NHTSA Complaint #10660692 — 2009 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500

THE METHODOLOGY/GASKETING/ WHATEVER IS SO INADEQUATE ON ROOFTOP AIR CONDITIONING UNITS THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE "SEMI-JOKINGLY" CALLED RAIN FORESTS DUE TO UNBELIEVABLY BAD AND CHRONIC AND DANGEROUS RAIN LEAKING THROUGH THE ROOF. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH ON "SPRINTER ROOF LEAK" BRINGS BACK MANY, MANY RESULTS -- INCLUDING YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF THE OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF LEAKING. THE REAR PASSENGERS IN SOME SPRINTER VANS ARE GETTING A SHOWER THAT THEY DON'T EXPECT. THE REAR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS REPORTEDLY LEAKING IN SOME MODELS, AND OWNERS ARE BOILING MAD. A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN CALIFORNIA ALLEGING THAT MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T FIX IT. BAD SEALS AROUND THE ROOFTOP, REAR AIR CONDITIONER ON SOME SPRINTER 2500 AND 3500 MODELS ALLEGEDLY CAUSE THE LEAK. DRIVERS CLAIM THAT IT'S BAD ENOUGH TO SEEM LIKE IT'S RAINING IN THE VEHICLE, AND SOME OWNERS SAY THAT IT LEADS TO MOLD AND WATER DAMAGE AROUND THE HEADLINER. REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY TIMES DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TRY TO REPAIR -- THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS WITHIN MONTHS TYPICALLY. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP THE RAIN-INFILTRATION ON MY VEHICLE IS TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE ROOFTOP UNIT. HENCE, A UNIT THAT COSTS ~ $6,000 DOLLARS HAS BEEN REMOVED, ALSO REQUIRING REMEDIATION OF THE RESULTING 16 X 33 INCH HOLE IN THE ROOFTOP SHEET-METAL AND THE INTERIOR HEADLINER, WHICH ALONE COSTS ANOTHER $600 FROM MB PARTS DEPARTMENT. I HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH EXECUTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE TO LITTLE AVAIL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MOST SPRINTER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, READILY ADMIT, THAT THIS IS A HUGE, RECURRING PROBLEM. IT REALLY IS A SHAME THAT THIS IS THE PRIMARY "ACHILLES HEEL" ON THIS VEHICLE, THAT OTHERWISE, IMPRESSES ME TIME AND AGAIN. *TR