2008 SMART FORTWO CABRIO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

CAN NOT TURN IGNITION KEY TO START THE CAR. CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS HAD TO PRY UP CONSOLE TO SWITCH THE THE YELLOW UP. THEN HAD TO PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL. PUT OIL IN GEAR SHAFT AREA. PLUS BLOW OUT ANY DEBRIS THAT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN IN KEY HOLE. ALSO PUT LUBRICANT IN KEY SHAFT. WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE KEY FINALLY TURNED OVER. AFTER BEING STRANDED FOR FOUR HOURS IN 0 DEGREE WEATHER. MY VEHICLE REMAINS IN A PARKING LOT. HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO NO DEALERS WORK ON A SMART CAR. HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OR HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS FAULTY MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

CAN NOT TURN IGNITION KEY TO START THE CAR. CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS HAD TO PRY UP CONSOLE TO SWITCH THE THE YELLOW UP. THEN HAD TO PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL. PUT OIL IN GEAR SHAFT AREA. PLUS BLOW OUT ANY DEBRIS THAT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN IN KEY HOLE. ALSO PUT LUBRICANT IN KEY SHAFT. WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE KEY FINALLY TURNED OVER. AFTER BEING STRANDED FOR FOUR HOURS IN 0 DEGREE WEATHER. MY VEHICLE REMAINS IN A PARKING LOT. HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO NO DEALERS WORK ON A SMART CAR. HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OR HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS FAULTY MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

THIS CONCERNS NHTSA RECALL #18V273. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AT A DEALER 30 MILES FROM MY HOME. SMART HAS LEFT THE US MARKET AND THEIR WEBSITE SHOWS THE CLOSEST DEALER IS 220 MILES AWAY (ONE DIRECTION). THEIR WEBSITE SAYS THAT AUTHORIZED MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERS CAN PERFORM THE RECALL WORK. I TRIED MY LOCAL MERCEDES-BENZ AND THEY REFERRED ME TO A DEALER THAT IS OVER 100 MILES AWAY (ONE WAY). DOESN'T THE MANUFACTURER HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PERFORM THE RECALL IN A REASONABLE MANNER? I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A LOCAL DEALER, NOW IT WILL TAKE ME DOING A 200 MILE TRIP TO GET THIS RECALL DONE. SHOULDN'T THE MANUFACTURER BE REQUIRED TO ARRANGE FOR A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER TO DO THIS RECALL?

RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 2018060010. I LIVE IN BOISE, IDAHO. THE CLOSEST DEALER THAT CAN DO THE RECALL WORK IS IN DRAPER UTAH. THE DEALER WANTS ME TO DRIVE THE CAR TO UTAH TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A SAFE IDEA FOR ME. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAINED 2008 SMART CAR. ON 12/3102015 AT 11:50 AM. (SUNNY, 80 DEG. F) I WENT THRU A CITY INTERSECTION, AT ABOUT 15 MPH, TO TURN LEFT, I WAS HIT BROADSIDE ("T" BONED), INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BY A FORD E250 VAN, FILLED WITH AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT, WHICH WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35MPH. MY SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, BUT THE FRONT STEERING-WHEEL AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. BUT MY INJURIES ARE ON MY LEFT SIDE OF MY HEAD AND BODY AND ARE AS FOLLOWS: CONCUSSION (CONTINUED MENTAL CONFUSION/SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS); BROKEN STERNUM-CLAVICLE--JAW (2) PLACES (SURGERY IMPLANTED 2 METAL PLATES); SHATTERED UPPER FEMUR (ROD SURGERY INSERTED TO KNEE); BROKEN UPPER AND LOWER DENTAL PLATES THAT LACERATED MY TONGUE. TWO WEEK HOSPITALIZATION. I BOUGHT MY SMART CAR, BELIEVING THE SALES HYPE, THAT THIS WAS A SAFE CARE WITH "GOOD" RATINGS IN FRONT AND SIDE CRASH TESTS. EVEN THE PICTURES OF SIDE CRASH TESTS SHOWING SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SHOWED MUCH LESS DAMAGE THAN MINE. FAILURE OF MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING, I SUFFERED EXTENUATING INJURIES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE IF HAD MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED?