NHTSA Complaint #10290261 — 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 240

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) MY MERCEDES C240 (VIN: [XXX]) BURNED UP ITS FUEL PUMP WIRING, AND THE DEALER THAT REPAIRED IT, SAYS THEY HAVE SEEN THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE . I REPLACED A FAULTY FUEL PUMP AS DIAGNOSED BY MY MECHANIC. CAR STILL DID NOT WORK SO I HAD THE CAR SENT TO DEALER (EURO MOTORCARS OF GERMANTOWN MD 301 601 5560). DEALER SAID THE WIRES TO FUEL PUMP MELTED AND CHARGED $460 TO REPAIR THEM (NOT A SIMPLE EFFORT I WAS TOLD). THE DEALER SAYS THIS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT IT IS MORE COMMON TO SEE THIS HAPPEN AT CONNECTORS AT FUEL PUMP (WHICH IS SUBMERGED WITH GASOLINE INSIDE FUEL TANK!) IN MY CASE WIRING BURNED AFTER COMPUTERIZED FUSE BOX. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A LATENT DEFECT. A WELL DESIGNED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FUSES THAT ARE SACRIFICED BEFORE DAMAGE IS DONE THAT COULD START A FIRE, OR BURN WIRES (THAT IS WHY THEY ARE THERE). THERE IS A 30 AMP FUSE FOR THIS SYSTEM, AND APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT BLOW. I KNOW MY COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTOR WOULD FAIL ANY NEW HOUSE WIRING THAT WAS NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM SITUATIONS THAT EXCEED THE RATING OF THE WIRES, IT SEEMS CRAZY THE SAME IS NOT HAPPENING HERE, AND ON A CIRCUIT THE RUNS INSIDE THE GAS TANK NO LESS! PLEASE INVESTIGATE, AND IF YOU TALK TO MERCEDES, I THINK FOR ME PAYING FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP IS SUFFICIENT, BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR A LATENT DEFECT AND OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! THANKYOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MY COMPLAINT *TR