2001 Mercedes-Benz 320 Owner Complaints

MERCEDES 2001 C 320. POWER SEAT CONTROL MODULE FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DRAIN THE BATTERY TO A EXTENT THAT CAR CAN NOT BE STARTED UP. NEW BATTERY!!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10457520

Incident

May 2, 2012

ONE OF THE FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLES OF MY 2001 MB E320 JUST STOPPED WORKING. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE WIRE INSULATION HAD VANISHED - SIMPLY DISAPPEARED - AND THERE WERE BARE WIRES COMING IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. I TRIED WRAPPING THE WIRE WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE, AND THIS WORKED FOR A WHILE, BUT THE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING AFTER A FEW WEEKS. THIS CAR WAS IN A REPAIR SHOP FOR A REAR END COLLISION RECENTLY, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER NOTICED THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT HE USED TO WORK FOR MERCEDES-BENZ, AND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. APPARENTLY, IT GETS SO HOT THAT THE WIRE INSULATION ACTUALLY DISINTEGRATES AND LEAVES THE WIRES BARE. AND, EVEN MORE SURPRISINGLY, SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS CATCH ON FIRE. OF COURSE, MB KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT HASN'T DONE ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THEIR ENGINEERING MISTAKES - THEY'RE MORE THAN CONTENT TO LET THEIR CUSTOMERS PAY TO HAVE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. AND, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, THEY WON'T ADMIT THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH - A PRODUCT RECALL WOULD BE TERRIBLY EXPENSIVE. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT I'M THE FIRST ONE REPORTING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET, THIS TYPE OF WIRING PROBLEM EXISTS IN OTHER MODELS ACROSS DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS. TIME FOR MB TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES - NOT ME.... *KB

NHTSA ID

10452409

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

CAR IS A 2001 C320 MERCEDES. BATTERY KEEPS DYING DESPITE REPLACING WITH BRAND NEW BATTERIES ON 2 OCCASIONS, ONLY 2 WEEKS APART. DEALER SAYS IT'S THE SEAT MODULE DRAINING THE BATTERY. MY CAR WILL NOT START IF I DON'T DRIVE IT FOR A DAY OR LONGER. THESE MODULES ARE A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. FIX IS TO DISCONNECT SEAT POWER, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10300110

Incident

Jan 17, 2010

Mileage

93,000 mi

CAR IS A 2001 C320 MERCEDES. BATTERY KEEPS DYING DESPITE REPLACING WITH BRAND NEW BATTERIES ON 2 OCCASIONS, ONLY 1 MONTH APART. DEALER SAYS IT'S THE SEAT MODULE DRAINING THE BATTERY. MY CAR WILL NOT START IF I DON'T DRIVE IT FOR A DAY OR LONGER. THESE MODULES ARE A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269452

Incident

May 18, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL, HEATING AND COOLING, SUSPENSION, POWER STEERING, LIGHTING, AND PURGE VALVE SYSTEMS. SPENT 7K IN LAST 3 YEARS ALONE. HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM WAS REMOVED AND REINSTALLED TWICE AND STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. STRUTS AND STEERING SYSTEM COMPLETELY BRAKES DOWN EVERY 6 MONTHS. I AM IN THE REPAIR SHOP EVERY 2-3 MONTHS! AVERAGE OUT OF POCKET (AFTER EXTENDED WARRANTY) $500... OUTRAGEOUS (X4 OR 5 PER YEAR!). WARRANTY KICKS IN ANOTHER 4K PER YEAR. MY RECORDS SHOW 14 VISITS TO MERCEDES REPAIR SHOPS SINCE NOVEMBER 2004... INSANE. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST MERCEDES! EVEN MY SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME TO GET A LEXUS OR ACURA! *CN

NHTSA ID

10213660

Incident

Dec 1, 2007

Mileage

39,000 mi

WE WERE ON AN EXTENDED TRIP WHEN THE "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ALONG WITH "SRS" CAME ON AND STAYED ON. AFTER WE RETURNED, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY INDICATED THAT THE "BABY SENSOR" IN THE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED. WE DO NOT HAVE A BABY AND WOULD NOT HAVE NEED FOR THIS SENSOR. OUR CONCERN IS THAT IF THE SENSOR CAN FAIL ON IT'S OWN AND IF THE AIRBAGS ARE DEACTIVATED IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY MAY OCCUR. WE HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK TO BACKUP THIS SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162307

Incident

Jul 5, 2006

Mileage

52,737 mi

THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE GETS DRAINED OUT DUE TO THE COMPONENTS OF THE MEMORY SEATS BEING SHORTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147464

Incident

Jan 11, 2006

WHEN I WENT TO PICK MY BABY SITTER LAST NIGHT AROUND 8.30 PM, I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE REAR WHEEL OF MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C320. I REPLACED THE FLAT TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE. AFTER I REPLACED SPARE TIRE, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE.*AK I CALLED MERCEDES ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE WHERE I LEARNED, FOR THE FIRST TIME, ABOUT THE "SPECIAL" NUTS. LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT THE NUTS WERE NOT WITH THE REST OF THE SPARE TIRE REPAIR KIT. NO WARNING OR ANY OTHER PRECAUTION (I.E., MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE ORIGINAL NUTS ON THE SPARE TIRE) TAKEN TO INSURE THAT SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A CERTIFIED MERCEDES MECHANIC COULD PERFORM THE SIMPLE TASK OF CHANGING A FLAT TIRE WITHOUT CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO VERY EXPENSIVE CAR PARTS. I AM NOW TOLD IT WILL COST $1300 TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE SIMPLE INSTALLATION OF A SPARE TIRE. THAT'S ON TOP OF THE $100 THEY ARE CHARGING ME TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. RIDICULOUS!!!! WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ABSURD CONCEPT APPARENTLY CREATED FOR THE C320, I WAS TOLD I WAS NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO MAKE THIS MISTAKE. THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF THIS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL THEIR MODELS WHICH HAVE THE SPECIAL NUTS AND ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO HE SPARE TIRE COVER. I SPOKE WITH A MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WHO WAS REAL NASTY AND TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE READ THE MANUAL BEFORE CHANGING THE TIRE. WHO WOULD READ A MANUAL TO CHANGE A TIRE AT 8.30 PM? THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS. HOW CAN YOU READ THE MANUAL WHEN YOU ARE STRUCK IN THE DARK WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS? I HOPE THIS WILL BE CORRECTED SO THAT INNOCENT VICTIMS LIKE ME WILL NOT BE PUNISHED FOR A POOR MERCEDES BENZ DESIGN. PLEASE TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS. THIS IS A SIMILAR COMPLAIN POSTED BY A USER. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/MERCEDES_C240.HTML

NHTSA ID

10092955

Incident

Sep 19, 2004

I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING A LOANER CAR, AS MY MERCEDES BENZ C320, 2001 IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP OF THE DEALER, MERC. BENZ OF LAGUNA NIGUEL (949-347-3700). IT IS IN FOR THE THIRD REPAIR OF THE SRS AIRBAY/SAFETY SYSTEM.*AK THE SEATBELT HAD PREVIOUSLY FAILED, TO AND HAD TO BE REPLACE. ***MY ENGINE STALLED ON THE FREEWAY (5N, IN CALIFORNIA) AND MY 8 YR. OLD SON AND I WERE VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR-ENDED ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. ***THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO CONTACT TO DISCUSS MY CAR! THEY TOLD ME TO GET AN ATTORNEY AND I THEY HAVE MY CAR! I HAVE THEIR LOANER CAR. MY CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AND THEY KNOW IT AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO DISCUSS IT WITH ME ANY FURTHER AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FORCE ME TO SIGN ANOTHER CONTRACT TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR OF THEIRS! PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AND HAS CAUSED ME TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROX. 19 TIMES. THE OWNER, THE GM AND MANAGEMENT REFUSE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH ME AND ARE NOT EVEN CORRESPONDING VIA MAIL! MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE AUGUST 25, 2004 AND REMAINS THERE AS I WRITE THIS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN DRIVING THIS CAR, IF I SHOULD GET IT BACK FROM THEIR REPAIR SHOP. THEY DO NOT OBVIOULY WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ***THEY HAVE FALSIFIED REPAIR DOCUMENTS, IN REGARDS TO REPAIRING OR REPLACING MY BATTERY, TO WHICH I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM. THEY DID THIS WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION AND FALSLY DOCUMENTED IN THE REPAIR RECORDS, FALSLY STATING THAT I, THE CUSTOMER, HAD TO JUMP MY BATTERY. I MADE MR. RANDY STENSON, THE HEAD OF SERVICE, AWARE THAT I DID NOT APPRECIATE THIS FALSE DOCUMENTATION. ***ONE ONE THING: THEY ARE DISHONEST, IN THAT THEY FALSLY CLAIM THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH ME AND REPORT THIS TO THE MB CUSTOMER SERVICE IN NEW JERSEY. THEY ARE NOT WORKING WITH ME AND STATE OTHERWISE.

NHTSA ID

10090811

Incident

Aug 25, 2004

FAULTY CUP HOLDER DESIGN WHICH MAKES IT EASY FOR LIQUID CONTENTS TO SPILL ON THE TRANSMISSION/GEAR SHIFTER AND THE COMPUTER CHIPS BELOW, RESULTING IN ENGINE STALLING OR FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC TRRANSMISSION. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE CAR ALMOST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR SLOWS DOWN IMMEDIATELY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10058343

Incident

Feb 15, 2004

Mileage

36,740 mi

VEHICLE HOSE CLAMP BROKE WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON A ML320 BECAUSE THE HOSE CLAMPS WEREN'T SAFE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED HOSE CLAMP. 2 DAYS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE CLAMPS THAT WERE REPLACED WERE NO BETTER THAN THE ONES BEFORE. SERVICE DEALER FIXED IT. *MR *CB *JB

NHTSA ID

10032406

THE POWER STEERING HOSE BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO WANDER TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10009574

Incident

Feb 4, 2003

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009566

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

FUMES/GASSES COMING FROM INTERIOR DASH CAUSED WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP IN EXCESSIVE HEAT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WINDSHIELD FIVE TIMES AND REPLACED DASHBOARD, BUT COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

890461

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, I WAS TOLD IT WAS HELD UP AT THE PORT BECAUSE CUSTOMS WOULD NOT CLEAR IT UNTIL THE REAR DOOR LOCKS WERE REPLACED AND MADE TO WORK INDEPENDENLTY. NEITHER WORKS INDEPENDENTLY. DOOR MUST BE UNLOCKED IN ORDER FOR LATCH TO WORK (LIKE WHEN CHILD SAFETY SWITCH IS ON). FURTHER, IF PASSENGER TRIES TO OPEN THE LATCH AT THE SAME TIME THE DRIVER IS UNLOCKING THE DOOR WITH THE BUTTON ON THE DASH, THE LATCH WILL NOT RELEASE. IF THE DOORS ARE RELOCKED AND UNLOCKED, SOMETIMES THE LATCH WILL REENGAGE. OTHER TIMES THE DOOR MUST BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. I AM A DOT EMPLOYEE AND DRIVE A CARPOOL ON OCCASION SO CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO SHOW IT TO YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

745465

Incident

May 17, 2001

WHILE MAKING A STOP OR RETURING TO NORMAL TRAVEL NOTICED VEHICLE WAS SURGING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

885692

CONSUMER WAS BRAKING AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. HAD JUMPED A CURB AND HIT A HOME. MERCEDES REPRESENTATIVE CHECKED OUT VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID

884038

Incident

Feb 27, 2001