NHTSA Complaint #10482298 — 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C280

APPARENTLY THE W202 C-CLASS (1994-2000) BODY STYLE MERCEDES BENZ HAS A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS BY USING BIODEGRADABLE INSULATION IN THEIR HARNESSES. I RECENTLY ACQUIRED A 1995 C280 WITH 109033 MILES. AS I WAS LOOKING THE CAR OVER, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FUSE WAS BLOWN I REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR HOUSING STARTED SMOKING REAL BAD, SO I QUICKLY REMOVED THE NEW FUSE. NOW I CANNOT ADJUST THE MIRRORS TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S BEHIND, ALSO THE MIRROR HARNESS IS TIED WITH THE REVERSE/BACK UP LIGHTS. WITHOUT HAVING REVERSE/BACK UP LIGHTS, OTHER MOTORISTS AND OR PEDESTRIANS CANNOT KNOW IF I'M BACKING UP. AFTER SPENDING COUNTLESS HOURS ONLINE SEARCHING ABOUT THE C280'S AND OTHER C-CLASS W202 BODY STYLE, I LEARNED ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS. THE DEALERSHIPS WOULD CHARGE AN ARM AND A LEG FOR THE PART AND LABOR TO GET IT FIXED BUT THE PROBLEM STARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER WITH THE FAULTY WIRES AND SHOULD BE A RECALL OR TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) AND SHOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE. *TR