Smart Fortwo hill start assist and brake issue causing shift to neutral and key removal problem on Smart Fortwo

Some Smart Fortwo owners report experiencing issues with the hill start assist and brake system, which can cause the car to unexpectedly shift to neutral and complicate key removal. These problems may be triggered by a "Hill Start Assist Not Available" message due to malfunctioning sensors or switches, brake system problems, or software glitches. Additionally, faulty or dirty sensors that detect incline and brake pressure, as well as damaged rear-wheel ABS sensors, broken brake light fuses, or a bad battery, can also lead to this warning. In manual transmission models, the creep function is designed to prevent rolling backwards when the brake is released, but issues with the brake lights, brake switch, or gearbox may arise if the system fails. Owners experiencing these issues are advised to seek expert assistance promptly to ensure the vehicle's safety and proper functionality.