NHTSA Complaint #10087041 — 1995 MERCEDES BENZ 280

MY SON'S CAR QUIT RUNNING. THE MECHANIC AT THE GARAGE DISCOVERED THAT THE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. HE SPOKE WITH A MERCEDES MECHANIC WHO TOLD HIM THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS ERA CAR WITH THIS ENGINE. I SPOKE WITH A MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WHO SAID THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF AN ISSUE. I POINTED OUT THAT I WAS SEEING COMPLAINTS ON THE NHSTA SITE. HE DENIED THEIR EXISTENCE. HERE ARE THE ODI ID NUMBERS I FOUND IN A QUICK SEARCH. THEY ALL DESCRIBE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM: 769109 10059002 10005610 8014541 742685 737212 836664 733503 720365 720365 10016993 898986 714914 767707 NOW, I AM IN INFECTION CONTROL AND EPIDEMIOLOGY. IF I WERE TO SEE THESE 14 RECORDS ALL ABOUT 1994 AND 1995 MODELS, IT WOULD SUGGEST A CLUSTER AND REQUIRE SOME ACTION ON MY PART. I DON'T KNOW IF THE NHTSA WORKS THAT WAY, BUT REMEMBER THIS DATA IS FROM THE VERY FEW ANGRY CUSTOMERS THAT KNOW HOW OR HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET INTO THIS AGENCY. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS IN THE $2000.00 RANGE. TO THIS POINT MERCEDES HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO HELP OR COOPERATE. HIGH AND LOW VOLTAGE EXPOSED COPPER WIRES UNDER THE HOOD, NEXT TO A POTENTIAL GROUND CAN BE AN EXTREME FIRE HAZARD.*JB