Recall: Bad Paint Could Lead To Roof-ectomy on Smart ForTwo
Here’s a recall you don’t see terribly often: Smart USA is recalling a handful of 2008 ForTwos because a batch of defective apaint may lead to the roof or the windshield flying off.
The recall only affects 43 units, and the bizarre nature of the paint problem points to the car’s unique construction methods. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the faulty paint was applied to the Smart’s chassis and Tridion safety cell framework. Apparently, the paint is a delaminating risk, and if the paint comes apart near the portion where the windshield and roof are adhesive-mounted, they could separate from the rest of the car. According to NHTSA, "This could cause a crash if the roof or windshield separated from the vehicle while in motion.”
Yikes. Owners of the affected ForTwos can look forward to having their Smarts repainted at dealers.
Comments
mo
yes, coz this car is made of lego. the windsheild can be seperated.... can't we label this as bad quality product.
Never liked this car..... never will.
IMSMART
I have a 2005 Smart fortwo Passion - one of the REAL Smart's from Europe (I live in PA)...it was built and engineered by Mercedes Benz - and not like the ones brought into the US by Roger Penske and ruined my Mitsubishi....last tank I got 57 mpg....and it is a GREAT car!! I think more Americans would have them with gas the way it is - except Mercedes won't import them (nor will they import their A and B series economy cars that are all over Europe and Asia)....guess they don't want to be known as a economy car in the US market - too bad for them. I am a big guy at 6' 7" and am very comfortable driving my SMART - so you should give them a second look. Also - I NEVER parallel park - can pull it in nose first anywhere!!
Anonymous
Fuck you mo you stupid sob....that little car is great and your just to fat to fit
Allsystems
This thing looks like a rolling toilet. I can just about see it being mistaken for one in some places. It's not the size that offends, but its ridiculous shape and horrible aerodynamics; just try driving this thing through a bit of wind on a high overpass or mountain. Can't someone come up with a better alternative in performance and shape? This abomination is 2008's version of "The Pacer" from AMC and "The Thing" from VW back in the 70s, only worse. Besides, why couldn't they make an ecologically friendly version, powered by hydrogen or LPG? It's stupid and it will not succeed.
Scott McAdam
Your personal tastes obviously are way out of whack, because this car has already succeeded, as there's a year's waiting list in the USA for Smart ForTwo. So, Americans in the real knowhow must be quite a bit smarter than you think.
GM, Chrysler and Ford wish they had a week's waiting list for any of their products in current production. Pretending to be an automotove design expert, aerodynamics expert and a marketing expert all in one is not very smart on your part!
Lack of practical imagination, clinging to the past and thinking such as yours is what's hurting the domestics while the imports keep marching on. People buying cars like the Smart is the kind of pioneering that made America great, so keep your insults to yourself.
Anonymous
Allsystems stupid should read.....hey dude 43 cars recalled....how many does GM, Ford recall at a time...remember the corvair? Your and idiot there is a 21 month wait for these cars. Think the big three would like that problem..with ANY model?
Stupid will not scucceed....they have you dumb fuck!
SaturnBob
"adhesive-mounted" ? Bet that'll do well going thru a car wash.
Meziked
LOL, ALL car windshields are adhesive mounted.....
You think they used wood screws or something?
JSH
LOL
Penske has a backorder that is months long for Smarts. (Penske is the North American importer for Smart.) He has been allocated 25,000 for the year and is asking for 15,000 more but won't get them because the Smart factory is already turning them out as fast as they can. This has led Mercedes to publicly announce that they are looking for sites to build another factory either in the US or Asia. Used Smarts are currently selling for thousands over new MSRP on Ebay.
Yes, it looks like this car going to fail.
JackSprat
Adhesive use is not by any means a reason to dislike a car. Some of the best driving cars on Earth have used adhesives all over. Take all Lotus cars and individual vital meeting points on anything from Aston Martins to Ferraris. This is a sheer anomoly.
The Smart is adorable for an awful lot of people with money to spend, so go and figure. And it really doesn't look like a toilet, c'mon. Drive one through any city that normally pisses you off for whatever traffic or parking reasons and you'll locate some big love for the thing fast.
Paul VanMiddlesworth
This 'recall' is for a total of 43 cars... big deal!
They recalled THOUSANDS of Corvettes for the same reason. Did that make the news?!?
If they glue them on a Corvette, it's good enough for a smart ForTwo!
IMSMART
I have a 2005 Smart fortwo Passion - one of the REAL Smart's from Europe (I live in PA)...it was built and engineered by Mercedes Benz - and not like the ones brought into the US by Roger Penske and ruined my Mitsubishi....last tank I got 57 mpg....and it is a GREAT car!! I think more Americans would have them with gas the way it is - except Mercedes won't import them (nor will they import their A and B series economy cars that are all over Europe and Asia)....guess they don't want to be known as a economy car in the US market - too bad for them. I am a big guy at 6' 7" and am very comfortable driving my SMART - so you should give them a second look. Also - I NEVER parallel park - can pull it in nose first anywhere!!
Kerry Kirsch
All windshields and fixed glass are glued in place with urethane adhesives and are a critical part of the vehicles structure, especially in rollover accidents. The problem here is with paint adhesion, not the glue. There are federal standards for paint adhesion on fixed glass panels for all vehicles. Just repainting the cars won't help, unless they take out all the glass, remove the defective paint where the glass is glued in place, refinish it and replace the glass. Not a minor repair, even if it only for 43 vehicles!
Brandon
They are taking the entire car apart to fix this. Try one of these out. You will like them. But I agree about the mitsubishi engine. Then again, never drove a MB engine either.
Anonymous
Allsystems needs to pull his head out of his ass and look for information on the smart car. The market for it overseas is quite large and has been quite succesful for a number of years. The car may look a bit aqward but it is designed for local driving and high mileage with relative comfort. Which it acomplishs very well.
Sexylooks
WHAT EVER , I LIKED IT !!!! Nancy i really like car /sport collection wallpaper at
www.vistafeel.com
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