2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class Owner Complaints

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO COMPLAINT #10579528. SPOKE TO ROBIN, CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE REAR SIGNAL ACTUATOR MODULE AS THE BASIS FOR THE FUEL DELIVERY FAILING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THE EXPLANATION THEY OFFERED IS THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IN FUEL DELIVERY TO THE ENGINE, WHILE DRIVING, IS THE FUEL PUMP, MERCEDES PART# 203 470 3794. HOWEVER, THEY FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE A FAULTY FUEL PUMP IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK, FUEL DELIVERY UNIT, FUEL SENDING UNIT AND WIRING HARNESS ...THE ENTIRE FUEL STORAGE TANK AND FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM! NO ONE I KNOW HAS EVER HEARD OF A SITUATION WHERE AN ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A FAILED IN-TANK FUEL PUMP. THIS POINTS TO YET ANOTHER DESIGN FLAW FOR WHICH MERCEDES BENZ, THE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER,HOLD ITSELF ACCOUNTABLE. WHAT POSSIBLE ENGINEERING REASON CAN THEY OFFER OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THE FUEL AND ELECTRICAL FUEL DELIVERY COMPONENTS SYSTEM WERE SERIOUSLY FLAWED FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION? *JS

NHTSA ID

10585735

Incident

Apr 25, 2014

Mileage

103,000 mi

I CALLED MBUSA 2 WEEKS AGO REGARDING MY 2002 C320 WAGON WHICH WAS SMELLING OF PURE GASOLINE WHICH THE ODOR WAS SO STRONG IT WAS COMING INTO THE HOUSE FROM THE GARAGE GIVING US HEADACHES. I CHECKED ONLINE WITH MBUSA CLUB MEMBERS AND FOUND OUT THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND TO CALL IT IN. I CALLED MBUSA AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR BULLETINS PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE AND WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY TO CONTACT THE DEALER. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO SEEMED VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AND JUST FOR PARTS IT WAS OVER $800 AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY WARRANTY, RECALL ISSUES. THIS IS OUR FAMILY CAR WE USE THIS WAGON TO TRAVEL DAILY WITH THE KIDS OR OTHER LITTLE FAMILY MEMBERS SO WE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. WE CALLED OUR INDEPENDENT MERCEDES BENZ CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE KNEW WHAT IS WAS JUST FROM OUR CONVERSATION. HE HAD US BRING IT IN RIGHT AWAY AND HE LIFTED UP THE REAR SEAT WHERE OUR CHILDREN SIT AND SHOWED MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF A POOL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP SITTING RIGHT UNDER THE SEAT!! I WAS DISGUSTED TO KNOW THAT MBUSA DISMISSED THIS SO QUICKLY AND COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY PUT OUR CHILDREN AT RISK. PLEASE NOTE THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAS VISITED THE MB DEALER MORE TIMES THAN ANY CAR SHOULD EVER NEED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM EVEN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALER TOLD US THEY SEE ALOT OF THESE NEEDING REPLACED AND ALTHOUGH MB HAS UPDATED THE FAULTY PART THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524137

Incident

Jun 24, 2013

Mileage

136,000 mi

DRIVERS POWER SEAT CONTROL MODULE DRAINS BATTERY WHEN AUTO IS PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512849

Incident

May 17, 2013

Mileage

56,000 mi

THIS IS A C230 KOMPRESSOR COUPE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THEN LOCKED UP AFTER BEING DRIVEN SLOWLY TO A SHOP. IT WAS LATER LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE EARLY 2002 C CLASS CARS BUT AS USUAL, THERE IS NO RECALL. I CONTACTED MBUSA AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THIS CAR HAS ALSO RECENTLY SHOWN EVIDENCE OF RUSTING. I CONTACTED MBUSA ABOUT THAT AND LEARNED THAT THE MB CORROSION PROTECTION IN THE U.S. IS MERELY FOUR YEARS. I ALSO FOUND THAT MOST OF THE OTHER GERMAN LUXURY AUTOMAKERS HAVE USED GALVINIZED STEEL FOR DECADES, UNLIKE THE MANUFACTURING PRACTICES OF MB. OVERALL, BETWEEN BUILT-IN MECHANICAL FAILURES AND THE RUST, AND THE FACT THAT MBUSA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES, I WILL CERTAINLY STEER CLEAR OF MERCEDES IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439377

Incident

Nov 12, 2011

Mileage

65,000 mi

MERCEDES BENZ C240 ECU FAILURE. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE SOMETIMES RANDOM AT BEST AND SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF. THE CARS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALSO SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK, THE POWER STEERING LEAKS INTERMITTENTLY THE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE ON LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE . THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED SO WAS THE COIL PACK AND OTHER ITEMS BY MERCEDES BUT THEY ALWAYS TRIED TO JUSTIFY THAT PROBLEM WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR WHICH IS NOT TRUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10404244

Incident

Mar 5, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2002 C240 MERCEDES IN 2006. THE CAR HAS NEVER GIVEN ME ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS UNTIL HERE RECENTLY. THE CAR BEGAN TO NOT START AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED THREE TIMES TO THE MECHANICS (DON ALLEN SERVICE CENTER ON ALLENTOWN ROAD, FORT WASHINGTON, MD). WAS TOLD I NEEDED A FUEL PUMP. I PAID $1,500 TO HAVE A NEW FUEL PUMP INSTALLED. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT HESITATES FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS BEFORE IT TURNS OVER. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO FUEL FILTER CHANGED AGAIN. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. NOW THE CAR MAKES THIS LOUD WHINING NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANICS TO HAVE HIM TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER AGAIN. THIS IS WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE FUEL FILTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME IN ONE WEEK THAT THE FUEL FILTER HAD TO BE CHANGED. I WAS TOLD THAT ONCE THE FUEL PUMP GOES BAD, THE CAR WILL NEVER RUN THE SAME AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE TRUE CONSIDERING THE PROBLEMS I'VE ENCOUNTERED AFTER HAVING THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED ON MY CAR. HAVING A MERCEDES HAS BEEN A HEADACHE WITH THE COST OF JUST MAINTAINING THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WHICH IS COSTLY. I PLAN ON GOING BACK TO A LEXUS AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE! THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH MERCEDES. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED TO FIX THE FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM/PUMP/FILTER. I PLAN ON REPORTING THIS COMPLAINT TO MY STATES ATTORNEY OFFICE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10375150

Incident

Dec 15, 2010

Mileage

104,000 mi

POWER SEAT CONTROLLER BECOMES DEFECTIVE AND FAILS TO SHUT DOWN WHEN CAR IS OFF AND LOCKED, AND THUS DRAINS THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267667

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

DEFECTIVE SEAT CONTROLLER MODULES ( DRIVER AND PASSENGER ) CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DRAIN COMPLETELY WITHIN 24 HOURS. THIS LEAVES ME STRANDED AND UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. A SEARCH ONLINE REVEALS MULTIPLE OTHER WITH THE SAME ISSUES...INDICATING AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM FROM THE MANUFACTURER OTHER THAN PAYING $1000 FOR A KNOWN DEFECTIVE ISSUE/PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10260382

Incident

Feb 18, 2009

Mileage

115,000 mi

SEAT CONTROL MODULE ON PASSENGER SIDE DRAINS THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254049

Incident

Nov 6, 2008

Mileage

75,522 mi

SEAT CONTROLLER MODULES, THEY CONSTANTLY DRAIN THE BATTERY WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. THIS IS A VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES C CLASS. THE CONTROLLER DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY TO THE POINT WERE THE CAR CANNOT START, AND CONTINUES TO DO THIS IF THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN EVERYDAY. OBVIOUSLY HAVING A CAR BATTERY GET SUCKED BELOW 3V IS NOT HEALTHY FOR THE BATTERY, AND IN THE END EVERYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM HAS TO REPLACE THEIR BATTERY MANY MANY TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252301

Incident

Dec 15, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C CLASS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OR HIGHER, THE ESP INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED ONCE BEFORE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT ORDER THE PARTS AND MAKE THE REPAIR AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 09/23/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED IN BRAKING MODE.

NHTSA ID

10239832

Incident

Aug 24, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

WE PURCHASED A NEW SET OF MICHELIN PILOT SPORT 2 TIRES AT COSTCO IN POWAY, CA ON 10/8/07 FOR MY WIFE'S MERCEDES. AFTER JUST LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AND UNDER 6,800 MILES, WE NOTICED HER LEFT TIRE WAS LOW. SUSPECTING SHE HAD PICKED UP A NAIL OR SUCH, WE FULLY INFLATED THE TIRE AND DROVE THE THREE MILES TO COSTCO. THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE, PATRICK, CALLED ME TO SAY IT WAS A NAIL BUT IT HAD DAMAGED THE SIDEWALL AND THE TIRE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE TIRE CENTER, PATRICK'S SUPERVISOR, WILLIAM KENNISON, INSISTED THAT SIX MONTHS AND 6800 MILES WERE PERFECTLY NORMAL LIFE EXPECTANCY NUMBERS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES. HE INFORMED ME THERE WAS OVER 75% OF THE TREAD ON THE FRONT TIRES (DIFFERENT SIZE THAN THE REARS 225/45R17 VS. 245/40R17) BUT ONLY 38% ON THE LEFT REAR AND 0% ON THE RIGHT REAR. I NEVER SAW THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. HIS MANAGER, HERB, WAS OFF DUTY BUT WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME ON MONDAY TO DISCUSS MY DISSATISFACTION. HE NEVER CALLED. I PAID $379 AND CHANGE AND LEFT WITH A NEW PAIR OF REAR TIRES. MY WIFE WILL BE 56 NEXT WEEK. SHE IS A NURSE PRACTITIONER AND PRIMARILY DRIVES THIS CAR TO WORK AND OUR DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL. IT HAS BEEN ON THREE ROAD TRIPS TO UCLA FROM SAN DIEGO SINCE WE BOUGHT NEW TIRES IN OCTOBER. THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL OR AGGRESSIVE IN MY WIFE'S DRIVING STYLE AND THE FACTORY TIRES LASTED 40,075 MILES. CLEARLY, THESE TIRES CAME FROM A BAD BATCH AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. HAD WE NOT HAD A LOW TIRE THE CONSEQUENCES MIGHT HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I HAVE NOTIFIED COSTCO AND MICHELIN. COSTCO INVOICE #007750053220 DATED 10/08/2007. MEMBERSHIP #111760783421. BARRY LOVELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223713

Incident

Apr 6, 2008

Mileage

46,850 mi

I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C240 SEDAN WITH 78,000 MILES ON IT. UPON LEAVING WORK TWO WEEKS AGO DRIVING DOWN THE PARKING LOT IN SECOND GEAR THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE THE WORST ENGINE NOISE I EVER HEARD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. IF I WAS TRAVELING DOWN AN INTERSTATE AND THIS BROKE AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IN NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE CAR I HAVE A SERVICE FILE FULL OF PROBLEMS AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON THINGS LIKE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WHICH ALSO COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THEY BREAK AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219969

Incident

Feb 19, 2008

Mileage

78,000 mi

MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR IN THE MORNING, NO PROBLEM. EARLY AFTERNOON, SHE LEFT TO PICK UP OUR CHILD, WHILE LEAVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE VEHICLE STARTING SENDING WARNING SIGNS CAME ON THE DASH THAT HAD NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. THEN THICK SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. MY WIFE HAD TO OPEN HER WINDOW. SHE THEN TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK HOME PRIOR TO LEAVING THE COMMUNITY. ON THE WAY BACK THE CAR SLAMMED ON BRAKES BY ITSELF AND CUT ITSELF OFF AND SAID THE VEHICLE HAD 7 FAULTS. RAN UP TO A NEIGHBORS HOME, UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND BECAME A TOTAL LOSS. POLICE AND FIRE MARSHAL CAME TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD TO TRACK DOWN MERECEDES BENZ AND BASICALLY HAVE HAD NO CUSTOMER SUPPORT WHATSOEVER. WE LOCATED THE VEHICLE FOR MERCEDES AS THEY TOOK THEIR SWEET TIME. THEY DID GET AN INSPECTOR THERE TO VIEW THE VEHICLE BUT HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM THEM REGARDING THIS MATTER. WE HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY TO PROTECT US AND WANT MERCEDES TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10207484

Incident

Mar 27, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE INSIDE FRONT DOOR HANDLE OF C-CLASS (YEAR2002 OR SIMILAR) IS NO GOOD, IF YOU PARK THE CAR ON THE DOWN SLOPE STREET, AND CLOSE THE FRONT DOOR FROM WIDE OPEN POSITION, THE DOOR HANDLE WILL GIVE AWAY AND BROKEN APART AT THE TOP END WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE DOOR PANEL ONLY WITH A SMALL PLASTIC STUD. I SENT THE COMPLAINT LETTERS TO MERCEDES BENZ USA AS WELL AS MERCEDES BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO, THEY NEVER RESPONSE. I BELIEVE THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR HANDLE TO PERFORM PROPERLY BECAUSE OF FAULTY DESIGN AND THE MANUFACTURE HAS TO BEAR RESPONSIBLE BY RECALLING THIS TYPE OF DOOR HANDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10204459

Incident

Jun 25, 2007

Mileage

34,000 mi

ON FEBRUARY 6, 2007, I TOOK MY MB TO SOVEREIGN MOTOR CARS LTD IN BROOKLYN, BECAUSE OF THE SRS LIGHT. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2005 AND THE ABOVE COMPANY TOLD ME THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. IN THE MIST OF REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR VIA DRILLING, THE CAP (BOTTOM PART THAT HOLDS THE BOLT) BROKE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS COMMON BECAUSE OF THE MIXTURE OF ALUMINUM ENGINE AND STEEL CASING. I WAS TOLD MORE THAN 2% OF MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLE THAT ENTER THIS SHOP THE CAP BREAKS AS A RESULT OF OXIDATION AS TOLD BY MR. YELTKIN, SHOP STEWART. SOVEREIGN WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS INCIDENT MORE THAN $2000 FOR A FAULTY CAPPING. OR $800 TO HAVE IT WELDED TOGETHER BUT THEN WAS TOLD IT MAY BREAK AGAIN. BOTH BOLTS WERE DAMAGED BUT SOVEREIGN REPLACED THEM WITH TEMPORARY BOLTS TO SHOO ME ON MY WAY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10181944

Incident

Feb 7, 2007

MERCEDES-BENZ C240 OF 2002 YEAR. WATER LEAKAGE WAS DETECTED NEAR THE ENGINE AND THE FUSE BOX. THE FUSE BOX AND THE EXTERNAL LIGHT SWITCH WERE DAMAGED AND REQUIRED TO REPLACE. THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE EXTERNAL SUCH AS RAIN.

NHTSA ID

10163059

Incident

Jul 18, 2006

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR WELL OVER 40+ DAYS REGARDING A VIBRATION THAT CAUSES ME TO BELIEVE IT COULD BE SAFETY RELATED. I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DEALER CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 MERCEDES C240. AT THE PRESENT TIME I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE GOING ON 6 WEEKS, THIS IS THE 6TH OR 7TH TIME IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10155867

Incident

Jun 30, 2005

Mileage

39 mi

I PURCHASED GOODYEAR AMERICAN EAGLE TIRES FROM WALMART IN BIG RAPIDS, MICHIGAN ON 11-18-04. THE TIRES WERE SIZE P20555R16BW AND INSTALLED ON MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C240 SEDAN. ON 10/2/05 I NOTICED A FLAT TIRE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT BECAME APPARENT THERE WAS A CRACK AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE ABOUT AN INCH AWAY FROM THE RIM ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL. THE DEPTH OF THE CRACK WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE STEEL BELTS. AFTER INSPECTING THE REMAINING THREE TIRES I DISCOVERED THEY WERE ALL CRACKED IN THIS MANNER. TWO WERE AS BAD AS THE FIRST TIRE AND A FOURTH WAS BEGINNING TO CRACK. I TOOK THE TIRES TO WALMART IN GARNER, MA WHERE I NOW RESIDE. THE MANAGER WAS VERY HELPFUL AND REPLACED THE TIRES WITHOUT QUESTION. HOWEVER, AFTER CALLING THE COMPLAINT IN TO GOODYEAR, IT BECAME APPARENT THEY REALLY DON'T CARE. I'M CONCERNED THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WILL BE KILLED OR INJURED DUE TO THESE TIRES. IT'S APPARENT THERE IS A DEFECT BECAUSE MY TIRES EXPERIENCED 100% FAILURE RATE AND WERE PRODUCED IN TWO SEPARATE LOTS. THE DOT NUMBERS ARE DOT PJT2 4AHR 1604 (3 TIRES) AND DOT PJT2 4AHR 3704 (1 TIRE). GOODYEAR CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND THAT LESS THAN 1% OF TIRES ARE BAD. THIS IS NOT A STATISTIC WORTH BRAGGING ABOUT SINCE MILLIONS OF TIRES ARE PRODUCED. THE TIRES I PURCHASED CRACKED DUE TO DRY ROT AND THEY WERE LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. GOODYEAR IS UNCONCERNED ABOUT HIGHWAY SAFETY. THEIR ATTITUDE AT THE COMPLAINT CENTER WAS PATHETIC. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE NEW TIRES WILL ALSO BE DEFECTIVE AND I NEED ASSURANCE FROM SOMEONE THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ONGOING QUALITY ISSUE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES AND THE WALMART MANAGER IN GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS IS HOLDING THE DEFECTIVES UNTIL GOODYEAR VISITS HIM AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138641

Incident

Oct 4, 2005

Mileage

75,296 mi

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON ONE OCCASION, BUT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE SECOND TIME. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10065172

Incident

Mar 11, 2004

Mileage

39,000 mi

THE 1ST INCIDENT; MY MERCEDES C240 WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS NEW. 2ND INCIDENT AT 10.5 MOS, 3RD: EXACLTY 1 YEAR, 4TH: 1 YR/3 WKS, 5TH: 13 MOS. ALL 5 TIMES THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT DYING OUT OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, & BRAKES. 3 OF THE 5 INCIDENTS THE CAR WOULD NOT START & REQUIRED A TOW TO THE DEALER, HAVING THE DEALERS WORK ON THE CAR ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR DIE OUT AGAIN. BIGGEST COMPLAINT BESIDES MINE, MY CHILDREN, & OTHER FELLOW FREEWAY TRAVELERS LIVES BEING IN DANGER IS THE LACK AND DISRESPCTFUL ATTITUDE OF THAT FROM MERCEDES BENZ'S CUSTOMER SERVICE.

NHTSA ID

10070703

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

IN OCTOBER OF 2001, I PURCHASED A NEW (2002) MERCEDES BENZ C-240. IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH GERMAN MADE CONTINENTAL CONTOURING TIRES. IT IS WITH THESE TIRES THAT I AM EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM. I HAVE 19,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND ALREADY HAVE HAD TWO SLOW LEAKS IN TWO DIFFERENT TIRES (PASSENGER SIDE FRONT/REAR). THE FIRST TIRE LEAKED (AT ABOUT 17,000 MILES) BUT ABLE TO BE PATCHED. WHEN I BROUGHT THE SECOND TIRE INTO AN STS TIRE DEALER, I NOTICED THAT THEY SOLD CONTINENTAL TIRES. SINCE I HAD THE TWO PROBLEMS, I ASKED THE MANAGER IF THEY SOLD MANY CONTINENTAL TIRES AND EXPLAINED MY EXPERIENCES (IN BOTH CASES THE TIRES HAD NAILS, OR SIMILAR METAL, EMBEDDED IN THEIR TREAD). AGAIN, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, THE TIRE WAS REPAIRED. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE DAMAGE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE TIRE AND COULD NOT BE PROPERLY PATCHED. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. HERE IS MY CONCERN. THE STS MANAGER, ASKED ME IF MY TIRES WERE FACTORY TIRES. I INDICATED THAT THEY WERE THE ONES THAT CAME WITH THE (NEW) CAR. HE INDICATED THAT FACTORY TIRES ARE TYPICALLY MADE TO THE SPECIFICATION OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURER, NOT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. HE EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE THE AUTO MAKER ORDERS TIRES IN SUCH QUANTITY, THEY CAN SET THEIR PRICE. IN MOST CASES, FOR THE TIRE MANUFACTURER TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT PRICE, THEY NEED TO ADJUST THE COMPOSITE FORMULA OF THE TIRE -- ESSENTIALLY MANUFACTURING INFERIOR TIRES. THIS WAS HIS EXPLANATION OF WHY I MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY FACTORY TIRES. HE FURTHER INDICATED THAT TIRES SOLD TO TIRE RETAILERS ARE MANUFACTURED TO THE TIRE MAKERS' STANDARDS AND WILL PROVIDE A MUCH LONGER USEFUL LIFE (HE INDICATED 60,000 + THOUSAND MILES FOR THE CONTINENTAL CONTOURING TIRE I JUST PURCHASED TO REPLACE MY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE). THE KICKER IS THAT CONTINENTAL DOES NOT WARRANTY THEIR TIRES AGAINST ROAD HAZARDS! IF HIS EXPLANATION ABOUT FACTORY TIRES IS TRUE, THIS IS VERY DISTURBING AND I BELIEVE THAT CONSUMERS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.

NHTSA ID

10069842

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

WHEN DRIVING 15 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. 15 SECONDS LATER, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DUE TO SEVERE FIRE DAMAGE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049880

Incident

Nov 11, 2003

Mileage

18,000 mi

3/03 WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF PURCHASING MY 2002 C-240, THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING, FUEL GAUGE FAILED, HEADLIGHT WASHER BROKE, AND ONE OF THE VENTS ON THE DASH FELL APART. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS GIVEN ANOTHER 2002 C-240, AND WHILE DRIVING THE LOANER CAR IN THE MOUNTAINS, IT BEGAN DOWN SHIFTING ITSELF AND THERE WAS NO POWER. CAR WOULD COME TO COMPLETE STOP AND THEN WOULD START MOVING AGAIN. HAPPENED 6 TIMES. MERCEDES DEALER THOUGHT WAS ISOLATED INCIDENT. I FELT IT WAS VERY SERIOUS AS I WAS ON INTERSTATE WHEN IT WOULD SUDDENLY STOP IN TRAFFIC. COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. 4/03 AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING AGAIN. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10014381

Incident

Mar 6, 2003

Mileage

8,700 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY C-240 BETWEEN 30 & 60 MPH I CAN FEEL A VIBRATION ON THE SHIFT LEVER & THE STEERING WHEEL & IF PUT MY HAND ON TOP OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. YOU CAN SENSE THE VIBRATION AROUND YOU. IT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE POWER TRAIN, VIA DRIVE SHAFT, TRANS. OR DIFFERENTIAL, THE DEALER REPLACED & BALANCED ALL FOUR TIRES, AND IT I THUOGHT IT WAS CORRECTED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSITS SOMETIMES IT IS MORE NOTICIBLE THAN OTHERS, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BUT ON A TEST DRIVE THE SERVICE MAN SAID HE CAN'T FEEL ANYTHING WRONG & THAT IT MIGHT BE ME....

NHTSA ID

10004900

Incident

Feb 20, 2002

Mileage

674 mi