NHTSA Complaint #10383514 — 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C230

AT THE END OF JAN 2011, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2006 C230 MERCEDES ' BENZ. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION ON FEB 1, 2011. THE INSPECTION DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A BALANCE SHAFT. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 58,705 MILES ON IT AND WARRANTY EXPIRED ON IT AT 50,000 MILES. IF DRIVEN LONGER WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD OF MALFUNCTION. THIS SAFETY ISSUE MAY OF CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND STOP DRIVING. MERCEDES ' BENZ USA HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. ALSO, SEVERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. A RECALL SHOULD BE PUT ON ENGINE M272 & M273 BALANCE SHAFT GEAR / IDLE GEAR. THIS DEFECT IN THE ENGINE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAY CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR FATALITY. THE PRICING ON THE SERVICE IS REALLY RIDICULOUS. PARTS $ 478.15 AND LABOR $1946.26. THIS PRICE WAS A GOODWILL GESTURE.