NHTSA Complaint #10909699 — 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500

TL* THE CONTACT WANTED TO USE THE EMAIL THAT HE SENT TO THE HOTLINE FOR HIS COMPLAINT. "THE DOCUMENTED ISSUE OCCURRED WHEN MY CAR TURNED 8 OR 9 YEARS OLD (2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500 IN MINT CONDITION WITH 82,000 MILES) WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHTS INTERMITTEDLY COMES ON. NOW, IT IS ON NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THAT OF A WEIGHT SENSOR, AND SAID WHENEVER THE LIGHT IS ON, ALL AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF AND WILL NOT DEPLOY. NOW IT IS NEARING 10 YEARS OLD AND AM STILL TRYING TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY ($850 TO $1000) AS YOUR AGENCY HAS DEFINED, "'MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REMEDY VEHICLES FOR FREE THAT ARE MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD ON THE DATE THE DEFECT OR NONCOMPLIANCE IS DETERMINED. UNDER THE LAW, THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE IS CALCULATED FROM THE DATE OF SALE TO THE FIRST PURCHASER'" THE ONLY RECALL THAT I AM AWARE FOR THIS CAR IS FOR THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND NOT FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED. IT IS NOT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A CAR MUST HAVE TO FACE A RECALL TO OBLIGE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG COMPONENT." THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.