NHTSA Complaint #11143783 — 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A SERIES OF INDISTINCT GRINDING NOISES AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE SERPENTINE HYDRAULIC BELT WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY OF 2018. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE SERPENTINE HYDRAULIC BELT A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDISTINCT GRINDING NOISES CONTINUED. ON AUGUST 24, 2018 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BENZEL-BUSCH MOTOR CAR (28 GRAND AVENUE, ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, (201) 567-1400) AS THE SUNROOF HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE SUNROOF. HOWEVER, THE WORK ORDER STATUS FORM STATED THAT THE DEALER CHECKED FOR NOISE AND REMOVED THE OCP, INSPECTED CABLES FOR DAMAGE, AND ASSESSED MECHANICAL CABLES TO MAKE SURE THEY DID NOT SLIP WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG WERE REPLACED, AS STATED BY THE WORK ORDER FROM THE DEALER. THEREAFTER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME DISABLED AND THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THREE WEEKS LATER THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDISTINCT GRINDING NOISES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF NANUET (99 NY-304, NANUET, NEW YORK 10954 (845) 624-1500) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT OIL HAD LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL FIRE RISK. THE WORK ORDER REPAIR FORM STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY, AS WELL AS THE AXLE BOOST. THE DEALER REPLACED BELT TENSIONERS AND IDLER PULLEYS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,412. *DT*JB *DT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *JB