NHTSA Complaint #10935178 — 2014 MERCEDES BENZ B-CLASS ELECTRIC

IN PREPARING TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT ON NOVEMBER 23, 2016 IN HILLSBORO, OREGON, THE B-CLASS MERCEDES-BENZ ELECTRIC DRIVE AUTOMOBILE REFUSED TO MOVE AND A MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SAYING "HAVE ME TOWED TO A DEALER" OR SOMESUCH. VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO BEAVERTON, OREGON MERCEDES-BENZ WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A DEFUNCT MAIN TRACTION BATTERY. BATTERY, WHICH COSTS ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE MSRP OF THE AUTOMOBILE, WAS ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND ARRIVED ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 9, 2016 AS A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE IS REPORTED TO BE READY FOR PICK UP ON DECEMBER 15. NO ACCIDENT WAS INVOLVED, THOUGH HAD THE TRACTION BATTERY CEASED TO PROVIDE POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE OUTCOME MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. NO INDICATION OF IMPENDING BATTERY FAILURE WAS NOTED. THE BATTERY POWERED THE VEHICLE 12 MILES TO A PARKING LOT IN HILLSBORO FROM OUR RESIDENCE, BUT ON ATTEMPT TO POWER THE PARKED VEHICLE FROM THE PARKING LOT, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE OTHER THAN A MESSAGE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE B-CLASS IN QUESTION HAD A FEW MILES OVER 20,000 ON THE CLOCK AND HAD BEEN IN SERVICE FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. VEHICLE IS LEASED FOR 36 MONTHS. WITH THIS EXPERIENCE, WE WILL BE GOING BACK TO THE TOYOTA PRIUS AS OUR GREEN VEHICLE.