NHTSA Complaint #11128521 — 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230

AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ENGINE STARTED VIBRATING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE TIMING CHAIN CAM SPROCKET TEETH WERE WORN OUT CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP AND DESTROY THE ENGINE. RESEARCH SHOWED THIS IS COMMON FACTORY DEFECT WITH THESE ENGINES SINCE MERCEDES USED SOFT METAL FOR THE SPROCKETS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. I CONTACTED MERCEDES AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL OR CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL AND RECOMMENDED THE CAR BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER INFORMED ME THEY REQUIRE $200 FEE TO INSPECT THE CAR AND THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WILL COST ME $10,000-15,000. THE CARE IS 13 YEARS OLD AND HAS 135,000 AND OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW IS IT THAT MERCEDES CAN ADVERTISE THEIR SLOGAN "THE BEST OR NOTHING" WHEN THEY MANUFACTURE ENGINES THAT ARE DESTROYED AT SUCH RELATIVE LOW MILEAGE? I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF OR OTHERS.