2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 Brakes Problems

SBC braking system stated as covered under 25 year/unlimited miles warranty. SBC system failed on 2/1/25. Vehicle towed to local dealer service facility on 2/3/25. Tow was authorized at no charge by MB Roadside Assistance at no charge plus $100.00 credit toward diagnostic. Was told by phone on 2/3/25 that upon confirmation that SBC did in fact fail, the SBC replacement would be performed at no charge due to warranty through 2028. As of 2/10/25 service facility did confirm that the SBC system had failed. Currently, MB USA has a HOLD pending for authorization of repairs, with no reason given as to why as of 2/13/25.

NHTSA ID

11642524

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

October 26, 2022 my 2004 Mercedes model E320 W211 VIN # [XXX] dash pop out warning " Brake Wearing visit workshop" October 27, 2022 I had the brake pads and wear sensors both replaced and test drive verified car running normal for 30 minutes then dash pop out RED warning "Brake malfunction stop vehicle" plus transmission shifter stick to parking port can not be shift to other position, so can not drive and car being forced to stop on the road, I managed to press the lock off so can shift out of parking but there has no brake function when driving, I called MB USA and being advised that my car qualified to 25 years extended warranty for SBC hydraulic pump repair, 2005070007 2005110001 but when I tow my car to Mercedes dealer they said it only repair the Recall: 2020040011 - Sliding Roof Bonding - Phase 2, but the SBC Hydraulic pump may be at additional service charges, Please help investigate why Mercedes USA said it is under 25 years extended warranty while dealer said it might not qualify? car can not drive because of the SBC hydraulic pump problem and defected the driving safety? Best Regards/[XXX] email: [XXX] tel: [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11491955

Incident

Oct 27, 2022

Mileage

158,200 mi

Total brake failure Had to cross the over to the other side of the road to turn around. Was almost hit by an oncoming big rig truck . I've looked it up and this is a common occurrence on these vehicles,! They have a SBC unit that has caused numerous incidents exactly like mine . Someone could easily be killed because of this defect. I've read that they extended the warranty for 25 years . But I haven't been notified. They notified me about a recall of the sun roof but not this!!

NHTSA ID

11478601

Incident

Aug 10, 2022

The vehicle will flood after being exposed to rain which has caused all sorts of electrical issues. I have read online where several others have filed lawsuits regarding E class Mercedes for similar issues. The car’s interior will take on water and since there’s several electrical components running along the floor board of the car they will become damaged and cause the car’s computers and electrical system to go crazy. I picked up my car from having the oil changed at a local service shop a few days after it was repaired and I was driving back home after the service pick up and the car completely lost power. I got out of the car and opened the trunk in which I had to do so by using the key inside of the key fob. When I opened the trunk, I noticed that there was a little bit of water in the trunk which led me to open the back door and to my surprise there was standing water behind the driver seat. I checked the driver floor and it was soaked as well. I had the car towed back to the shop where I had the oil changed and the owner did not have the available equipment to test the car. I dried the car out over the next several days and drove to a local Mercedes dealership where they told me to do a full diagnostic on the car it would cost upwards of $19k. Are you kidding me? Now I know from reading others stories that this isn’t an unknown issue. So, what do I do now…file an insurance claim? I guess that would be the next step but they’ll turn around and get the money right back out of me by raising my policy rates. This is terrible. My car is a 2004 E320 with just under 65k miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11427255

Incident

May 4, 2021

ON 12/16/2020 WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE FAILED. A RED WARNING TRIANGLE APPEARED ON THE VEHICLE MESSAGE BOARD STATING THE CARS BRAKING ABILITY WAS SEVERELY REDUCED AND TO STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC COULD FIND NO MECHANICAL REASON FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE RED WARNING LIGHT WAS GONE AND THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY/RECALL FOR THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR RELATED TO BRAKE FAILURE. MERCEDES WILL REPLACE THE SENSORTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE (SBC) FREE PROVIDED THE CORRECT CODES ARE EVIDENT WHEN THEY DIAGNOSE THE CAR.(SAFETY RECALL #2005110001 I BELIEVE) MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE ARE NO CODES SHOWING FOR THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES ARE NOW FUNCTIONING. MY ONLINE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS CAN BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE RELUCTANT OR WILL NOT REPLACE THE SBC IF THERE ARE NO CODES. AFTER CONTACTING MERCEDES THE CAR IS BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AS I TYPE THIS. I AM HOPEFUL THAT MERCEDES WILL DO THE CORRECT THING AND REPLACE THEIR ADMITTEDLY FLAWED BRAKE MODULE BUT IT ISN'T LOOKING GOOD AS THEY SAID IF THE CORRECT CODES DO NOT APPEAR THEY WILL NOT REPLACE. THE INSANE IDEA THAT I AM EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE BRAKES FAIL AGAIN IN ORDER TO GET THEM REPLACED IS UNACCEPTABLE. I'M IN A NO WIN SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11386386

Incident

Dec 16, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

SENSOR TONIC BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT IN INTERMITTENTLY

NHTSA ID

11338324

Incident

Jul 4, 2020

Mileage

250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E 320. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS WIFE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED BRAKE MALFUNCTION STOP VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PROVIDED A DIAGNOSIS OVER THE PHONE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

11319454

Incident

Mar 26, 2020

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BLUE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH MEANT THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKES WERE SERVICED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUOUSLY PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SBC HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF BEVERLY HILLS (9250 BEVERLY BLVD, BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210, (310) 659-2980) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID

11288176

Incident

Dec 4, 2019

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SKYLAND AUTOMOTIVE MERCEDES-BENZ (255 SMOKEY PARK HIGHWAY, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806, (828)667-5213) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). AFTER THE REPAIR, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,015.

NHTSA ID

11155564

Incident

Nov 18, 2018

Mileage

144,015 mi

SBC BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE GOT IT TOWED THE REPAIR COST $1600.00 TO REPAIR. I CALL MBZ THEY SAID NO HELP FOR ME.

NHTSA ID

11063600

Incident

Jan 8, 2018

OEM BRAKES

NHTSA ID

11034374

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

THE SBC CONTROL UNIT FAILED. THERE WAS A RED WARNING LIGHT ON DASH, THAT WHEN I WAS IN THE ROAD THE BRAKES JUST ABOUT FAILED. WHEN I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TRIED TO START AGAIN IT WOULD NOT LET ME MOVE IT FROM PARK POSITION. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO NEUTRAL AND DRIVE TO PULL IN POSITION FOR THE TOW TRUCK. IN READING UP ON THE WEB THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SBC CONTROL UNIT. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE CLOSE TO HOME BUT THIS IS A REALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. MERCEDES PUT A LIMIT ON THE UNIT TO SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY WAY TO TELL US OWNERS WHEN THIS WILL HIT THEIR LIMIT. THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR ALL OF THESE SBC CONTROL UNITS OR AT LEAST FIND A WAY TO TELL US WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THEY DID KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE SBC UNIT FOR TEN YEARS, BUT DEPENDING HOW OFTEN YOU USED IT DETERMINES THE BREAK DOWN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.WHICH MEANT IF YOU HAD AN OLDER CAR YOU PAID FOR SOMETHING THEY FORCE TO BREAK. THERE IS AN APP $30 THAT CAN RESET THE AMOUNT OF BRAKING YOU HAVE DONE AND HAS BEEN SHOWN TO FIX THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF A $2000 REPAIR THAT MERCEDES WILL CHARGE YOU FOR A WHOLE NEW SBC UNIT. WHY DON'T THE DEALERS HAVE THIS APP? WHY DO WE LET THE MANUFACTURERS GET AWAY WITH FORCING PARTS TO SEEMINGLY BREAK SO THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY?

NHTSA ID

11034134

Incident

Oct 16, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

A WARNING SIGNAL APPEARED ON BY DASH BOARD CITING BRAKES, TAKE TO SHOP. THE MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTER PUT ON FRONT BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS. I WAS TOLD TODED TO REPLACE THE SBC UNITED BECAUSE IT WAS "TIMED OUT" AND THE BRAKES COULD FAIL.THE COST OF UNIT IS $2418.32. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING.THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11024757

Incident

Aug 17, 2017

Mileage

36,579 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKE AND VARIOUS OTHER WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD RESPOND WITH A SOLUTION TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11003311

Incident

May 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A RED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REGARDING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS STABILIZER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

NHTSA ID

10959802

Incident

Mar 7, 2017

Mileage

83,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID

10948805

Incident

Jan 28, 2017

Mileage

131,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A PAVED ROAD, WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND MY ESP CAME ON, VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND ALMOST RAN ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH THEN CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THE DITCH. NOW I'M FINDING OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SBC UNIT, WHICH IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT THE RECALL IS NOT SHOWING UP FOR MY VIN NUMBER. I AM VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED/FRUSTRATED BY MERCEDES. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX MY CAR, WHICH IS NOW SITTING DUE TO IT NOT STARTING, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER SAME YEAR VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED AND THEIRS IS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I THINK THE ENTIRE SITUATION IS RIDICULOUS! I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER MERCEDES!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10948046

Incident

Oct 6, 2016

Mileage

145,000 mi

GAS SMELL ALL THE TIME, MAIN COMPUTER KEEPS ON AND DRAINS BATTERY, BRAKES LIGHTS

NHTSA ID

10926034

Incident

Jun 10, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320 THAT I HAVE BOUGHT 3 YEARS AGO IN NOVEMBER. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I ELECTED TO ALSO BUY A 3 YEAR 36K WARRANTY. OVER THE PAST 3 YEAR I HAVE HAD NO TO VERY LITTLE TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED A VERY POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE VEHICLE NEVER HAVING TO UTILIZE THE WARRANTY. WELL UNTIL LAST WEEK... I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST ALL BRAKING POWER OUT OF NOWHERE. I WAS PETRIFIED AND VERY SCARED FOR MYSELF AND EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE, ONLY GETTING A "REDUCED BRAKING POWER" NOTICE ON THE DASH AFTER BRAKE LOSS. RECOLLECTING THAT IF THIS OCCURRED IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AND OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE REACTION OF THE SBC UNIT THAT FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. COME TO FIND OUT MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC FAILED UNIT AND MERCEDES BENZ OFFERED A 10 YEAR 150K MILE WARRANTY TO FIX THIS ISSUE IN THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY BY THE TIME THAT I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, HAD I KNOW THIS WAS AN ISSUE, I WOULD HAVE ONLY HAD A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME FOR THE UNIT TO FAIL BEFORE I COULD HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THIS "WARRANTY".. BUT I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HONESTLY WOULD HAVE NOT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN. I COMMUTED WITH THIS VEHICLE 60 MILES A DAY FOR THE LAST YEAR AND EVEN DROVE IT TO CALIFORNIA OVER THE SUMMER AS A FAMILY TRIP, WITH NO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS OR MALFUNCTIONS. I CANNOT SAY THAT I CAN DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN CONFIDENCE ANY LONGER WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE NOW OF THE SBC BRAKING UNITS. MY VEHICLE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID BECAUSE MY VEHICLE EXCEEDED MILEAGE..THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE COVERED BY MERCEDES I SHOULD NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR CORRECTING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE AND IS NOT BEING ADDRESS APPROPRIATELY.

NHTSA ID

10915495

Incident

Oct 5, 2016

Mileage

133,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CAME ON FEW MONTHS AGO. WE HAD REPLACED BRAKE PADS ETC, EARLIER AND WAS TOLD THE SBC NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WENT TO 2 DEALERS IN MY AREA AND THEY BOTH STATED IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE READ MANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE FAULTY DESIGN FROM MBENZ AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE IT AT THEIR COST. ARE THEY WAITING FOR LAWYERS TO SUE FOR A FATAL CRASH? I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE DYING NOR ANYONE IN MY FAMILY. THE CAR HAS ONLY 106,331 MILES. CAN YOU HELP?

NHTSA ID

10914869

Incident

Feb 4, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED CLOSE TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE ?BRAKE LONGER DISTANCE VISIT WORKSHOP? WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED IN RED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A FATAL CRASH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER OFFERED TO COVER TEN PERCENT OF THE COST, BUT THE OFFER WAS DECLINED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 04V296000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL REMEDY COULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNLESS THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A SERVICE NOT RELATED TO A RECALL, WHICH WAS WHY THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REMEDY FOR THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY RELATED TO THE FAILURE THAT EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10903118

Incident

Jul 15, 2016

Mileage

197,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT AROUND 60 MPH MY INSTRUMENT MESSAGE DISPLAY SUDDENLY TURNED RED, STARTED BEEPING CONTINUOUSLY, AND DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "STOP BREAK DEFECTIVE STOP VEHICLE". THE CAR HAD ZERO BREAKS, PUMPING THEM DID NO GOOD, AND I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY HAZARDS, DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR, AND PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND PARK USING THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO AVOID A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT. WHILE WAITING FOR HELP I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AFTER 15 MINUTES AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE. MY CAR IS SERVICED REGULARLY AND VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND IT GAVE NO INDICATION OF ANY BREAK PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. IT HAD A FULL BREAK JOB AT THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER LESS THEN 30K MILES AGO AND WAS SERVICED FOR ANOTHER ISSUE IN THE LAST 1.5 YEARS. AT NO TIME WERE MY BREAKS MENTIONED AS NEEDING MAINTENANCE. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, SEE "2004 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS BRAKE FOUNDATION COMPONENTS TSB (BULLETIN SB-090930)" WHERE IT IS MENTIONED. THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE BREAK SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE. MY CAR IS NOT WITHIN THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY COVERED IN THE TSB REFERENCED ABOVE. THIS SBC BREAKING SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN PERMITTED ON THE ROAD. MERCEDES BENZ REALIZED THE MISTAKE AND DISCONTINUED THE USE OF IT AFTER 3 YEARS DUE TO ALL OF THE ISSUES. ANY CAR WITH THIS SYSTEM IS A TICKING TIME BOMB THAT COULD PUT ANY NUMBER OF LIVES AT RISK WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. AT LEAST WITH A STANDARD BREAK SYSTEM YOU HAVE SOME CHANCE OF STOPPING THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10897779

Incident

Aug 20, 2016

Mileage

144,514 mi

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVE WAY AND BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WITH NO WARNING. I COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS OR STOP. I ONLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE CAR FINALLY ROLLED TO A STOP. THIS WAS UNBELIEVABLE TERRIFYING. I HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST MERCEDES MECHANIC. I PAID THE $1394.00 AND MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICES SAYS I HAVE NO RECOURSE BECAUSE I AM OUT OF THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS CAR PULLED OUT BLINDLY ONTO THE CITY STREET. THIS HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT WITH NO WARNING. I AM STILL SHAKEN UP BY HOW SUDDENLY THIS HAPPENED ON A VEHICLE THAT I ONCE HELD IN SUCH HIGH ESTEEM.

NHTSA ID

10897139

Incident

May 5, 2016

Mileage

79,564 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE CURB, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM RELATED TO THE BRAKES WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBC SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10895036

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

MERECEDES BENZ USA CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD NOT HONOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V296000 (SBC BRAKE PUMP FAILURE) CLAIMING FAILURE WAS BEYOND THE LIMIT OF THE CAMPAIGN. CAR WAS ALWAYS SERVICED AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP HOWEVER THIS PART WAS NEVER REPLACED. DUE KNOWLEDGE OF POTENTIAL DEFECT IN THE BRAKE UNIT, I HAVE REQUESTED THE PART BE REPLACED AT MERCEDES EXPENSE WHICH HAS BEEN DENIED. I WAS TOLD MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE REPAIR IS QUOTED AT $2200.00

NHTSA ID

10893109

Incident

Aug 4, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi