NHTSA Complaint #10621728 — 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S550

MY LAST TWO VEHICLES HAVE BEEN A 2007 MERCEDES S550. MY FIRST ONE OPERATED WELL UNTIL THE LAST 6-MONTHS THAT I HAD IT. DURING THAT TIME, I HAD SIX VISITS AND $5000+ IN REPAIRS, BEFORE A FREAK FLOOD TOTALED THE CAR. I USED THE INSURANCE MONEY AND PURCHASED A SECOND CAR, IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST. I HAVE NOT EVEN MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A GASKET LEAK BETWEEN THE UPPER / LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS IS A MOLDED GASKET AND IS NOT FIELD REPLACEABLE. THE ENTIRE MANIFOLD MUST BE REPLACED AT $2000. IN MY RESEARCH, IT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES, BUT THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, THEY ALLOW THE WARRANTY TO EXPIRE AND ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THE BILL. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA AND THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOWS A LACK OF COMMITMENT BY MERCEDES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I MIGHT POINT OUT THAT THEY ONLY HAVE 48 MONTH / 50K WARRANTY, WHICH IS VERY LOW TO OTHER VEHICLES WHICH HAVE A STANDARD 10 YEAR / 100K WARRANTY. THIS TELLS ME THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT HAVE THE FAITH IN THEIR CARS TO INCREASE THE WARRANTY. THIS IS A CAR THAT COST 100K NEW AND ONE WOULD EXPECT A BETTER WARRANTY AND SUPPORT FROM A COMPANY THAT TOUTS THEIR CARS AS BEING THE BEST. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES OR STEP FOOT INTO A DEALERSHIP. ON THAT NOTE, I CAUGHT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTING TO OVERCHARGE ME ON A PART BY $400. ONCE I PROVED WHAT OTHER DEALERS WHERE CHARGING, THEY MADE AN EXCUSE AND GAVE ME THE PART AT THE RATE THAT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP WAS CHARGING. WHAT A SHAME. BUYER BEWARE!!! *TR