NHTSA Complaint #10587676 — 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S55

WHEN I START S55 AMG AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING OVER NIGHT, I FIND DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE GEAR LEVER FROM P TO R; AFTER A FEW TRIES ONLY IT MOVES FROM PARK POSITION TO REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR AFTER DRIVING, UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR THINKING I'LL GET STUCK WITH THIS GEAR LEVER MOVING PROBLEM, OR SOME UNFORESEEN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT GEAR GETTING STUCK. ON GOOGLE SEARCH, I READ SEVERAL MERCEDES OWNERS COMPLAINING ON THIS MATTER, STUCK-PARK-PROBLEM. FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARD REQUIRES YOU TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT THE CAR OUT OF PARK. IT IS PROBABLY LEFT OVER FROM THE AUDI "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" DAYS, BUT IT IS HERE IN MY MERCEDES BENZ. ADDING TO THE COMPLICATION IS THE FACT THAT THE SHIFTER IS SUPPOSED TO REMAIN LOCKED IN PARK UNLESS THE PROPER KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. I AM HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING MY CAR OUT OF PARK FROM TIME. ACCORDING TO GOOGLE SEARCH THIS HAPPENS DUE TO A CHEAP PLASTIC BRACKET INSTALLED BY MERCEDES TO LOCK THE GEAR IN PARK POSITION, EITHER BROKEN OR DETERIORATION. THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE ABOUT 2001 & OWNERS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING, MERCEDES HAS NOT VOLUNTARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM. DEALER MAY CHARGE CLOSE TO $1,200 TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT; I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $238.05 ABOUT A WEEK AGO FOR DEALER TO REPLACED AND FIX TRANSMISSION ELECTRICAL BUSHING LEAKS, THINKING IT WOULD FIX MY GEAR SHIFT PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAD NOT FIXED MY PROBLEM. I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH IF YOUR AGENCY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO GET MERCEDES TO RECALL THEIR VEHICLES AND FIX FREE. I THINK THIS PROBLEM IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE GM'S IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM, AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. *TR