NHTSA Complaint #10253804 — 2008 SMART FORTWO

I PURCHASED A SMART PASSION ON ABOUT SEPTEMBER 19, 2008. WHEN I WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE, HE WAS SHOWING ME ALL THE FEATURES OF THE CAR AND WHEN HE GOT TO THE SUN SHADE WHICH BLOCKS OUT EXCESSIVE LIGHT FROM THE GLASS ROOF, THE REP. HAD DIFFICULTY OPERATING THE SHADE AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BEING RECALLED. APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING, MY SHADE BECAME COMPLETELY DYSFUNCTIONAL IN THE OPEN POSITION. I NOTIFIED THE SMART NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE CENTER BY PHONE & THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SHADE WAS NOT RECALLED. I'VE GONE ONLINE TO SMART FORUMS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SHADE IS DYSFUNCTIONAL IN MANY OF THE CARS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A REPAIR CENTER YET BUT PLAN TO ASAP. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS VISUAL HAZARD DURING BRIGHT LIGHTING CONDITIONS. ON THE SAME VEHICLE, MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES WHICH WE ARE UNABLE TO GET THE BACK GLASS TO LATCH IN THE CLOSED POSITION. ONCE I WAS OVER 160 MILES FROM HOME. I NOTIFIED THE SMART CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND WAS TOLD TO TRY TO USE BUNGEE CORDS TO KEEP IT CLOSED. I WENT ONLINE TO A FORUM AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS TOO WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN UNSAFE METHOD TO DRIVE A VEHICLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR THE REAR GLASS TO COME OPEN DURING TRAVEL OR ALLOWING WATER TO SETTLE IN THE VEHICLE DURING RAIN. *TR