NHTSA Complaint #10654214 — 2009 SMART FORTWO

WHILE A BODY PANEL WAS BEING REPLACED ON A 2009 SMART FORTWO PASSION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT, UNBEKNOWNST TO THE CAR'S OWNER, THE MECHANISM SECURING THE TAILGATE IN PLACE HAD CORRODED SO BADLY THAT THE TAILGATE WAS IN DANGER OF, LITERALLY, FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. HE REATTACHED THE TAILGATE BUT WAS SINCERELY CONCERNED THAT IT HAD BEEN IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF OR--GIVEN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, LIKE OPEN WINDOWS AND HIGHWAY SPEED--FLYING OFF AND PERHAPS HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED FILING A REPORT IN CASE THIS CORROSION PROBLEM AFFECTS OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. MORE DETAILS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE MECHANIC. TO CONTACT THE MECHANIC, SIMPLY EMAIL OR CALL THE FILER OF THIS REPORT. *TR