NHTSA Complaint #10298992 — 2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE

THE SERVICE FLAP (HOOD) ON MY 2009 SMART CAR HAS DETACHED TWICE. IN EACH INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED BEHIND A MOTORHOME. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT THE DEALERSHIP SENT ME A NEW HOOD AND I INSTALLED IT MYSELF AS THERE WAS NO DEALER WITHIN 1,500 MILES OF MY LOCATION. AFTER THE SECOND TIME AND WITH MORE DAMAGE DONE SMARTUSA IS CLAIMING THAT THE HOOD WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED BY ME CAUSING IT TO COME OFF. THIS TIME EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND THAT IN ALL INSTANCES SMARTUSA FAULTS THE OWNERS FOR NOT PROPERLY REPLACING THE HOOD. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS IS A CONTINUING ISSUE AND ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THEN CAR IS NOT BEING TOWED THAT A HOOD FLYING OFF COULD CAUSE A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. THE HOOD REMAINS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE BY A STRAP AND WILL FLAP IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER UNTIL SPEED IS REDUCED. THIS COULD CAUSE PANIC AND AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT. *TR