MERCEDES-BENZ HEADLIGHT LENSES Complaints

I HAVE A 1995 S320 BENZ . ON END OF SEPTEMBER THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I CHANGED THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR THAN A MONTH LATER THE A/C SOMETIMES WORK AND OTHER TIMES NOT I CHANGED THE VACUUM HOSES THAT GOES TO AC SOLENOID PLUS THE EGR HOSE, AND ONE WIRE THAT GOES TO THE A/C RELAY. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN GOES ON AND I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASK IF ANY RECALL ON 1995 S320 THEY SAY NO. YET THERE IS OVER 150 COMPLAINED TO YOUR DEPARTMENT. *NM

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2001 SLK 320. I HAVE HAD CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH HEADLAMPS AND BRAKE LAMPS GOING OUT , BULBS MELTING IN LAMPS ON BRAKES AS WELL AS HEADLAMPS. IN THE BEGINNING THESE REPAIRS WERE PAID UNDER MANUF. WARRANTY. HOWEVER, I AM PAYING FOR REPLACEMENT BULBS, MOST RECENTLY A HEADLAMP PROBLEM I WILL HAVE TO HAVE REPLACED AT A COST CLOSE TO $600. TODAY I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM MERCEDES NOTICE FOR THE BRAKE LAMP PROBLEM. I QUESTION THAT THE SAME MAY BE TRUE OF HEADLIGHTS. MY CONDITION OF BRAKE AND HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED AS WELL AS A BRAKE LAMP REPLACED IN THE PAST, WAS SO CHRONIC, I ORDERED AND PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR ELECTRICAL TESTING ON MY CAR WHERE NOTHING WRONG WAS DISCOVERED. MY POINT HERE IS THAT I FEEL IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM ADDRESSED BY MERCEDES IN MY RECALL # 2006-080005, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE REMISS FOR SAFETY PURPOSES TO NOT ANNOUNCE THAT I BELIEVE THE SAME CONDITION APPLIES TO MY SLK HEADLIGHTS. ALSO, FOR SUCH PROBLEMS ON THE BRAKE LIGHTS THAT EXISTED IN THE PAST, WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE IN MONIES I LAID OUT OF POCKET, PERTAINING TO THE CHRONIC BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM IN MY SLK 320. THANK YOU. *NM

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSES BUT WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED AND VERY FRUSTRATED WITH YOUR RESPONSE. DURING THESE 2 YEAR THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG. WE DID CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ HEADQUARTERS..MARKET TOO MANY TIMES AND EXPLAIN ABOUT US CAR. BUT THEY ARE IGNORE NOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING A LAWSUIT TO REPLACE MY 04 ML 350 ON THE BASIS OF SAFETY. THE ENGINE FAILED 18 TIMES ON THE ROAD (IN ADDITION TO ALL KINDS OF OTHER PROBLEMS). WE ARE IN CALIFORNIA USA--2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 - LIST PROBLEMS AND MUCH TIME SPENT IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT-- 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 IS THE WORST AUTOMOBILE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. IT HAS SPENT HALF OF ITS LIFE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HERE IS A OF MY PROBLEMS WITHIN THE PAST 28 MONTHS: 1.THE ENGINE OF CAR SHAKES AND MAKES NOISE 2. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS TURNS ON AND AFTER THAT IS SHUT DOWN. AGAIN THE CAR IS AUTOMATIC. IT TURNS OFF 3.THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON AND OF INTERMITTENTLY- WITH OUT REASON 4.DIAGNOSE HAVE PROBLEM 5.ETS FAILED 6.BRAKE PADS, FRONT, INCLUDE FRONT ROTORS REPLACED 7.STALLED TWICE 8.PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED 9.CLICKING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE 10.GPS NOT WORKING 11.CLICKING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE (SECOND TIME) 12.BRAKE PADS, FRONT & REAR, INCLUDE FRONT & REAR ROTORS (SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 8K MILES) 13.REAR WIPER WASHER CONTAINER LEAKING 14.NAVIGATION SYSTEM LCD SCREEN FLICKERING 15.BAD BATTERY ALL OF THESE ABOVE MAKE US TERRIBLE- THE CAR BRING AT HOME ONLY 27 MONTH BUT HAVE TO STAY IN THE SHOP FOR 18X TIMES WE DID CONTACT A MB MARKET FOR REQUEST ABOUT THE RECALL AND REPLACE FOR US BUT THEY DENIED IT. NOW I HAVE GO TO LOOKING SOMEBODY HELP. *NM

1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320; MY CAR HAS BEEN HESITATING AT IDLE, WORST WHEN A/C IS ON, WHEN ACCELERATING, MAKING TURNS, BACKFIRES CONSTANTLY WHICH FRIGHTENS ME THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH FIRE AND INJURE THE KIDS IN THE CAR AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD BE REPLACED FIRST BEFORE HE COULD TROUBLESHOOT ANY PROBLEMS AND THIS WOULD COST ME $1000-1600 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR A BUNCH OF WIRES AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT RIGHT MERCEDES BENZ CARS AREN'T SUPPOSE TO DETERIORATE LIKE THIS, IT SHOULD LAST FOREVER. WHEN HAVING TO PAY MORE THAN 50K DOLLARS FOR A CAR, THESE THINGS AREN'T SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN. PLS. APPROVE THIS IMPORTANT RECALL. *NM

OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. OIL LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON BETWEEN 200-600 MILES OF DRIVING. TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VERY POOR. *NM

ON MAY 26, 2006, MY MERCEDES BENZ 1999 300D LOST ALL POWER DURING ROUTINE OPERATION. THE CAR STALLED WHILE IN MOTION IN REGULAR TRAFFIC, AND WAS REQUIRED TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS A DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. PART NUMBER 003-153-74-28. THE PART WAS REPLACED. WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED, IT WAS DRIVEN NO MORE THAN 12 MILES WHEN THE EXACT SAME CONDITION RE-OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN AND REPAIRED ON JUNE 2, 2006 AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP, AND THIS TIME THE REASON GIVEN FOR THE FAILURE WAS A BROKEN PRE-FILTER AND MAIN FUEL FILTER. PARTS NUMBER 601-092-01-05, 601-090-16-52, AND 601 997-01-48. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER PROMPTLY, AS THERE APPEARS TO BE A CONDITION WHICH CAN CAUSE THE LOSS OF ALL POWER WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. *NM

THE ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SEL WAS REPLACED ONCE AND NOW HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT, I MIGHT ADD, THIS NEW HARNESS IS "SUPPOSED" TO BE THE NEW AND IMPROVED UPGRADED VERSION. IT DOES HAVE A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER THAN THE ORIGINAL. THE WIRES ARE ALL EXPOSED BECAUSE OF THE CRACKED INSULATION. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A RARE WIRE, ALL OF THEM ARE CRACKED AND DAMAGED AND EXPOSED!!! BECAUSE OF THE OUTSIDE RUBBER CASING WHICH HOLDS ALL OF THE WIRES, I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOOO LATE. LUCKILY, MY MECHANIC, ED AT EDS MBZ IN GLENDALE CALIFORNIA, (818) 247-2369 WAS KNOWLEDGEABLE ENOUGH TO IMMEDIATELY CUT THE OUTSIDE CASING TO LOOK INSIDE. I AM STILL AMAZED A CAR COMPANY MAKING AN 80,000 TO 100,000 DOLLAR CAR WOULD HAVE THE AUDACITY TO MAKE ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL ELECTRICAL PARTS THE WIRING HARNESS SO BAD. WIRE HARNESSES ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR- ITS A SAFETY ISSUE!!! IT IS BEGINNING TO SHORT OUT WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND EVEN FIRE INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE MAJOR CAUSES FOR COMPUTER DAMAGE. ED SHOWED ME 12 HARNESSES HE "RECENTLY" REPLACED. ALL OF THEM THE SAME. I SPOKE WITH MBZ USA- FORGET IT- I THOUGHT I WAS SPEAKING WITH FORD REGARDING EXPLODING GAS TANKS ON OPINTO'S. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN WITH ANY GOOD RELIABLE MBZ MECHANIC. SINCE I WAS BLOWN OFF BY MBZ AMERICA, I CALLED AROUND- 5 MBZ DEALERS SERVICE MANAGERS WERE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ALL 10 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WERE VERY AWARE AND EXPLAINED ALL THE DANGERS AND EXPENSE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES THAT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL OR CORRECT!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE IT IS TOOOOO LATE!. *NM

DURING ACCIDENT WHERE ML 320 WAS BROAD SIDED ON DRIVERS DOOR, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER OF OTHER CAR WHICH STRUCK MERCEDES ADMITTED TO TRAVELING AT 35 MPH. FURTHERMORE, AUTO CRASH NOTIFY SYSTEM FAILED; THESE ARE STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NM

ON JULY 14 03 I WAS DRIVING ON THE SAN MATEO BRIDGE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I COMPLETELY LOST MY ABILITY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS GETTING READY TO TURN OFF THE LOOP TO TRANSFER TO THE I0I AND I HAD TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, LUCKILY WITH ALL MY STRENGTH I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT AND NOT GO OVER THE RAMP. I CALLED MERCEDES FOSTER CITY AND THEY ACCOMMODATED ME AND INFORMED OF A POWER STEERING CLAMP DEFECT THAT CAN AFFECT THE POWER STEERING PUMP (TOO LATE FOR ME)..THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. ON MARCH 19 I EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING LOST OF ABILITY TO STEER LUCKILY I WAS ONLY ON THE STREETS AND RESIDENTIAL AREA. I HAD MY HUSBAND STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING AND BRING IT TO THE PLESANTON MBUSA. THEY CHARGE ME 11134.74 TO REPAIR AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOW DOES A POWER STEERING FAIL SO OFTEN AND SO SOON? *JB

MANY NEWER CARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH BLINDING, BLUE-GREEN, HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE PROHIBITED. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS. FIRST, WHEN SEEN FROM ANY ANGLE, THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE HIGHLY DISTRACTING, IN THAT THEY DRAW ONES EYES FROM THE ROAD AHEAD AND ON EITHER SIDE; THE REASON THAT THEY ARE DISTRACTING IS THAT THEY ARE OF A NOTABLY DIFFERENT COLOR AND ARE MUCH BRIGHTER THAN THE TRADITIONAL INCANDESCENT LIGHTS. SECOND, WHEN VIEWED FROM ANY ANGLE, THE LIGHT "FLARES" ABOUT ONES EYES, FORMING SPIKES THAT RADIATE OUTWARDS FROM THE LIGHT ITSELF, THEREBY OBSCURING ONE'S VIEW OF THINGS ABOVE, BELOW AND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE LIGHT ITSELF. THIRD, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THE LIGHTS ARE OFTEN BLINDING, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE ROAD IS FLAT OR HILLY, THE RESULT BEING TO OBSCURE ALMOST EVERYTHING AHEAD, ABOUT THE SAME AS TRADITIONAL INCANDESCENT LIGHTS ON "HIGH"BEAM. FOURTH, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON ROADWAYS THAT ARE NOT PERFECTLY LEVEL, THESE HEADLIGHTS ALTERNATE RAPIDLY, BACK AND FORTH, LIKE A STROBE LIGHT, BETWEEN "STANDARD" AND "BLINDING," A RESULT OF THE FACT (WHICH I ASSUME) THAT THE LIGHTS ARE VERY TIGHTLY FOCUSED, AND THE PROBLEM BEING THAT THE "FOCUSED" LIGHT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS IS REPEATEDLY FOCUSED ON THE EYES OF THE DRIVER HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE MOST HAZARDOUS ARE ITEMS THREE AND FOUR, BUT ITEM FOUR IS PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS BECAUSE IT COMBINES THE WORST OF ALL OF THE OTHERS - BOTH DISTRACTION AND BLINDINGNESS. CLEARLY, HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE DESIGNED TO LIGHT THE WAY AHEAD; BUT THERE ARE COMPETING GOALS, WHICH INCLUDE NOT BLINDING OTHER DRIVERS. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD, WHAT IS GOOD FOR ONE PERSON MUST BE WEIGHED AGAINST ITS NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON OTHERS. THAT IS WHERE GOVERNMENT HAS A KEY RESPONSIBILITY; TO ASSESS THE BENEFITS AND BURDENS AND ARRIVE AT A COMPROMISE THAT OPTIMALLY SUITS EVERYONE'S NEEDS BEST. *NM