NHTSA Complaint #10491528 — 2009 SMART FORTWO

ON JANUARY 1ST 2013, I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY PREOWNED 2009 SMART CAR BRABUS, I HIT A AVERAGE SIZE POT HOLE BUT DIDN'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT MUCH BECAUSE I'M USED TO HITTING THESE POTHOLES. BUT AS I DROVE ON FOR ANOTHER MINUTE, THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO STOP ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. AND SLOWLY PULL OVER. COME TO FIND OUT THAT MY TIRES WERE POPPED, THE RIMS ARE BENT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WHEELS, I FOUND THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CUSHION TO WITHSTAND IMPACTS SUCH AS A DECENT SIZE POTHOLE OR BUMP. I ALSO WENT ON THE SMART CAR OF AMERICA FORUMS, OTHER SMART CAR BRABUS OWNERS ALSO IS GOING THROUGH WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH. IT IS REALLY WEIRD FOR ME ESPECIALLY I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR ONLY 130 MILES. THE SIZE OF THE TIRE(215/35R17) CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CUSHION FOR ANY TYPE OF DECENT SIZE IMPACT. *TR