- Vehicles
- 43
- Built between
- Apr 2008 – Jun 2008
- Models
- 1
- Recall type
- Vehicle
- Initiated by
- Manufacturer
- Owners notified
- 30 October 2008
- Repaired
- Not reported
- Unrepaired
- Not reported
Does this affect my vehicle?
This recall covers vehicles built between April 2008 and June 2008. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.
- 2008 Smart FortwoBuilt April 2008 to June 2008
What the defect is
Smart USA is recalling 43 my 2008 fortwo 451 vehicles. A single batch of paint sent to the company did not meet specifications. A re-work was done in the plant using different formulations of painting materials. After the re-work was completed, it was determined that the combination of materials used to repaint the frame and chassis could lead to de lamination of the paint materials from the body and frame structures.
What could happen
Such de laminating can take place in the area of the body where the windshield and roof have been affixed with adhesive, which could affect the adhesion of those components to the vehicle body, increasing the risk of separation. This could cause a crash if the roof or windshield separated from the vehicle while in motion.
What gets fixed
DEALERS WILL REPAINT THE AFFECTED AREAS TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2008.
Timeline
- Vehicles builtApril 2008 to June 2008
- Recall reported to NHTSA7 August 2008
- Owners notified30 October 2008
Your rights
A safety recall repair is free. Under US federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety defect at no cost to you — no charge for parts, labor or diagnosis — whether or not you are the original owner. A dealer cannot charge you for recall work, and cannot require you to have bought the vehicle from them.
That entitlement is not unlimited. It applies where the vehicle was first sold less than 15 years before the recall was announced — 5 years for tires. Past that a manufacturer may still do the repair free of charge, and many do, but they are no longer obliged to. This recall was reported on 7 August 2008.
To arrange the repair, contact any franchised dealer for the brand. If a dealer refuses the work or tries to charge for it, you can report that to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on 1-888-327-4236.
Manufacturer contact
Owners may contact smart USA at 1-248-648-2451.
Official source
- Manufacturer's recall number
- 0808-001
- Recalling manufacturer
- SMART USA DISTRIBUTOR LLC
- Recall initiated by
- MFR
Everything on this page — the models listed, the build dates and the repair figures — comes from the manufacturer's filing to NHTSA and describes the vehicle line as a whole, not any individual car. Only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its recall work has already been carried out. Check yours by VIN and read the official notice at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Additional notes
Smart USA recall NO.0808-001.CUSTOMERS may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Check your own vehicle
This page describes the recall, not any one car. To see which recalls cover a specific vehicle, search by make, model and year.
A VIN lookup here identifies your vehicle and shows recalls issued for that make, model and year. It cannot tell you what is still open on your individual car - only the manufacturer knows that. Search by VIN instead, or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for whether a recall is still open on your individual car.