NHTSA Complaint #10367890 — 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MB E320 TO THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE THE ENGINE STALLED. I WAS PULLING UP TO A RED LIGHT AT THE TIME THAT TURNED GREEN BEFORE I STOPPED. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO GO, THERE WAS NO POWER. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE LOCAL GARAGE SAID I WAS OUT OF GAS, PUT TEN DOLLARS WORTH OF GAS IN IT, CHARGED ME $60.00 AND SAID THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE. THE NEXT TIME MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR OUT, IT STALLED AGAIN IN NEARLY THE SAME PLACE. SHE WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE AS I WAS AND WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WE HAD IT TOWED BACK TO OUR HOUSE AND I LOOKED UP THE SYMPTOMS ON THE INTERNET. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR A FEW DAYS, I TURNED THE CAR ON AND LET IT IDLE. AFTER THE CAR REACHED ABOUT 75 - 80 DEGREES, IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (CPS) THAT WENT BAD. I BOUGHT ONE, LEARNED HOW TO REPLACE IT AND THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE. THE SAFETY CONCERN HERE IS THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF!! THERE IS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER! THANKFULLY THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. *TR