Problem Smart, from the Start

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the smart community and super excited to be a part of it!

I choose a smart as my first car because I love everything about them. They are so cute and good on gas, plus they get tons of attention (something I’m not opposed to having a lot of). But I have unfortunately had problems with the car since I first got it around a month and a half ago.

I picked the car up from the dealership one evening after work, after going in every second day and debating if it was what I really wanted, putting down the deposit and then counting down the days. I took it for a drive through Assiniboine Park that night and instantly fell in love. It was amazing, I couldn't have been happier!

When I got home that night, the problems started. My boyfriend was driving the car in the standard mode and all of a sudden it started to shake really bad. It sounded like we were driving a riding lawn mower. This was followed by the engine light coming on. It stayed this way until we parked and shut off the car. Turning the car off and on seemed to fix the problem.

I took the car in to the dealership the next day to be safe. They hooked their computers up to it and found fault codes for "cylinder mis-fire" on all 3 cylinders. They told me they checked a couple things, didn't have a solution to the problem and to give them a call if it did it again. I took the car and went on my way.

A couple days later it happened again. I left work to go for lunch and as I was slowing down to stop at a red light the engine light came on. The car had been sitting in the sun all day and I thought this might have something to do with it because it seemed like it only acted up when the engine was hot.

I took it back to the dealership and they kept it for a couple days. They told me they would have their service manager take it and see if he could make the engine light come on. He did make it happen, after putting close to 200 kms on my car. (Did I mention it’s a lease?) The dealership called me to pick up the car because they had fixed the problem. They ended up switching the computer in the engine out with one from their show room car. I was thrilled, I was going to get my baby back and everything was going to be perfect.

When I got to the dealership the car was sitting out side. I went to get in the car, when I noticed a scratch in the paint on the safety cell beside the door handle. I was pissed. The dealership ended up keeping the car for a few more days and having it painted.

I finally got my car back after a week of not having it and everything seemed to be fine, I drove it for a few days problem free. Then it happened again…twice! I took it back to the dealership; they have it for another week and replace various electronic systems. They also drove it over another 100kms. I get it back, drive 2 km from the dealership and it happens again. At this point I’m sick of dealing with it, I haven’t even made my first payment on it and the dealership has driven it more than I have! They end up keeping the car for yet another week. I get a call and they tell me all I can do is drive it till it happens again, because they can't make it happen and are stumped. They also tell me that Smart has 35 reported cases of this and they don't have a solution for the problem either.

At this point I am done dealing with the service department; I go back to my salesperson. He tells me he will discuss the matter with his manager and get back to me. He gets back to a few days later and tells me they have informed Smart Canada, who is looking into replacing my car. The thing is, this is my first car and I don’t want to just give him up! I know I’m being difficult saying that and should be grateful, but it’s my baby. You can’t just get rid of it when it stops working, can you?

This is where it gets dramatic (which I’m normally a fan of). I went to Subway on Friday for the sub of the day (Tuna!). I was there at 1:30 ish, middle of the day, people everywhere. I was parked as close to the building as possible, without being in the handicapped spot. As I was standing in line I saw 2 teenagers walk past my car. Being a new car owner, and it being my first car, I was nervous that someone would be walking so close to my car. I go outside and find 2 huge scratch marks on the side of my car, they had keyed my car. This just tore me apart; it is just one thing after another with this car. I love it to death, but it has been hell on wheels.

After having a breakdown in the parking lot at work, I go back to subway with my boyfriend to see if they have security cameras that might have caught the culprits at work. Turns out they don’t, so now I am stuck having to pay the deductible for my insurance because some stupid teenager decided to key my brand new car. I took the rest of the afternoon off of work, ate dark chocolate and cried.

So, what I’m getting to with all this is:

Does anybody know where I can get 1 black passenger side door panel? I’m hoping that it would be cheaper to buy the single panel by itself than paying to go through autopac.

Also, has anyone else had this engine problem? What was your solution? Any and all input is appreciated.