NHTSA Complaint #10414356 — 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE FAR LEFT LANE ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE ON THE CAR STOPS IN ADDITION TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I COULD NOT MOVE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER BECAUSE IT WAS AN ADDITIONAL LANE FOR HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLES WHICH WAS ALSO BARRICADED. I IMMEDIATELY PLACED ON MY FLASHERS AND COMMENCED TO CHANGE LANES TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. WHERE THIS ALSO OCCURRED WAS WHERE AN ON-RAMP CONNECTS WHICH ADDED ON ANOTHER OBSTACLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE AND LUCKY THAT NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS IN THE DALLAS AREA DURING RUSH HOUR IT IS VERY HARD TO JUST CHANGE TO ONE LANE WITH A RUNNING CAR LET ALONE CHANGING LANES 3 TIMES PLUS DEALING WITH MERGING TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP WITH A CAR THAT IS NOT RUNNING. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS FOUND TO BE THE DEFECT. IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY FLAW BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER TO COMPLETELY STOP AN ENGINE WHEN A DEFECT OCCURS ON A SENSOR. IN THIS CONDITION THE VEHICLE SHOULD ONLY TURN ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING THE CAR OFF TO PLACE THE OPERATOR INTO A POTENTIAL DEADLY SITUATION.