NHTSA Complaint #11076437 — 2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL550

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AN EMERGENCY WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND VARIOUS OTHER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE POWER STEERING BECAME DISABLED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND DISABLED THE ALARM SYSTEM FROM THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF CATONSVILLE, 6631 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, CATONSVILLE, MD 21228, (410) 788-7744) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) FAILURE AND THAT THE SBC CONTROL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO AUTHORIZE THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A FOLLOW UP RESPONSE WITHIN 48 HOURS. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 12 TSBS ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.