AFTER PULLING CAR INTO GARAGE FOUND THAT SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE PAST NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE POSITION. THOUGH IGNITION KEY COULD BE TURNED FAR ENOUGH COUNTER-CLOCKWISE FOR ENGINE SHUTDOWN IT STOPPED SHORT OF BEING ABLE TO BE REMOVED. AFTER PROBLEM DIAGNOSED REPAIR REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRONIC SHIFTER MODULE COSTING OVER $1,000. I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR SAME PROBLEM ON GOOGLE FROM OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS. FORTUNATE THAT FAILURE HAPPENED IN MY GARAGE. IF EPISODE HAPPENED ON OPEN ROAD MAJOR INCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. I DID CONTACT MERCEDES CAC (CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER) TO REPORT PROBLEM BOTH BY PHONE & LETTER. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE OFFERED ONLY EXCUSES & INDICATED FAILURE WAS RESULT OF 'NORMAL WEAR & TEAR' THAT SHOULD BE EXPECTED IN VEHICLE 10 YEARS OLD REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL MAINTAINED. AT AGE 63 I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS IN MY LIFETIME & NONE EVER HAD SUCH A FAILURE. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW & WELL MAINTAINED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10648839
- Incident
- Sep 18, 2014
- Mileage
- 69,000 mi