Woman's Smart Car Seat "Explodes" and Burns; Insurer Denies Claim, Sparking Outrage

Recently, TikTok user Nathanyaa posted a video claiming that the seat in her 2018 Smart car suddenly caught fire from the inside, resulting in melting, cracking, and exposed wiring. She recalled smelling an odor similar to burning tires before the incident but found nothing unusual upon inspection. Afterward, when she contacted her insurance company, she was told the damage wouldn’t be covered because it wasn’t caused by a traffic accident. Notably, Smart cars are co-produced by Mercedes-Benz and Geely, and sales have already ceased in North America. Previously, in 2017, Mercedes-Benz reached a class-action settlement over overheating risks associated with the seat heating system and issued a recall in 2018 for more than 43,000 affected vehicles. Many online commenters have urged Nathanyaa to contact Mercedes-Benz directly to check whether her vehicle qualifies for an extended warranty or free repairs. The affected owner is currently seeking public advice, and media outlets have reached out to both Mercedes-Benz and the owner for comment.