The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary evaluations in response to complaints that Smart ForTwo engines are catching fire before quickly engulfing the car in flames. Eight complaints have found their way to NHTSA about fires in 2008-2009 Four Twos, with six of the incidents occurring while the cars were being driven.
According to the agency, the incidents began with the illumination of the vehicles’ check-engine light, followed by smoke and odd noises. In every occurrence, owners claim the fires quickly spread to the entire car.
In one complaint, the owner of a 2008 Fortwo told NHTSA that he heard a deafening pop behind his head, emanating from the tiny car’s engine compartment. Alarmed, the man pulled over to investigate, only to see flames shooting from the back of the Smart. “Had I not pulled off to the shoulder when I did, my story would not be coming directly from me but from my obituary,” reads the owner’s report. “Mercedes-Benz has been notified of this death trap, yet have not chosen to recall or check into the issue.”
NHTSA will now run a micro-investigation to evaluate if further inquiry and engineering analysis is warranted. If the investigation does leads to a recall, it would affect 42,875 vehicles sold in the U.S. market. Mercedes-Benz, which builds Smart cars, said it is unaware of any injuries related to the incidents.
However, the company may be conducting its own investigation already. It is safe to assume that the fire risk is already on Mercedes’ radar. There’s even an entire website — Smartcarsucks.com — devoted to documenting the fires. The site went up after a Smart owner who watched their Fortwo go up in flames in 2012 decided to warn potential Smart buyers and existing owners of the potential hazard.
[Image: Smartcarsucks.com]
Embarrassment?
86er – ha ha. My thoughts exactly.
“Thank for calling Maxwell Smart Cars Inc, this is Chet how can I help you?
“Hello, this light keeps coming on the dash which looks like a flame, what does it mean?”
In every occurance the owners were happy.
It might be because of overheating. This is also the stated reason why the latest ADAC eco test showed extreme amounts of emissions from the latest ForTwo. The cooling is simply inadequate for this tiny rear engined car.
Maybe that awful transmission is the culprit.
The fact that they catch fire wouldn’t matter if no one bought them.
Reminds me of the philosophical question, ” If a Smart ForTwo catches fire, does anyone care?”
At least the Ford Pinto had to be rear ended in order to ignite. They never spontaneously self-immolated…
Replace “Ford Pinto” with “Trump appointees”.
Ok:
At least the Trump appointees had to be rear ended in order to ignite. They never spontaneously self-immolated…
That makes a ton of sense. Well done.
You know, several, you know, dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It’s just not really widely reported.
This comment goes to 11.
That was beautiful. What was that called?
@MazdaThreeve, it is a quote from the movie, “This Is Spın̈al Tap.” I highly recommend viewing this movie!
“That was beautiful. What was that called?”
Lick My Love Pump
(facepalm)
That quote sailed right over my head yesterday…
This should be regarded as a feature instead of a flaw. It enables you to sell the thing to your insurance company without incurring liability.
I think that’s a Lambo, dude…
A flambo, surely?
Tesla makes the SmartForTwo now?
They’re just committing suicide.
Hey, at least the owners don’t drive a Buick Encore. Wait a minute…
I assume there are a lot more of these put-putting around Europe than in the US (although most of those are probably using less combustible diesel). Wonder how the flambe experience is over there?
Well, it has a rear engine, front cooling system, just like the Pontiac Fiero. Rearrange the letters in “Fiero”, and you get “Fire-O”.
Daimler Smart For Two: Rearrange the letters, and you get “Smart Dam Fire or Two L”.
Close enough for ME!
Edit: I know a fellow who has one – I’ll let him know as soon as I see him.
Drama? Lots! Fire! Mr. Tow!
That’s bloody OUTSTANDING!
Kudos, Sir!
I wonder how many more fires there would be considering the only ones I see around here are used as stationary billboards parked in front of cellphone stores and low end auto insurance places.
Chances are the rear engine cooling and front radiator is inadequate. Shades of Fiero. It could need an auxiliary fan. It’s not a Corvair or air cooled Porsche.
Why are just those two years implicated? They’ve been selling the fortwo since 2001, if I’m not mistaken. I forget when US sales started, but the 1st Gen fortwo (which 2008/2009 are) is rather old. If this tendency to burst into flames were a thing, surely it’d be well- and widely know by now. Very odd!
From experience, either the boost tube blows off or the I/C gets a hole rubbed into it from the console that is supposed to hold it in place (yeah!) and if the turbo seals are worn (’08-09? you betcha) it will spill oil onto the exh. manifold.
Said all that, a good shop that knows how many spark plugs are in the 3cyl engine (6, natch) should be able to catch this before an unfortunate conflagration. But that needs experience with Smarts not just any car.
“According to the agency, the incidents began with the illumination of the vehicles’ check-engine light, followed by smoke and odd noises.”
Odd noises? Like terrified screaming?