Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
This is not about an accident. It's about the vehicle's condition. Precisely, about the brake service warning. Red warning with beeping on dashboard saying I need to bring it to workshop for service. My wife was driving this car when she felt something was wrong with the car and she brought it to her trustful mechanic for check up right away sameday That mechanic gave up to look any further suggesting a visit to MB dealer.
Per incident was back glass detached from window and broke all over the road and on the back of my car while driving. 2: Sbcc pump goes in and out admittedly and type of a no brake issue at all hard as a rock will not move car only has 180,000 miles on it and it’s been doing that since 140,000 miles Which did cause me to get in a minor accident on the right side of the car the passenger side where now I’ve had to replace a fender and still have problems because of it
I was traveling at about 60mph and started to slow to turn off the highway. Suddenly a red brake warning light came on and it took tremendous pressure to slow the car down and I overshot the turn. Then the car had no power. I was 36 miles from my home. I limped at 5-20 mph to a friends house and had the car towed to my home. There was absolutely no warning of any kind of brake problem. The car was driving just fine before this happened. I believe it could have been a much worse situation had I been in any kind of traffic.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES LOST POWER AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE 'STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE' WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ENCINO (888-280-0902, LOCATED AT 16721 VENTURA BLVD, ENCINO, CA 91436). THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT ASSURED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEYES EUROPEAN MERCEDES-BENZ (818-574-5053, LOCATED AT 5400 VAN NUYS BLVD, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91401) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RECOMMENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT PROVIDED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFTED INTO PARK AND COASTED WITH THE PARK PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND 'THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT POWER TO STOP' APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PENTATONIC BRAKE CONNECTION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, IN WET CONDITIONS AT SPEEDS OF 65MPH+ ,THE ESP&ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STOP. WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF INTERSTATE AND HAD CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THE ABS BRAKE MODULE ESP CONTROL HAD TO BE REPLACED $1,100.00. SINCE HAVING THAT DONE THE CAR IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP BECAUSE NOW THE SBC MODULE NEEDS REPLACED, WHICH IS ANOTHER $1,600.00.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500W, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPC WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPC UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY ONTO A FRONTAGE ROAD (TRAVELLING ~45MPH). A WARNING MESSAGE SAID THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT HAD LOST ALL BRAKING POWER. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTED TO A LOW GEAR WHICH HELPED SLOW ME DOWN. I CAME TO A STOP IN A SAFE LOCATION, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I RE-STARTED THE CAR, NORMAL BRAKING FUNCTION RETURNED. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. A HYDRAULIC UNIT OF SOME SORT NEEDED REPLACING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE ADVISORY BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER LANE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING COULD ONLY BE PERFORMED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V296000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY REPAIR FOR THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL FAILURE HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,386.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING MESSAGE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP ILLUMINATED CONCERNING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR VARIOUS BRAKE FAILURES, BUT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF VALENCIA, 23355 VALENCIA BLVD, SANTA CLARITA, CA 91355, 661- 753-5555) AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC), BUT DID NOT SPECIFY IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE A SOLUTION COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SBC UNIT AND THE PUMP, WHICH BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE VEHICLE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *TT
BRAKE FAILURE. TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. NO WARNING LIGHT EXCEPT AFTER FAILURE! ACCORDING TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #2005110001" BRAKE POWER MAY BE REDUCED". BRAKE POWER WASN'T REDUCED, THERE WAS ZERO- HAD TO COAST TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. COULD'VE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. PER SAFETY CAMPAIGN RECORDS, MY VEHICLE IS MARKED AS "COMPLETED" . I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THE CAR AND IT'S NOT BEEN COMPLETED. CONTACT MB DEALERSHIP WHO OFFERED TO FIX THIS RECALLED ITEM FOR ME AT A 10% DISCOUNT. CONTACTED MB CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I CANNOT GET A RESOLUTION.
MERCEDES BENZ PLACED FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEMS INCLUDING A DEFECTIVE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT ON ALL OF THEIR MERCEDES BENZ E500 MODEL VEHICLES. MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE PARTY THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO OCCUPANTS AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. MERCEDES BENZ FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTEAD EXTENDED THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS. HOWEVER, MERCEDES NEVER NOTIFIED ANY OWNERS OF THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, THEREFORE, NEVER ACTUALLY FIXED OR REPLACED THIS DEFECTIVE PART. OWNER HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEFECT, WERE NOT NOTIFIED OR CONTACTED AND RECEIVED ABSOLUTELY NO COMMUNICATION FROM MERCEDES OR ITS DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THIS DEFECT. YOU ONLY LEARN OF THE DEFECT ONCE IT FAILS! UPON FAILURE, MERCEDES IS NOW REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT OF WHICH THEY, THEIR COMPANY, DEALERSHIPS AND FRANCHISES, AND CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOPS HAVE ADMITTED TO HAVE KNOWINGLY SOLD CARS WITH THIS DEFECT AND HAVE ALL FAILED TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS AND/OR DISCLOSURES OF ANY KIND TO ITS CUSTOMERS. I HAVE PERSONALLY CONTACTED MERCEDES ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND AM LOOKING TO PURSUING LEGAL AND CIVIL ACTION AGAINST THEM FOR CIRCUMVENTING THE FEDERAL SAFETY RECALL LAWS TO THE DETRIMENT OF ITS CONSUMERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. MERCEDES IS IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW AND CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PENALTIES SHOULD ENSUE. MYSELF AND OTHER SIMILARLY SITUATED CONSUMERS SHOULD BE MADE WHOLE AND MERCEDES SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL EXPENSES INCURRED FOR THIS REPAIR. MY VEHICLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSINESS INTERSTATE HIGHWAY-HIGHWAY 75 SOUTH IN ATLANTA, GA. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND BEGAN TO ABRUPTLY COME TO A STOP WITH WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING AND CAR DISABLED ITSELF. ONCE DISABLED IN THE ROAD, THE GEARS WOULD NOT MOVE AND CAR COULD NOT BE PUT BACK INTO MOTION. THE CONSUMER DECLINED THE "GOODWILL" OFFER STATING IT DOES NOT EXHIBIT GOODWILL. *JS
MERCEDES E500 2005 126,000 MILES WHILE TRAVELLING 40MPH ON CITY STREETS THE CAR FLASHED A RED WARNING MESSAGE INDICATING "REDUCED BRAKING POWER DEPRESS BRAKE PRDAL FULLY". THIS IS IN RELATION TO THE SBC BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE RESORTS TO A EMERGENCY HYDRAULIC EMERGENCY BRAKE BACK UP THAT MERCEDES CLAIMS ALLOWS FOR ADEQUATE BRAKING STOPPING DISTANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED STATEMENT IS NOT TRUE AS I HAD TO SWERVE ON TO A SIDEWALK TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY IS NOT SUFFICE AND THE SYSTEM LOSES 90% BRAKING POWER WITH ONLY THE FRONT AXEL BRAKES AS OPERABLE. THE CONDITION AND CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED HEREIN ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FMCSA IN REGARDS TO BRAKES BEING OPERABLE AT ALL TIMES AND EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATIONS. THE RED WARNING MESSAGE CLEARED UPON THE NEXT TIME THE ENGINE WAS ENGAGED WHICH IS ALSO OF NOTE. MERCEDES SHOULD BE ADVISED TO CONSIDER RECALLING CARS EQUIPPED WITH SBC AS IT IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD.
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE BRAKE FAILURE SING COME WITH RED LIGHT TOTAKE TO DEALER.TRY TO STOP THE CAR BUT, NOT BRAKING. LUCKILY NO INCEDENT. IT HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IT HAS ONLY 122,000 MILES. IT CAN TAKE MY LIFE AWAY. IT OBVIOUSLY THE COMPANY'S DEFECT.SPEND ENOUGH MONEY AFTER MAINTANANCE. DEALERS ARE DAY TIME ROBBERS.COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE THE PART WITHOUT COST TO LOYAL CUSTOMERS.THERE ARE OTHER LUXURY VEHICLES AVAILABLE WITH COMPATATIVE PRICE.
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM (SBC) FAILED AND THERE WERE NO NOTICEABLE BRAKES. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT IF YOU APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE DURING A FAILURE, THERE WILL BE SOME BRAKING POWER AVAILABLE. IN THE SITUATION THOUGH, WHEN THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, HUMAN INSTINCT IS TO IMMEDIATELY FIND AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. MERCEDES BENZ USA IS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR ALL SBC ELECTRIC PUMPS TO FAIL AT ANY TIME CAUSING THIS SAME SITUATION FOR ANYONE. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE DEFECTIVE PART BECAUSE I AM ONE YEAR BEYOND THE 'EXTENDED WARRANTY.' THEY CLAIM THAT AS WITH ANY CAR PARTS, THE SBC SYSTEM CAN BE EXPECTED TO FAIL AT SOME POINT. ANYTHING BEYOND 10 YEARS AND THEY DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. NORMALLY I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT, BUT NOT WHEN IT CONCERNS THE PRIMARY ELECTRIC SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC BRAKES TO FAIL. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A SUFFICIENT AND NOTICEABLE HYDRAULIC BACK UP IF THIS PART IS ENGINEERED TO FAIL. MERCEDES HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED ALL FUEL TANK RELATED ISSUES AND COMPONENTS TO 15 YEAR COVERAGE, AND THIS WOULD AT LEAST BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE SBC SYSTEM. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE MERCEDES BENZ USA AND THE NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE A RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SBC TO BE INSPECTED YEARLY AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DEATHS OR INJURIES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM - AS THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE ALL ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD AT THIS POINT. IT IS A VALID CONCERN FOR BOTH ME AS A DRIVER OF AN AFFECTED VEHICLE, AND A CONCERN FOR FELLOW MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD.
TAKATA RECALL.
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. 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 FOR FREE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WE ARE TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES WILL GO INTO FAILURE MODE. MERCEDES EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR 10YRS WHICH HAS EXPIRED. EVEN UNDER THAT WARRANTY PERIOD MERCEDES ONLY REPLACED SBC UNITS THAT HAD FAILED. THE MAIN ISSUE IS WHEN THE SBC UNIT FAILS YOU HAVE NO BRAKES; AND REPLACING THE SBC DOES NOT SOLVE THIS BECAUSE THE SBC WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55MPH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON SAYING REDUCE BRAKING POWER. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I ALMOST HIT A GUARD RAIL.
UPON EXITING A HIGHWAY, A RED BRAKE FAILURE WARNING AND BEEPING NOISE APPEARED. ALL BRAKING CAPABILITY WAS ABSENT, SO I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY ROLL TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED TWICE (ODOMETER DURING THESE INCIDENCES EXCEEDING 120,000) AND I NOW HAVE A WHITE MESSAGE APPEARING WHEN I START THE VEHICLE WHICH NOTES "BRAKES - VISIT WORKSHOP". THE TIMES THAT THE BRAKES SEIZED UP ON ME I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND START UP AGAIN WITH NO MESSAGE EVER TO APPEAR FOR MONTHS AT A TIME, WHICH MADE ME THINK IT WAS SOME SORT OF COMPUTER ERROR MESSAGE. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM, SO I WAS ALWAYS SENT ON MY WAY WITH NO REPAIR WORK DONE. I HAVE REACHED MY LIMIT WITH THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE I HAD TO EXPERIENCE SUCH TRAUMA TWICE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO NOT CRASH INTO ANYONE AND HAD CONVENIENT PARKING LOTS TO ROLL INTO. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE.
THE SBC PUMP FAILED CAUSING ME TO LOSE BRAKING POWER WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME COMING CLOSE TO HAVING A REAR END COLLISION ON THE INTERSTATE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE SERVICE BRAKES WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
HAVE VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND WAS UNAWARE OF MERCEDEZ BENZ EXTENDED 10 YEAR WARRANTY, BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLASHED RED WITH "DECREASED BRAKING POWER, STOP DRIVING AND VISIT WORKSHOP". UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS TRAVELLING AT MID DAY IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET TO THE FLOOR, AND I STILL MANAGED TO BLOW THROUGH 2 RED LIGHTS, BUT NOT KILL ANYBODY.(IT TOOK OVER 3 BLOCKS TO STOP.) THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE, AS 750 TSB'S HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST THIS MODEL. IF OWNERS CHOOSE NOT REPAIR THIS MALFUNCTION(5000 COST)...PEOPLE WILL DIE,,,KIDS WILL DIE. BRAKE SYSTEMS SUCH AS THESE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED BY CAR MAKERS BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS. NTSB, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REALIZE THAT THESE "DANGEROUS" VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD AND DEMAND MB EXTENDS THE WARRANTY UNTIL ALL "DANGEROUS" CARS ARE ON THE ROAD AND NEED REPAIRS. THESE VEHICLES ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN A LOADED GUN..JUST WAITING TO KILL SOMEONE. I HOPE TO HEAR SOME ACTION QUICKLY...YOURS TRULY, A GUY DRIVING A LOADED WEAPON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES WOULD HESITATE TO RESPOND AND THE VISIT WORKSHOP BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
THE MERCEDES MODEL E CLASS FROM 2003-2008 HAVE A DEFECTIVE SBC UNIT WHICH CONTROL THE BRAKES ON THE CAR, THIS UNIT IS PRONE TO FAIL AT ANYTIME TIME WITHOUT WARNING, I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, I WILL BE SHOCKED IF THIS HASN'T CAUSED A FATALITY, MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ISSUED A 10 YEAR WARRANTY TO FIX THIS, BUT IF THE UNIT FAILS AFTER THE 10 YEARS THEY WILL CHARGE YOU OVER $2500 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT THEY MANUFACTURED DEFECTIVE, WHICH IS INSANE. THIS IS A REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, I GUESS TO THEM, A LIFE IS ONLY IMPORTANT FOR 10 YEARS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST (OR MORE LIVES ARE LOST) BECAUSE OF THIS LUDICROUS ERROR ON THE PART OF MERCEDES.
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM (SBC) FAILED AND THERE WERE NO NOTICEABLE BRAKES. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT IF YOU APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE DURING A FAILURE, THERE WILL BE SOME BRAKING POWER AVAILABLE. IN THE SITUATION THOUGH, WHEN THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, HUMAN INSTINCT IS TO IMMEDIATELY FIND AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. MERCEDES BENZ USA IS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR ALL SBC ELECTRIC PUMPS TO FAIL AT ANY TIME CAUSING THIS SAME SITUATION FOR ANYONE. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE DEFECTIVE PART BECAUSE I AM 1 MONTH BEYOND THE 'EXTENDED WARRANTY.' THEY CLAIM THAT AS WITH ANY CAR PARTS, THE SBC SYSTEM CAN BE EXPECTED TO FAIL AT SOME POINT. ANYTHING BEYOND 10 YEARS AND THEY DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. NORMALLY I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT, BUT NOT WHEN IT CONCERNS THE PRIMARY ELECTRIC SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC BRAKES TO FAIL. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A SUFFICIENT AND NOTICEABLE HYDRAULIC BACK UP IF THIS PART IS ENGINEERED TO FAIL. MERCEDES HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED ALL FUEL TANK RELATED ISSUES AND COMPONENTS TO 15 YEAR COVERAGE, AND THIS WOULD AT LEAST BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE SBC SYSTEM. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE MERCEDES BENZ USA AND THE NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE A RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SBC TO BE INSPECTED YEARLY AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DEATHS OR INJURIES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM - AS THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE ALL ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD AT THIS POINT. IT IS A VALID CONCERN FOR BOTH ME AS A DRIVER OF AN AFFECTED VEHICLE, AND A CONCERN FOR FELLOW MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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