NHTSA Complaint #10817760 — 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML320

WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE (RAIN) STANDING WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE AREA OF THE CAR. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER QUIT WORKING. GOT ERROR MESSAGES ON THE DASH REAR HATCH OPEN, CHECKED REAR HATCH WAS CLOSED AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN EITHER MANUALLY OR USING THE REMOTE OPENER OR THE BUTTON IN THE CAR, MULTIPLE ERROR MESSAGES REAR BRAKE LIGHTS LEFT RIGHT SIDE AND TRAILER, ERROR MESSAGE SRS FAILURE, FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING, LOCKS NOT WORKING..... PARKED THE CAR IT WAS RAINING UNABLE TO DRIVE, THE NEXT DAY DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND 1" OF STANDING WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL. THE LIFT GATE CONTROLLER IS IN THE WELL AND WAS WET AND NOT FUNCTIONING IN ALSO TOOK OUT ANOTHER CONTROLLER PART COST $978.61 LABOR 474.50 I DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR THE MECHANIC TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK HE HAD THE CAR 4 DAYS BEFORE THE NEW YEARS DAY WEEKEND (OUT OF TOWN 250 MILES FROM HOME) TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES DEALER THEY SAID THE 2009 YEAR MODEL HAD A LEAKY SEAL AT THE TURN SIGNALS THAT HAD A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY MODEL YEAR ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN THE RAIN I DID NOT ENCOUNTER FLOODED ROADS JUST RAINFALL. MERCEDES WAS UNWILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY.