NHTSA Complaint #10440519 — 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500

REQUEST TO RE-OPEN "PE 05-062" INVESTIGATION & ORDER AN EXPANSION OF THE RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON ALL MODELS AFFECTED. ON OR ABOUT 8/17/2010, I FIRST NOTICED THE FLICKERING OF THE CLUSTER PANEL (CP) , WHICH WOULD COME AND OFF; I THEN CONTACTED A MB DEALER IN MY AREA AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM/DEFECT AND THE DEALER IN TURN CONTACTED MB TO REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CP. THE DEALER WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL BUT RATHER, SUBJECT TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY; I THEN CONTACTED MB AND DEMANDED PROOF AS TO THE RATIONALE FOR RECALLING VERY FEW VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AND DEMANDED DOCUMENTATION AS REGARDS THE MANUFACTURERS OF THIS PRODUCT(CP). THE COUNSEL FOR MB, MR. ZEPF RESPONDED ON 9/24/2010 WITH A CONVOLUTED EXPLANATION AND AT THE SAME REFUSING TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. ON 12/04/2011, I WAS TOLD THAT MY REAR LIGHTS(BRAKE, ETC) WERE NOT COMING ON, I HAVE SINCE STOPPED USING MY VEHICLE. MB HAS INTENTIONALLY LIMITED THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED AND DESPITE THE INABILITY OF MB TO EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIP OF THREE(3) ODI COMPLAINTS THAT WERE PRODUCED BEFORE THE DATES OF PRODUCTION OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE THREE FAILURE MODES IDENTIFIED BY MB.[A. MOTAMEMEDAMIN 2/8/06] ALSO, PLEASE VISIT BENZWORLD.ORG - MB DISCUSSION FORUM FOR ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. MB HAS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT OF TITLE 49 C.F.R. 573.6(C)(2) "IDENTIFICATION OF THE VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT POTENTIALLY CONTAINING THE DEFECT OR NONCOMPLIANCE, INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUFACTURER'S BASIS FOR ITS DETERMINATION OF THE RECALL POPULATION AND A DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT TO BE RECALLED DIFFER FROM SIMILAR VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL"; SAME CP, PROBLEM ON ALL VEHICLES. UPDATED 01/06/12 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 01/06/12 UPDATED IVOQ 01/10/12 *TR