NHTSA Complaint #10095870 — 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CLK CLASS

IN MOST PARKING LOTS, LOW CONCRETE "CURBS" ARE PLACED IN STALLS TO PREVENT CARS FROM PULLING TOO FAR FORWARD. TYPICAL CURBS ARE ABOUT SIX INCHES IN HEIGHT. WHEN PARKING IN MANY LOTS IT IS NECESSARY TO PULL A CAR FORWARD SO THE FRONT TIRES TOUCH (OR NEARLY TOUCH) THESE CURBS. OTHERWISE, THE BACK END OF THE CAR WILL BE TOO FAR OUT IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE 2001 MERCEDES CLK 430 IS PRONE TOWARD DAMAGE ON THESE CURBS WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL. THIS OCCURS BECAUSE OF A LIP ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FRONT BUMPER THAT CATCHES ON THE CURB. WHEN THE CAR IS BACKED OUT, THE LOWER FRONT BUMPER CATCHES ON THE CURB AND WILL CAUSE THE BUMPER TO BREAK. THIS SITUATION IS NOT ISOLATED TO MY OWN CAR. OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE EXAMINED THE BUMPERS OF MANY CARS OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR (IN VARIOUS PARKING LOTS). WITHOUT EXCEPTION, EVERY BUMPER HAS BEEN BROKEN IN A SIMILAR MANNER. THIS BUMPER WAS DESIGNED SO THAT BREAKAGE IS UNAVOIDABLE, EVEN UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT WOULD JUSTIFY A RECALL.*JB