Yep, Diagnosed over the phone. It pays to have a relationship with your service tech, and not have to deal with a service writer (sales) between you and the tech.
...@ 15k / 18 month...0$...failed to get into gear one time...after that, it failed to accelerate when gas pedal to the floor one time...scIndianapolis
...the failed to accelerate was coming out of a turn from a residential area...in second gear and moving @ 5-7 mph...
...smark...I truly believe that at those miles/time it should be covered...they (smart) know that there's a problem with the units....what if you try to merge into traffic and it fails to go and you become another statistic...God forbid...there was an issue like that in some other car manufacturer and that model car was recalled after a few lawyers visits...
I've got 18,000 on my car. Only once, it didn't want to go into reverse last summer. After a long hot highway drive. Maybe it should be listed on the NSTB, as a major defect. Anyone can post consumer issue there. Better then getting hit in the rear end.
Wait a tic; On one hand; the inferior clutch is only covered for 12mo/12kmiles. OTOH; there's that one guy who got his clutch replaced for free after 64k miles. So which one is it?
7500 miles (ok, I'm retired) - clutch plate and gear shift being replaced under warranty. I had the same issue of it slipping when going between 3rd and 2nd - yep around the corner and on straigt driving. Then it showed up in not being able to find reverse, and then 2nd to 1st. I was told it was the 4th upgrade on the clutch parts....sounds like an inherent first year model "discovery" issue.
I'm concerned. Build date 6/2008, I've got about 18.5K on the odometer. No signs of this problem as of yet. Is it inevitable with cars manufactured in this time period?
Will the damn thing hang in there until the DAY AFTER my warranty expires? Argggg!
If this is a known issue, shouldn't smart be proactive on this?+
NCC1701 - I doubt that failure is inevitable, instead this issue affects a small (but very noticeable) portion of all vehicles. Those that fail have typically the same failure mode but it's not so high a percentage that a recall's the way to go.
I'd check in with the dealer and ask them to take a look at it. They may know what models/production numbers are affected. If it isn't acting up. don't worry about it.
I bought my Brabus new about ten months ago. My clutch starting acting up at about 19K. It did it again around 21K so I called the dealer to find out what the problem might be. I travel and the only Smart Dealer in Georgia was a few hundred miles away. The tech at the dealership told me it was just a software issue and I did not need to worry. He then told me to bring it in the next time I was near the dealership and they would "upgrade" the software for me. I finally got back up there today and after waiting over four hours the tech informed me that it was not a software issue, but the clutch had gone bad and needed to be replaced. He then informed me that because my car had just gone over 24K the repair would not be covered. I would have tried to get the car to them if the service tech had made any effort to let me know it might have been something other than the software upgrade. I feel screwed...
I bought my Brabus new about ten months ago. My clutch starting acting up at about 19K. It did it again around 21K so I called the dealer to find out what the problem might be. I travel and the only Smart Dealer in Georgia was a few hundred miles away....
All Ball's clutch plate was replaced with the '09-spec unit at approximately 10,000 under warranty. The symptom was an occasional reluctance to shift from Park into Reverse or Drive. They then performed a computerised diagnosis that, along with the symptom I described, confirmed the need for the replacement.
I forgot to mention that I have the 2009 Brabus convertable. So the 2009 clutch is still faulty. It has been VERY dangerous to drive. I pull just past my driveway then back in. As I put the car into reverse to back in, the car will not engage and it starts rolling forward, like it is stuck in netural. I have almost hit other cars, as well as the curb. This is a MAJOR issue that Smart needs to address before someone gets hurt. Or even worse in cases like mine, hurt someone else. I could have rolled onto the curb several times, and hit someone walking by. I do not want to drive a car with the potential to hurt someone. I would love a number to call if anyone out there has one to someone at Smart that can actually get something done about this...
I think you have a case for warranty repair as you identified the problem twice prior to 24K miles; the fact that the dealer tech did not correctly diagnose the bad clutch is not your problem. If the dealer continues to balk, ask them to elevate the issue to your regional manager. If that doesn't get you what you need, contact Ken Kettenbeil at smart USA: kkettenbeil@smartusa.com
A few months after I had gotten the smart there was a time that I tried to do a quick backup and turn around. I pulled into a driveway and popped it into reverse and quickly hit the gas. Apparently too quickly, not thinking that it wasn't a true auto. The car beeped at me and went to a disengaged state. (backing down a slight hill so I didn't notice right away) As soon as I stopped and flipped it into drive and back to reverse, it was fine. Nothing since.
This is a known problem and oksanaandjohn describes it perfectly. The occurrence is disorienting because you're using the accelerator and going nowhere, even though the indicator says "R"
If smart isn't dealing with this as a defect, then we should file a complaint with NHTSA-ODI.
As we speak (type) Maxwell is in the shop for tranny issues. 23 months (whew!) and mileage in the 18s, by memory. Symptoms as above, indicator in R or D and going nowhere. After several cycles off and back on, finally got power to the wheels and drove straight to the dealer here in Vegas. Got a loaner and out in 30 minutes.
Under warranty, so far, but the odd ball thing is that it is spending an additional two days b/c the flywheel is also scored. First time they've seen this so have had some back-and-forth with Smart central exchanging photos, etc. Decided to R/R the flywheel vice turning it so have to drive the Ferrari loaner an extra day. (OK, its really a new Pure with NO accessories, not even a radio!)
... Decided to R/R the flywheel vice turning it so have to drive the Ferrari loaner an extra day. (OK, its really a new Pure with NO accessories, not even a radio!)
Well, our dealer is pretty nice then. Making you drive a pure with a radio and power steering. Oh. And it's completely ad wrapped for the dealer. In bright orange flamey look...gah. I get to drive that again next week actually. No. Not clutch.
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