Hi all,
I thought maybe this would be the place to go to see what can be done about my mom’s situation. For context, last year, in Nov 2022, my mom bought a used, 2018 Smart ForTwo EQ for around 20k. Just a week or two ago, she calls me to tell me her car won’t start, so I ask her to show me what it says, she video calls, and I see something similar to a High Voltage battery error. So we get it towed to her house, and she makes an appt with the Mercedes dealership she bought it from. FF to today, they tell her that it’ll be 23k to replace the battery. Anyone here who might be able to help me figure out what her next steps are? She doesn’t have anywhere near that kind of money on hand, and neither do I.
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I really wanted to get a smart eq as a second fun car, but these stories are making me too nervous to own one. I used to have an ice smart, and getting that repaired was a nightmare.
What’s the best option for a used small car EV? A golf or mini?
Bolt.
Fiat 500e
C40.
If it isn’t warranty just call a hybrid doctor (that’s what my local company is called)
They replace the cells in the battery instead of having to buy a whole new one if it’s the EV battery causing a fault.
Significantly cheaper. I work at a dealer on the parts side and yeah just those batteries alone is like 18K
Tesla actually made those batteries as part of a deal with Mercedes for their help in the beginning when Tesla was starting up. Electrified garage has helped people with those before and for a lot less money than 23k!
Even if the EV battery is dead, your mom can go to a company who will refresh the battery for way less than replacement.
She probably may only need a brand new 12V battery. Make sure they properly test the battery. Pick one up at Costco and swap the old one out.
Never buy any Mercedes EV. Or cars as a matter of a fact.
The new Mercedes-Benz batteries are seemingly a lot more reliable than the old Tesla-derived batteries. While we can’t know 100% yet, some “old” electric B classes died after a few months.
The owners manual will tell you warranty coverage. If you don’t have it’s probably the manufacturer website. Most brands have it available for download there
Not that I’m recommending this but I’ve seen someone do this is in the same situation.
Got it towed away from the dealer. Ensure it has comprehensive coverage. Tage a mini sledgehammer to the bottom but don’t cause anything deeper than an inch. Don’t want a thermal event. 😬 Tow it to an independent shop that works on EV’s. Start an insurance claim for road debris. Pay deductible. YMMV
12v is in the passenger floor. It’s a shit to get to but start there.
Traction batteries don’t just “conk out”, and I’d bet there is nothing wrong with the battery. Volt owners know all too well that dealership service departments don’t know anything about EVs, don’t want to work on them, and will absolutely tell you a lie so you go away and leave them alone.
Get that car to an independent EV shop and find out what’s really wrong.
When a dealership tells you “oh, it’s the battery, it’s going to cost XXXXX”, they are lying.
Amen, find out WHICH battery is the culprit from an independent, EV savvy center or mobile repair if immobile.
Yeah, probably the tech said “bad battery” and the quote writer said “battery? OMG” and the tech never got an opportunity to say “not THAT battery!”
Another victim of the EV hype scam.
Better than being a victim of OPEC’s oil scam.
That’s debatable and also geographical.
Is it possible to have the car towed to a 3. party workshop? While I realize that the US has large distances and a scattered population, the cells themselves are probably intact. In all likelyhood, we’re talking a bad circuit board, a couple of joints that need to be re-soldered due to corrosion or bad wires. An EV service center can probably fix this, although that won’t be cheap either.
Go get another opinion as Service departments at dealerships are still learning how to take care of EVs. Plus follow the advice on the warranty. It should still be under warranty. If all of that doesn’t work, then contact Mercedes Benz customer service.
Best advice I can give you is to get off Reddit and ask a consumer lawyer to look into it. You need legal advice on something as big as a £20k car.