyer has a functioning vehicle.
it was stated that the smart center didn't check the tire pressures. do you know that for a fact? did they tell you they didn't check them when they did the pre-delivery inspection? it's common for tires to lose air pressure over time. you bought you car in May. when did you realize the tires were low? as for them checking the tire pressure each time you were in, i wouldn't see how they are responsible for that. "IF" you had taken the car in for a routine service, say a 10K Service, then by all means they are to check them. but if you take your car in for some unrelated issue (driveability, power window inop, radio malfunction, headlight bulb out) i certainly don't see why you would expect them to check the air pressure in your tires. if you ASKED them and they didn't do it, that's another matter.
as for your check engine light coming on, it can do so for MANY reasons, from a loose gas cap to a serious engine problem. just because it comes on several times doesn't mean it's for the same problem. if it's not the same problem, you may not be able to claim "Lemon Law". each State is different, but i believe that the car has experience the same problem "x" number of times without being repaired OR to be 'down' (not drivable) for 30 consecutive days for you to claim "Lemon Law". so far, i don't see that in what you described.
Without knowing you or the dealer or who you've dealt with at the dealer...
First it may be best to sit down and have a rational, calm, logical conversation with the smart center manager. Just based on facts. If you don't get resolution that is acceptable to both of you (yes, no one has to "lose"), then start calling smartUSA.
1) Go to you state's consumer protection division (or equivalent) and read what they say about the local Lemon Law. The tend to be different in each state.
2) Not to question the dealer but a new engine seems a bit drastic since almost always the check engine light indicates an emissions system or computer failure. I would have guessed it was the computer that controls the engine. But then again I'm not the mechanic and didn't hook the car up to read the fault codes.
3) Did they check for bad gas? A co-worker's Honda exhibited similar behavior and it was bad gas which clogged the fuel filter. (and I'm assuming you're using premium)
4) The tire pressure thing... the only car I've owned that I expect this to happen everytime is a BMW (I would expect it with a MB, Lexus, etc. as well). Unless it was part of the maintenance check. The smart it is (at its core regardless of how you dress it up) an $11,500 car - there's only so much you should expect from them. It isn't a Mercedes so don't expect the same treatment. I have found that the tires require weekly checks as they are so small that any small variance can cause pressure to drop... It actually takes me more time to get the compressor out of the shed than it takes to add 1-2 lbs of pressure to a tire.
Yes, I agree with Ms. Johnson. You need to talk to the manager. I had issues with our Toyota dealer with the tires they sold us on our Matrix. They came with a tire warranty and everything. We brought it in for its 15K check up and the service department said the tires were shot and we needed to buy new tires. AFTER 15K! (BTW its the same brand as the smart's tires, Continental) We had it out with the service manager, but in the end they bought me new tires (they didn't want picketers outside the dealership being covered by local news stations either, hehe).
Even if you have to go that rout, be calm and assertive. And if you have to mention local news, be sure to mention smart USA and follow up with them first.
And when I take my car in for service, they top off all fluids and check tire pressure every time.
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,,,, at that point .
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