NHTSA Complaint #10692765 — 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ E350

MY CAR HAS AN ELECTRONIC TRUNK CLOSURE. WITH THIS FEATURE, WHEN SOMEONE KICKS THEIR FOOT UNDER THE REAR BUMPER OF THE CAR, THE TRUNK LID OPENS OR CLOSES AUTOMATICALLY, ASSUMING HE OR SHE HAS THE CAR FOB IN HIS OR HER POSSESSION. MY WIFE HAS HAD THE TRUNK LID CLOSE ON HER HEAD ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE TAKING ITEMS OUR OF THE TRUNK. SHE INADVERTENTLY ENGAGED THE AUTOMATIC CLOSURE WHILE LEANING INTO THE TRUNK. THE FIRST TIME, THE TRUNK LID HIT THE BACK OF HER HEAD, THE SECOND TIME IT HIT HER FOREHEAD. IN EACH CASE FOR SEVERAL DAYS FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, SHE HAD HEADACHES AND SWELLING AT THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH A BLACK AND BLUE MARK ON HER FOREHEAD THE SECOND TIME. SHE TOOK MEDICATION TO RELIEVE THE HEADACHES AND APPLIED ICE PACKS TO REDUCE THE SWELLING OF HER HEAD. WHILE MY WIFE IS OK NOW, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS POORLY DESIGNED CAR FEATURE. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE AUTOMOBILE. *TR