NHTSA Complaint #10164947 — 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320

WHEN DRIVING ON RTE 6 IN HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS IN MY MERCEDES CLK 430 (THE DROP DOWN OPTIONS ONLY INCLUDE CLK 320) , THE "BATTERY ALTERNATOR" LIGHT WENT ON ON THE DASHBOARD. WITHIN SECONDS THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT DOWN AT HIGH SPEED. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITH A VERY HARD STOP ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS AN "OPEN RECALL" ON MY CAR FOR PRECISELY THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO FIND OUT WHY I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT INSTEAD A "SERVICE BULLETIN" WAS ISSUED AND THAT, UNDER THIS CIRCUMSTANCE NO NOTICES WERE REQUIRED TO BE SENT TO THE CAR OWNER. THE RATIONALE WAS THAT THIS WAS NOT DEEMED A "SAFETY" ISSUE. I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE POSSIBILITY OF A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE CAR COULD NOT BE DEEMED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIPS CAN VOLUNTARILY CORRECT THE PROBLEM IF AND WHEN THE CAR IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. IF THE CAR IS NOT BROUGHT IN THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE HARD STOP. ALTHOUGH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED (THE BUMPER HAS NOT) I HAVE NOT YET PICKED UP MY CAR SO I AM UNSURE AS TO WHETHER I WILL BE CHARGED FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE BY THE DEALER THAT I WOULD NOT BE CHARGED SINE THIS IS A RECALL BUT THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE. *NM