NHTSA Complaint #11122252 — 2008 SMART FORTWO

I LEARNED OF A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE EARLIER THIS YEAR - I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER BECAUSE I HAD MOVED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE RECALL WAS FOR A SAGGING INSULATION MAT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH HAD APPARENTLY CAUSED FIRES IN OTHER SMART CARS. I CONTACTED MY DEALER, KEELER OF LATHAM, WHO TOLD ME THE PARTS WERE NOT IN FOR THE REPAIR, AND SUGGESTED I CALL MERCEDES, THE MANUFACTURER. I CALLED THEM, GAVE MY UPDATED ADDRESS, THEY TOLD ME THEY'D BE IN TOUCH WHEN THE RECALLED PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. I HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED REASON A MONTH OR SO LATER, THEY NEVER CHECKED MY VEHICLE TO SEE IF THE RECALLED PARTS WERE AFFECTED. I ASKED ABOUT IT, THEY TOLD ME THE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MERCEDES STATING THE RECALL FIX WAS NOT READY BUT THAT IT WAS SAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR. ON 7/31/18, MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN, BUT ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER I PARKED THE CAR AT MY FRIEND'S HOME, HIS WIFE CAME INSIDE AND SAID "YOUR FRIEND'S CAR IS ON FIRE". WE WENT OUTSIDE, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR PART OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO GET ME INTO A NEW USED CAR, BUT MERCEDES HAS OFFERED ONLY TO PAY MY $500 DEDUCTIBLE, OR TO TAKE A SMALL DISCOUNT OFF MY PURCHASE OF A MERCEDES OR SMART CAR FROM AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES DEALER. MERCEDES HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE, AS THEIR INVESTIGATION SHOWED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SAGGING INSULATION MAT. I WAS HOPING THAT SOMETHING IN THE LAW WOULD HELP FORCE MERCEDES TO MAKE ME WHOLE. I JUST WANT TO BE BACK IN A RELIABLE USED CAR WITHOUT A CAR PAYMENT. IF THEY HAD REPAIRED THE RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER, I WOULD STILL HAVE MY CAR, WHICH WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND HAD NO PAYMENT. I DON'T WANT TO BUY A NEW MERCEDES CAR. I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS. THANKS. - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS