NHTSA Complaint #10364069 — 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE WARNING LIGHT "BRAKE FAILURE AND ESP FAILURE" WERE DISPLAYED AND ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, WHEN HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY DOWNSHIFTING AND ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO VIEWED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS VIA THE INTERNET REGARDING BRAKE FAILURE FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL BUT WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A SMELL OF GAS. IT WAS DETERMINED THE GAS TANK WAS CRACKED. ALSO, THE FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/24/11