2000 Mercedes-Benz C Class

THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT COFFEE FROM A CUP, PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER, SPILLED ONTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE?S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONCERN RAISED BY THE PETITIONER WAS INVESTIGATED (SQ01-010) AND WAS CLOSED AFTER ODI CONCLUDED THAT THE FACTS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.ODI HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED NINE MORE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING FLUID CONTAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SINCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED, NONE OF WHICH REPORT CRASHES OR INJURIES.THESE NINE COMPLAINANTS MAINLY EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE COST OF REPLACING THE CONTAMINATED ELECTRONIC SELECTOR MODULE.SIMILARLY, IN PETITIONER?S CASE SHE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE SAFETY STOPPED AFTER THE LIQUID SPILLAGE.THE PETITIONER HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING AND THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.

WHILE TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT A CONSTANT VELOCITY, MY CAR APPLIED BRAKING FORCE TO THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) WHEEL, RAPIDLY AND SUDDENLY. THE BAS ESP LIGHT THEN CAME ON AND REMAINED ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424745

Incident

Sep 11, 2011

Mileage

138,800 mi

CAR: 2000 MERCEDES C230 KOMPRESSOR DRIVING AT 55MPH, THE CAR'S FRONT RIGHT BRAKE SUDDENLY ENGAGED CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL FOR A MOMENT. THE BRAKE THEN RELEASES AND THE BAS/ESP LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. THIS SITUATION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!!!! I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME IT IS THE YAW RATE SENSOR OR STEERING POSITION SENSOR. THE FIX IS $1100. THIS IS A TOTAL SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS CAR AND AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IN VARIOUS FORUMS THERE ARE NUMEROUS OWNERS IN BOTH THE C AND ML CLASS VEHICLES (THEY USE THE SAME EXACT SAME PART NUMBERS) THAT EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAKE TIME TO LOOK INTO THIS. THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD AND THIS CAN AND WILL CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10334928

Incident

Jun 6, 2010

Mileage

52,301 mi

I HAD JUST EXITED THE FREEWAY, AND SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CRACK. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING SOCKET THAT CONNECTS TO THE UNIBODY HAD RUSTED AND BROKE, DROPPING THE SUSPENSION ON TOP THE TIRE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SOCKET WAS RUSTED AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO MENTIONED THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM BUT MERCEDES HAD YET TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330537

Incident

Mar 7, 2010

Mileage

157,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WERE UNABLE TO BE READ, WHICH INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,500 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES BECAUSE HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10261743

Incident

Mar 13, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,806.

NHTSA ID

10193826

Incident

Jun 18, 2007

Mileage

36,806 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT BOX NOT SEALED PROPERLY TO PROTECT AGAINST WATER SPILLS. THIS CAN STOP YOUR CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160212

Incident

Jun 18, 2006

Mileage

58,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, REAR TIRE FAILED (BLEWUP). TIRE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH GOOD AMOUNTS OF TREAD. CAR, ROAD, TEMPERATURE, SPEED ALL WERE IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10062348

Incident

Mar 15, 2004

Mileage

51,000 mi

HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED AT 52000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055181

Incident

Jan 22, 2004

SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink

MERCEDES: REPLACING THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBER (LEFT AND RIGHT) BELOW THE MAIN FLOOR PANEL ON ALL MY 204 UP TO 12/31/07. (C300, C350, C300 4-MATIC, C63 AME). *PE

SUBJECT REGARDING HARD STARTING AFTER FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT. *JG