smart fortwo transmission problem

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Permalink Reply by MoonTrout on February 25, 2010 at 12:48pm

Go to the Smart website and call their 800 number. They will take a report from you and someone will get back to you in a day or so. We followed this protocol and FINALLY got Smart USA to verify that there was a problem which in turn gave permission for our dealer in San Francisco to fix it. The car was in the shop for over a week while they completely dismantled the transmission and put it back together with a new shifter/clutch plate. We've had it back for one week and so far so good. The transmission feels much sturdier and we have not had that awful problem. OMG I hope this works. I honestly believe Smart should do a recall to fix this issue as so many drivers are experiencing it and my dealer just pretended it was completely new to them. NOT! Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Veronica on February 26, 2010 at 11:33am

Thanks a million for the info. I was frustrated because I suspected my dealer was being "closed-mouthed" and disingenious. I am going to call Smart right now.

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Permalink Reply by Micheal clark on March 9, 2010 at 2:10am

Transmission was shifting hard and sometimes not at all replaced with used trans and same problem any help would be fantastic.
Thanks,
Pickup trucks From USA.

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Permalink Reply by MoonTrout on March 9, 2010 at 1:10pm

My Smarty is finally fixed!

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Permalink Reply by Veronica on March 21, 2010 at 12:25pm

Thanks for your info; my clutch has been replaced. SmartUsa informed me that because of my call to the 800 number, they have notified not only my dealer but every dealer of the problem and how to repair it. Without this forum, I would have not gotten anywhere, other than to the point of frustration, dealing with this problem.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Becvar on April 28, 2010 at 3:33pm

I had the problem with the shift lever getting stuck in Park earlier this year. Smart sent a tow truck and fixed the problem the next morning. Everything had been going fine ever since. But, on Monday, I took it to the dealer for the 2 year service and oil change and the following morning I found myself stuck in my own garage. I shifted into Reverse, and the display went blank. I thought it was a display problem, and pushed the gas to see what would happen. The engine just started to rev faster. I think I shifted through all of the gears several times before finally getting into Reverse.

Since I was headed for a job interview and couldn't really afford to have something go wrong. I decided to take my Chevy Trailblazer instead. I had a few warning signs last time with the shifter being hard to get in and out of Park and had planned to stop by the dealer the following day... the car had other ideas.

My 2-year warranty just expired, but the dealer said they would pay to fix my problem. But seeing that this is a all too common problem, I am surprised it isn't a recall issue. I guess Toyota is getting all of that attention. The last fix was a quick fix with the shift lever, but this time he said that they will need to open up the transmission and replace it with a different metal.

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Permalink Reply by Veronica on April 28, 2010 at 4:30pm

I think they replaced the clutch plate and it was okay for a few weeks, now I am experiencing the same problem again. Not everytime I try to go into reverse, but often.

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Permalink Reply by MoonTrout on April 28, 2010 at 4:36pm

Well, I wrote too soon that my Smarty was fixed. I was SO elated that it seemed to be working. After being in the shop for a week with the gear box/clutch pulled out it DID work for a fortnight before the same problem returned. It has improved; certainly doesn't act up as much but it is still unreliable in that it craps out and won't go into gear. SMART sucks for not having a total recall. I do not recommend anyone getting this car. Perhaps it's my model and year. I don't know but I'm unhappy.

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Permalink Reply by Jim McDonough on May 2, 2010 at 12:54pm

This is why my wife's car is in the shop right now. The shifter moves but nothing happens.

I tested it myself after she reported the problem. I got the car into reverse maybe 1 time in 15 tries. Not good enough. Into drive maybe 1 time in 5.

It was so bad they gave her a loaner even though the dealer (Park Place/Dallas) doesn't give loaners on smarts.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Sawyer on May 9, 2010 at 8:15pm

I've had my 2008 Smart Pure Coupe since Aug. '08 and I always use the "manual shift. I've put less than 5000 miles on it in San Francisco (lots of hills and stop signs.) My transmission problem is that over the 21 months I've owned it, at least 6 times I've been unable to get the gear to engage. The stick-shifter goes into D, but when I press on the gas pedal, it doesn't move. It's just like it's in neutral. But I've turned off the car and then turned it back on, and then it's fixed. Just like rebooting a computer often fixes a problem. UNTIL last week when it I tried to put it into Reverse and that gear would not engage. Turn-off didn't fix it. But 2 hours later, I turned it on again and it was fixed.
Doesn't this sound like a software problem? Called Frank at the dealership and he pretended he'd never heard of this problem, so I started researching online and found this site. Yeah!

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Permalink Reply by MoonTrout on May 10, 2010 at 3:21pm

Frank is pretty useless!!!! go directly to the 800 Smart number and tell them all. Mine is still not "fixed" but at least it's working better. I live on Potrero Hill and it seems to be worse when starting up the car on the hill. Smart should do a total recall on this and get to the bottom of the problem. I do not believe that the newer models have this problem. Good luck. Or perhaps we can join forces and go picket the Mercedes dealership!

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Sawyer 1 day ago

Or perhaps a class action lawsuit.
Are we all experiencing the same problem, or does each car manifest a slightly different transmission problem? When you and others say the car won't go into gear, do you mean the shifter won't move, or the gear doesn't engage? I live just down the hill from you near Hampshire and 24th. I'd love to talk, so please give me a call if you get a chance: 641-0112.

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