NHTSA Complaint #10489054 — 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450

THIS VEHICLE, AND ALL OTHERS MERCEDES-BENZ MANUFACTURES WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT SELECTOR OF THIS TYPE NEED AN ADDED SAFETY FEATURE TO DISALLOW A SHIFT FROM THE NEUTRAL POSITION TO REVERSE OR DRIVE UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. AFTER REACHING OVER FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW TO TURN THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION TO SEE WHICH HEADLIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING (AS THE DISPLAY MESSAGE STATED), A SLIGHT APPARENT TOUCH UPWARD AGAINST THE SHIFT SELECTOR (LOCATED ABOVE THE KEY AND BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL) ENGAGED THE VEHICLE IN THE REVERSE POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO REVERSE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH FOR 15 FEET AND COME TO A CRASHING STOP AGAINST AN ANCHORED METAL POST AND FORTUNATELY NOT INTO ANY OTHER VEHICLES, ONCOMING TRAFFIC, STRUCTURES, AND/OR ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL. I SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY TO MY LEFT FOREARM AS I UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO REACH BACK OVER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REVERSE MOTION TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE OFF POSITION. *TR