MERCEDES-BENZ Complaints

I HAVE A 2007 MERCEDES CLS 550. MY HEADREST HAVE DEPLOYED FOR SOME REASON ON AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WHEN THE HEADREST DEPLOYS IT HITS ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. IT HAS HAPPENED 2X WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND 2X WHILE BACKING UP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED THE HEADREST ON AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. INCLUDING KEEPING THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND HALF. THAT REPAIR WAS JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING ON THE FWY, THE HEADREST DEPLOYED AGAIN FOR NO REASON AND STRUCK ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY CONCERN. IN ADDITION, MY VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL STARTED PEELING A YEAR AGO. THIS PAINT COMES OFF ON MY HANDS AND CAN END UP IN MY EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE PAINT. MERCEDES REFUSES TO REPLACE MY STEERING WHEEL OR REPAIR IT. WHEN THE PEELING FIRST OCCURRED THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED ME A NEW STEERING WHEEL AND SAID THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE MODELS. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE STEERING WHEEL INSTALLED, AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAD ORDERED A NEW ONE, THEY THEN SAID THAT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND MERCEDES REFUSED TO COVER THE COST. MY VEHICLE WAS STARMARKED AND I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES. AT THE TIME OF THE PEELING MY VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 54,000 MILES. I AM NOT SURE OF THE CONTENTS OF THE PAINT. HOWEVER, I DON'T FEEL THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHOULD BE PEELING AND THE CONTENTS COMING OFF ON MY HANDS. *TR

THE CAM SENSORS ON THE MERCEDES M271 ENGINE LEAK OIL WHICH SPREADS TO OTHER COMPONENTS VIA THE WIRE HARNESSES CONNECTED TO CAM SENSORS. OIL CONTAMINATION WILL DAMAGE OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (NAMELY THE ECU AND EXHAUST OXYGEN SENSORS) IF THE CAM SENSORS AND WIRE HARNESSES ARE NOT REPLACED. A NEW CAM SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS THE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE DEFECTIVE CAM SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS WERE USED ON THE PREVIOUS ENGINE DESIGN (M111). THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR M111 ENGINE BUT NOT THE M271 ENGINE. MERCEDES REFUSES TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THE M271 ENGINE CAUSING OWNERS TO PAY FOR THE $900 PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. WITHOUT THIS REPAIR THE ECU (PART COST $2000) AND OXYGEN SENSORS (QTY 2 @ $238 EA) WILL BE EVENTUALLY DAMAGED AND WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. WITHIN THE PAST WEEK, PAID MORE THAN $ 2,400.00 TO REPLACE 2 CAM SENSORS, 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, AND WIRING HARNESS. REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MB HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. *TR

THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230 (R170 MODEL) IS AN ELECTRO CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRROR CONTAINED A FLUID WHICH LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE SELF-DIMMING MIRROR TO FAIL TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR AWAY WHICH GREATLY ELIMINATES REAR VIEW CAPABILITY IN THE INTERIOR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING IN VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS AS A RESULT OF USUALLY FROM THE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKING. I CONTACTED THE OEM MIRROR MAKER, AND THEY REFUSED TO RETURN OUR PHONE CALL/MESSAGES. I RECENTLY READ ON THE MAINTENANCE BLOGS THAT MAGNA DONNELLY WERE REPLACING BUT, STOPPED ALL OF SUDDEN. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAS EVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. *TR

THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM ON MY MERCEDES BENZ S-500 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CAR-BODY DROPPED AND IS RESTING ON THE TIRES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

ON TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, CAR STARTED, IMMEDIATELY RED-LINED, AND STARTED SHAKING AS THE RPM LIMITER KICKED IN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, NOT THE ACCELERATOR. REMOVED FOOT FROM BRAKE AND VISUALLY CONFIRMED CORRECT FOOT PLACEMENT BEFORE REAPPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. DURING REMOVAL OF FOOT FROM BRAKE PEDAL TO VISUALLY CONFIRM, CAR CONTINUED TO REDLINE. TURNED ENGINE OFF VIA KEY WITHIN 5-10 SECONDS OF OCCURRENCE. VERIFIED THAT FLOOR MAT WAS NOT BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND THE ACCELERATOR. ENGINE RESTARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. MENTIONED THE OCCURRENCE TO LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP BUT NO CODES WERE FOUND WHEN CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE A FEW MONTHS LATER. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS ACTUATED SLIGHTLY VIA THE ALL WEATHER MB FLOORMATS THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN INSTALLED IN CAR MIGRATING FORWARD AND GETTING WEDGED BETWEEN THE FLOOR OF THE CAR AND THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE INCLUDED ALLIGATOR CLIPS HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED WITH THE FLOOR MATS. HOWEVER, WITH THE ENGINE ON AND CAR IN PARK, MANUALLY WEDGING THE FLOOR MAT BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND THE PEDAL DID NOT DUPLICATE THE ENGINE REDLINING. REGARDLESS, THE CLIPS WERE PROMPTLY INSTALLED AFTER THIS OCCURRENCE AND THE FLOOR MAT HAS NOT MIGRATED FORWARD UNDER THE GAS PEDAL SINCE. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE UNINTENDED REDLINING ON STARTING THE ENGINE WAS DUE TO THE PRESSURE OF THE FLOOR MAT BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND THE ACCELERATOR OR SOME OTHER ISSUE. EITHER WAY, THE UNINTENDED REDLINING HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE. NOTE: THE WEB INTERFACE INSISTS ON OFFERING "HEADLIGHT LENS" AS THE ONLY OPTION UNDER EQUIPMENT. THE ABOVE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HEADLIGHT LENS. *TR

I PURCHASED A MERCEDES ML 430 2001 IN MAY 2001. SINCE THEN A PART CALLED A STOP LIGHT SWITCH HAS GONE OUT 6 TIMES. THE FOLLOWING ARE DATES AND MILEAGE ON VEHICLE: 5/10/05 40,561 MILES, 9/28/06 47,767 MILES, 8/14/07 51,801 MILES, 4/10/08 55,151 MILES, 3/17/09 61,105 MILES, AND 1/28/10 65,465 MILES. ON AUGUST 14, 2007 WITH THIS STOP LIGHT SWITCH GOING OUT I COULD NOT DISENGAGE THE VEHICLE OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES UNTIL IT DISENGAGED BEFORE ALMOST RUNNING INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT 60 MPH. THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL ONE DAY KILL OR SERIOUSLY INJURE PEOPLE. *TR

THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230 (R170 MODEL) IS AN ELECTRO CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRROR CONTAINED A FLUID WHICH LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE SELF-DIMMING MIRROR TO FAIL TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR AWAY WHICH GREATLY ELIMINATES REAR VIEW CAPABILITY IN THE INTERIOR. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING IN VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS AS A RESULT OF USUALLY FROM THE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKING. *TR

MY 1999 MERCESDES BENZ ENGINE STALLED WHILE I AM DRIVING. IF I WAIT FOR A WHILE , THE ENGINE WOULD START AGAIN. AFTER READING SOME COMPLAINTS IN THE MBWORLD.ORG FORUM, I THINK THAT MY CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS). THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AS MY CAR ENGINE CAN BE STALLED WHILE I AM DRIVING, ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAY. DO YOU KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM HA BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE RECALLED? THANKS. *TR

SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON MERCEDES-BENZ E350'S. TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO KNOCKING/RUMBLING BULL.#10016629. DEALER SAYS THAT ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. PLEASE ASSIST. *TR

1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300SE THE ISSUE IS FROM THE RESULTS OF A DRYROTTED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. DURING THE TIME PERIOD THIS CAR WAS MANUFACTURED MERCEDES BENZ USED A BIODEGRATABLE MATERIAL FOR THE WIRE COVERINGS. THIS MATERIAL THROUGH THE YEARS COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT PRODUCED BY THE ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES KNOW ABOUT AND HAS SINCE CHANGED THE WIRING HARNESS COVER MATERIAL A FEW YEAR LATER. ALL THEIR MECHANICS KNOW THIS AND IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON EVERY MERCEDES FORUM THAT I HAVE FOUND. I AM TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF OCCURRENCES RECORDED. THE REDESIGNED HARNESS IS A $600.00 ITEM WHICH IS WHY MERCEDES TENDS TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY AND REFUSES TO ACCEPT THIS AS A RECALL ITEM. THIS ITEM MUST BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IF GONE UNATTENDED IT BECOMES A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD WHICH IS ALSO WELL DOCUMENTED AND WAS MENTIONED BY MY MECHANIC. HE ALSO STATED THAT MOST DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT WORK ON THESE CARS UNLESS THE ENGINE HARNESS IS REPLACED FIRST. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CAR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSIS IF THE WIRING IS NOT IN A GOOD WORKING CONDITION DUE TO THE FACT THAT FALSE SIGNALS ARE SENT TO THEIR DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. MY MECHANIC ALSO PROVIDED ME WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM HIS MERCEDES BENZ PRELIMINARY INSPECTION & ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURES MANUAL. IT IS RETYPED AND QUOTED EXACTLY AS THE MERCEDES BENZ DOCUMENTATION STATES. PRELIMINARY INSPECTION & DOCUMENTATION VISUAL INSPECTION 1) VISUALLY INSPECT ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING, LOOKING FOR CHAFTED, STRETCHED, CUT OR PINCHED WIRING. ENSURE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FIT TIGHTLY AND ARE NOT CORRODED. CHECK FOR LOOSE OR DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ON STARTER MOTOR. ENSURE ALL VACUUM HOSES ARE PROPERLY? NOW I ASK YOU; IF THIS IS NOT KNOWN BY MERCEDES BENZ TO BE AN ISSUE THEN WHY IS IT THE VERY FIRST THING IN THEIR PRELIMINARY INSPECTION THAT THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR TRAINED MECHANICS LOOK FOR? *TR