While I do like my Smart Car, events over the past 6 months have me deeply concerned. It all started with crazing on my roof.....
Like many, I noticed the roof crazing. The Dealer (who has closed their doors) replaced the roof.
A few weeks later, the new roof seperates. It started to come off from the front and as anyone would guess, driving at a brisk 50-60 miles per hour on the freeway when the roof seperates in the front has a tendency to rip the top from the car. I was able to slow the car down so the roof didn't fly off and got the car back to the dealer. They, the Dealer's staff, felt that the adhesive used to put the roof back on may have been past its shelf life. They ordered yet another roof, fresh adhesive, gaskets, and all the materials required to 'properly and permanently' glue the roof back on. They had the car for over a week and I was happy to give them plenty of time to do the job right. The Dealer even gave me a red cabriolet as a loaner while my car was being fixed.
I guess you know where this is leading... Six months later, the roof is coming off again. This time, from the rear. I have contacted a new Dealer and called Smart USA and await their reply.
My car is under 2 years old but out of warrenty (by 2,000 miles) While I am confident that Smart would not even dare to ask me to pay for the repair, my concern is that I have little confidence that the roof will not come off again.
Dealers (my old Dealer and now the new) sublet the repairs for glass work. (so i have been told). If this 4th roof pops off in say 6 months or 3 years, what is going to be my option? How can i get some kind of guarentee that the roof will be permanently glued back on?
Or..... Do i need an Attorney?
As I said, I like my car. I waited a year to get it, and have driven it for almost 2 years. I have had my share of issues just like everyone else's cars but my Smart Car has served me well as a commuter-mobile.
I need a permanent fix and am willing to give this new dealer and their sub contractor the opportunity to repair the roof. But again, this is going to be the 4th roof and my confidence is low.
Sure would appreciate your comments and perhaps suggestions as to what you all would do if you were in my shoes. Who knows, perhaps some of you are also on your 3rd, 4th, 5th roof.....
You may want to check the laws out there, but I seem to remember a lemon law that states if you have to bring back for the same issue 3 times, you can return the car for a refund or replacement. In my opinion that is a road hazzard waiting to happen, not to mention you probably spend too much time waiting for it to happen again which may cause you to be distracted. Good luck.
Are you working with Bloomington dealer?? They are more than qualified to take good care of you.As far as I know, they are the only smart dealer in Minnesota.
I'd prefer not to mention any Dealers. My desire is to get permenently mounted roof and not blast a dealer or their sub contractor. I do suspect you could guess my old Dealer (closed in Philadelphia) and my new Dealer (it is a Dealer in Minnesota).
My concern is the ability or process to permanently attach a roof outside of the factory. Does the factory use a special jig or glue or method to attach the roof that cannot be duplicated? Is it done under pressure or at a specific temperature? Is there some kind of catalyst, vacuum, or special clamping tools?
Let's assume that nothing special is required. Why did the first roof last for almost 2 years and 21,000 miles and the 2nd only last a few weeks? If the glue was to blame, why did the 3rd begin to come off 5 months and 5 thousand miles later?
Or, is there another design-related issue?
When you shut the door, is there a mechanism that is designed to vent excess pressure or does that cause fatigue on the roof? On my BMW, when I shut a door, the sunroof pops open just a bit to vent pressure. Does the Smart have a similar mechanism? When I shut the door on my Smart, the tailgate pops just a bit which I suspect is to vent pressure? or, am I missing something like a pressure-relief valve?
I'd love to hear ideas - Dealers never seem to have good ideas or you get the "I've never heard of that happening..." when I KNOW it is happening to others. When I first took my Smart in to get the roof replaced due to crazing, they told me that nobody at Smart had heard of the problem. Needless to say, many of us on this forum know otherwise.
Probably like a lot of repairs involving a coating -- it's all in the prep work. Careful and comprehensive prep work gives you lasting results, crap work gives you...crap.
I do not think that dealer actually doing the roof repairs. They are outsourcing the job to the glass shop. At least what they used to do at Orlando smart center. My roof was unglued on delivery. Smart center overnighted new roof from Europe, and once they got the part they kept my car overnight (so it cured properly) and it have been trouble free for almost two years now.
All my roofs I had replaced were outsourced to glass repair shops, both of them in different locations seem to have done the job correctly as I haven't had a problem. Seems like you have a valid fight, same issue - 3 times....one more time is a charm after reading the link Smart Enuf sent.
Lemon Law:
****Four or more unsuccessful attempts to repair the same defect****
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