NHTSA Complaint #10760696 — 2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE

THIS CAR HAS PERIODICALLY FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE. LAST EVENT THAT I EXPERIENCED IS WHEN I ACTUALLY REALIZED IT TO BE AN SAFETY ISSUE. I GOT INTO MY CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. I STARTED THE CAR AS USUAL AND PROCEEDED TO PLACE IT IN REVERSE. IT WAS BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AS I BELIEVED IT SHOULD. A CAR WAS COMING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH WOULD NORMALLY NOT BE A PROBLEM BUT THIS TIME IT WAS DIFFERENT MY CAR WAS NOT TRULY ENGAGED INTO REVERSE AND WOULDN'T AND ALSO WOULDN'T GO INTO DRIVE. MY CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE ROAD INSTEAD. I HAVE A PROBLEM MANEUVERING OUT OF THE WAY AS THE OTHER DRIVER WAS EXPECTING ME TO BE ABLE. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THE OTHER DRIVER THAT WAS HEADING MY WAY HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES AND NEARLY HIT US. I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM UP WITH MERCEDES AND SMART CAR. THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. WHEN I WAS AT THE SERVICE STATION FOR A TMPS PROBLEM THAT NO ONE ELSE COULD FIX, I TOLD THEM THEN. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED A COMPUTER UPDATE. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY COULD FIX IT BUT I COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT. THEY ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE WITH THE CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MANY SMART CARS LIKE MINE ARE EXPERIENCING. THERE IS A YOUTUBE VIDEO OUT. I FEEL THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT BY THIS DEFECT. I FEEL THAT OTHERS COULD BE GETTING HURT BY THIS DEFECT. SMART CAR HAS NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THIS DEFECT BEFORE. THEY ARE ONLY WILLING AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX IT. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY NEEDED TO NOTIFY OTHERS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO DO. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS COMPANY FIX THEIR PRODUCT AND SPARE THE LIVES OF INNOCENT VICTIMS. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS NOT MY VIDEO. FOLLOW THIS LINK HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=4IWBPVZKSZE