NHTSA Complaint #10415091 — 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350

I OWN A 2006 ML MERCEDES-BENZ WITH 47K MILES. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR, I HAD IT CHECKED BY AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES TECHNICIAN WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT MUST BE REPLACED IN THE CAR. HE GAVE ME A "STAR BULLETIN" WHICH IS AN INTERNAL MEMO PRODUCED BY MERCEDES SHOWING THE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT SINCE AUGUST 2007 AND HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THE CARS WITH ENGINES EFFECTED. IT IS I HAVE BEEN TOLD A COMMON PLACE ISSUE AND IN FACT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED IN NEW JERSEY AGAINST MERCEDES OVER THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM HAS TO BE REPAIRED OR THE ENGINE CAN BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR, THE COST I HAVE BEEN QUOTED FOR THE REPAIR IS $6000. IT WAS MADE VERY CLEAR TO ME BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT A CAR WITH 47K MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE AND THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT MERCEDES THUS FAR HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO REMEDY WITH CAR OWNERS. *TR