A woman wakes up to find that the seat in her 2018 Smart car has exploded. When she contacts insurance, she learns that the damage isn’t covered, and she’s turning to the internet for help. TikTok creator Nathanyaa (@nathanyahh4) posted a video about the experience on Dec. 26. The video starts with a view of the seat, which is split open and melted. "How does this even happen?" Nathanyaa asks. She explains, "I remember I was driving, and I smelled burned tires, so when I finished driving, I looked at the tires, and they seemed fine. So, I left it and I went back home." To make matters worse, when Nathanyaa contacted her insurance provider, she was told there was nothing they could do because it wasn’t an accident. "I’m genuinely in shock," she says. "I bought this car outright. ...If anyone has any advice, please let me know." Viewers React To The Woman’s Smart Car Seat ‘Explosion’ In the caption, Nathanyaa wrote, "My Smart car seat literally burned from the inside because of an electrical fault. You can see the wiring. I’m genuinely scared to drive it again. Insurance says they won't cover it. Mercedes-Benz/Smart, please explain?" Several people in the comments section suggested that Nathanyaa take the issue up with Mercedes-Benz, which manufactures the Smart car in partnership with Geely Automobile Group. "This is a manufacturer issue," wrote one person. "You need to go straight to Mercedes and complain." Others cracked jokes about the state of her vehicle. "It looks like a gate to the Upside Down in ‘Stranger Things,’" said one person. "Check. Maybe a demogorgon is coming out." Someone else joked, "The car probably got too smart and decided to try out something new." What Happened To This Woman’s Smart Car? Smart cars are no longer sold in North America. Regarding older models still on the road, Smart car owners reported instances of random engine fires to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as recently as last year. The issue led Mercedes-Benz to recall more than 43,000 vehicles in 2018. The manufacturer agreed to replace a rear insulation mat in the impacted models. In 2017, Mercedes-Benz settled a class-action lawsuit alleging that the seat warmers in its Smart cars could overheat due to a copper wiring component inside. Mercedes did not admit fault but agreed to replace a bypass wire in affected models and to offer an extended warranty and partial reimbursement for future repairs to those who didn’t take the repair. So it really does seem like a situation in which Nathanyaa should contact the manufacturer, let its representatives know about the issue, and determine whether her problem is covered under an extended warranty or if she’ll need to pay out of pocket for the repairs. And, yes, commenters are correct that this could’ve resulted in injury. Back in 2021, a 6-year-old boy was burned after a seat warmer in his mother’s BMW malfunctioned. An expert told CBS News that these cases do happen, but they aren’t extremely common, nor do they generally result in serious injuries or fatalities. Motor1 contacted Nathanyaa via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We also contacted Mercedes-Benz via press email for comment. We will update this story if either party responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team