NHTSA Complaint #10478536 — 2009 SMART FORTWO

AFTER GETTING HOME FROM SCHOOL, COMING IN SAYING HELLO TO THE FAMILY I WENT BACK OUT TO MY CAR TO GET MY BAG. WHEN I APPROACHED MY CAR I COULD HEAR WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE MY RADIATOR FANS STILL RUNNING DESPITE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. MY LOGIC WAS "MAYBE A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER." SO I PROCEEDED TO SIMPLY TURN THE CAR ON AND THEN OFF TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP. NOPE, THAT DIDN'T DO THE TRICK. PUZZLED I CAME INSIDE TO INFORM MY DAD WHAT WAS GOING ON, WHILE I WAS TALKING TO MY DAD I COULD HEAR THE FACTORY ALARM GOING OFF, THEN IT STARTED HONKING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE RUNNING. WHEN I APPROACHED MY CAR TO SEE IF THE THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT I LEFT SOMETHING ON. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, I SAW SMOKE COMING UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE CONSOLE, THEN SPARKS, THEN FIRE!!!! I RAN AND GRABBED THE HOSE TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE IT GOT WORSE AND POSSIBLY LOSING THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE BATTERY OUT TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. THE CARPET NEAR THE PEDDLES ARE SINGLED FROM THE FIRE AND THE FUSE BOX IS EXPOSED AND MOST OF THE PLASTIC HOUSING HAS MELTED AWAY. SADLY MY CAR IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY SO SMART WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. SO NOW I AM MAKING SOME CALLS TO SEE WHAT MY NEXT OPTIONS ARE. I'VE CALLED SMART CUSTOMER CARE AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. NOT SURE WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN, THE ONLY UPGRADE I'VE DONE ON MY SMART IS JUST UPGRADING THE HORN, BUT THAT WAS WHEN I FIRST GOT IT. I'LL POST PICTURES LATER. NEEDLESS TO SAY I'M GLAD THIS HAPPENED AFTER I PARKED THE CAR AT MY HOUSE RATHER THEN BEING STUCK ON THE SIDE OF ROAD WATCHING IT BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND LOSING MY CAR COMPLETELY. *TR