It should be (it's defective from the factory)... but it's not.

 

You have a 2009 right? Is your warranty still active?

 

If you are still within the factory warranty period, it should be covered. If you bought an extended warranty, and that has taken over, they you are SOL. As far as I know, none of the extended warranties cover it.

I agree though, smart knows they have an issue, and they should replace any that are defective, no matter the mileage. That would be the right thing to do.

 

I do have a couple weeks left on the original warranty.
I guess I'll call the dealership and ask.
If it is replaced, are the new sunroofs made any better, or are they prone to the same thing?

 

same.

There are some rumors that there is more than one manufacturer of the extra-special plastic, and if true you could get lucky, but there are several who have gone through more than one, and there are some that have had the cracking show up within the first year -- CLEARLY a defect, just not [yet] recognized as such.

 

Replacement roofs are no better, but will buy you some time to sell the car.

Don't ask...Insist the roof be replaced while the car is still in warranty. MB is notorious for trying to stretch out action until your warranty expires.

Be sure you get dated written acknowledgment of your complaint. Watch Em ! A2Jack.

 

Mines a 2008, year and a half outside in El Paso 100 plus degree sun. now in Oklahoma and garaged most time. Still as clear as new. Only used mild soap and water. Shade closed 99 percent of the time. Decided against putting additional sunshade in roof.

 

This subject has been done to death in over 1,100 posts:http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/fo...forums/f25/passion-coupe-owners-your-roof-crazing-21636/?highlight=roof+crazing

Don't think anything new will surface here...

 

I disagree. This topic needs to be kept on top until MB makes all the effected owners whole.

If we quit posting about crazed roofs MB will continue to bury the issue, and they will escape all responsabilty.

Sooner or later MB will have to pay up. keep the heat on, and don't be such kool aid sipping whimps. A2Jack

 

just some smart cracks...

 

The Magnusson-Moss Warranty Protection Act has two "implied warranties" any manufacturer cannot just pen away in his written warranty, but all of them try.

15USC50 2300 et. al. is the magic number....

The Implied Warranty of Merchantability, which has no magic end date, states that the materials the car is made of were ready for sale when it was sold. Of course, we know better! The crazing is NOT "normal", just inferior plastic that needs to be replaced at THEIR, not your, expense. The Act IS Federal Law and fully enforceable on MBUSA and Penske. As the SELLER, magic word, the DEALER is responsible to replace the defective parts at no expense to the owner. They'll say no....remind them of their obligation....even after the measily warranty ran out.

The first replacement, in year 3, came loose from improper installation. Number 3 seems to be fine, so far, though it's still made of the same defective Makrolon cheap plastic ($1400) the original was. If it crazes, I'll be back! The problem has NOT been fixed and no recall of any Smart Car has ever been done on a mass scale that I know of.
United States Code: Title 15,CHAPTER 50—CONSUMER PRODUCT WARRANTIES | LII / Legal Information Institute

Para 2308 and 2304(a)(4) are your friends!United States Code: Title 15,2308. Implied warranties | LII / Legal Information Institute

Have your attorney contact your "NO" dealer if you have trouble.....(d^

Federal Trade Commission, tasked with enforcement, has written a second-grade-level booklet to help your dealer and manufacturer understand what their responsibilities are to you. Luckily, you can read it, too!
http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus01-businesspersons-guide-federal-warranty-law
Print your dealer his own copy so he can keep it in his office for handy reference before telling you to kiss off in the future. Your service manager has no idea what it says and doesn't want to know, in case there's litigation. "Serve" him a copy, if you have to. He really needs to know!....

 

Keeping an issue continuously in the forefront could make them so used to it, they could find it easier to ignore, just from the amount of practice they have had ignoring it

 

Nothing gets a wheel some grease faster than all that squeeking noise.

But, you knew that....

 

YUM!!!

 

Now THAT'S a heart-attack waiting for a place to happen!

 

I do find it interesting that a cabrio owner seems to make the biggest noise about this, just an observation

 

I do find it interesting that a cabrio owner seems to make the biggest noise about this, just an observation

For biggest noise please see Post #13.

Glad you find it interesting that a smart (cabrio) owner is sympathetic toward the plight of a fellow owner with a crazed roof and no solution. Sadly MB chooses to ignore the problem which impacts us all.

No sandwich offer for jimvw57.

 

The dealer had me email him some pictures to submit to the warranty people. We'll see where that leads.

 

Okay, so I finally got my new roof - it was under warranty to my surprise. It is really nice to have a clear view out now.

Now I'd like to keep it from crackling. So I'm thinking that maybe the cause was sparying cold water on a hot car during a wash or something. Any opinions on that? What are eveybody's car wash habits, and what are your roofs like?

 

It cracked because the material was defective. Other than keeping your smart in a dark cool dry place, it will eventually happen again. It's not your fault.:wink:

When it happens again, it will be out of warranty and MB and Kamaal don't care so take a hike

The only sure-fire way to overcome it is to buy a cab.:wink:

 

Why can't they just make an accordion roof like a VW Polo Open Air?

Webasto makes the smart plastic roof and they make a fabric roof.

Unless the service centers clean up their acts, I think I'll steer clear from another smart. They act like you pulled up in a UFO or something. They seriously treat you like the smart is made with alien technology.

The salesman did say the 2014's will be the new design and available for order September 2013. Maybe if its awesome I'll consider it.

 

Sad but true, this leaves a sour taste with me.
As much as I like my smart, if I must fight for a defective part to be replaced, I wouldn 't consider a Daimler product again. Loved my Audis and BMWs, but when I went to ACURA I was treated much better. I then went back to German cars, which I really enjoy, but there is a lesson here.

 

That's just painful to watch!

 

There is an additional option for the roof issue, that being a replacement with a solid roof. Someone on here just had that done (or so they mentioned), and the changes would have involved the roof itself plus the inner trim that houses the rails and reel for the "sunshade".

Our solid roof looks the same as the day that we bought it. It also keeps our car cool on hot days with blinding sunlight streaming out of the bright blue, cloudless east Texas sky.

It does take away the "feature" of the transparent roof, but quite frankly they let in too much sunlight down here. I also found looking "up" when test driving a Passion was simply not worth the effort.

We ordered one with the sunroof, but were we ever glad when we were offered an identical vehicle without the feature. Repeated familiarization drives during the waiting period convinced us that, if it was that hot in September, it would be a lot worse during August.

The main problem here is that the dealership might not be willing to sub a solid roof (with the added costs of the trim change out) for a failed clear roof. The only way to find out is to ask.

 

AFAIK, that is the ONLY way to permanently fix the problem!

 

Has anyone thought of covering the crazed roof with a product like Linex for pickup truck beds? I have had my last three trucks sprayed with Linex product and it works great and is slightly flexible. It has a very similar finish to the factory solid roof. Just a thought and is should cost under $100.00 to spray.

 

A good idea. The only issue would be that the better stuff is sprayed on hot. The roof would probably hold up, but it would be an unknown. Or you could go with one of the cold-spray materials, but I think they are a little less robust and not quite as attractive (duller). That's the kind I have on my truck because I'm cheap:wink:

 

My 2009, build date April 2009, purchased September 2009, has finally crazed. What I want to know is has anyone had an actual failure of the roof. Do they fall in, shatter, fly off or leak? I plan to keep it for a long time, so resell value is not a big deal. But ultimately am I looking at a catastrophic failure?

 

there have, AFAIK been no reports of failures. It's mostly a cosmetic thing, though I remember that there was a reduction in strength (which isn't surprising) comment posted by someone. The aerodynamics loads on the roof are quite low. It's unknown how long the roof will ultimately last -- I suspect quite a long time. The real issue is that people paid for a see-through roof, but got crazing instead.

 

Ho hum..... Just paint the GD thing!

 

+1 opcorn:

 

Question

I have been reading about this roof problem and it is somewhat like what I have but I think what you guys are talking about is permanent?

My 2010 at times when I drive it in the morning it looks like a million tiny bubbles through out the plastic. All most like it is dew on the plastic, but if you feel the top it is dry because it is parked in my garage. Then some time later it is completely clear again.

It is as if there is moisture sandwiched between two pieces and it drys out. The roof plastic does not look like it is two or more pieces?

Is this the same as you guys are talking about or is yours permanent?

Thanks, Jim

 

I have been reading about this roof problem and it is somewhat like what I have but I think what you guys are talking about is permanent?

My 2010 at times when I drive it in the morning it looks like a million tiny bubbles through out the plastic. All most like it is dew on the plastic, but if you feel the top it is dry because it is parked in my garage. Then some time later it is completely clear again.

It is as if there is moisture sandwiched between two pieces and it drys out. The roof plastic does not look like it is two or more pieces?

Is this the same as you guys are talking about or is yours permanent?

Thanks, Jim

the defect IS permanent. You may have it already and just need to be in the right light conditions to see it. It's not a moisture problem, it's a manifestation of an internal degradation of the material. Some people think it's no big seal that it's a defect; I'm not one of them. You paid for it, it's defective, MB should make it right since they are the ones that made the poor material choice (or have poor supplier quality control). It will lower the value of your car at resale, unless you trade it in at a smart center (and maybe then as well, who knows?)

 

i like the idea of replacing my crazed roof with the solid black one. i havent contacted my dealer yet, im still under warranty.....wonder if theyll change out for solid roof under warranty....

 

I read somewhere that the solid roof is heavier and makes the car even more top heavy.
Is this true? :frustration:

 

not enough that you would notice it during driving or filling up the tank!:wink: The weight is a non-issue.