NHTSA Complaint #11157040 — 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250

I WAS DRIVING MY CLA IN THE RAIN ON THE 405N IN IRVINE, CA AT ABOUT 4PM TO GO TO MY NEW PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR ONBOARDING. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30MPH BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER AND TRAFFIC IT WAS VERY SLOW. I PUT MY BLINKER ON TO MERGE OVER INTO THE SECOND LANE AND MY CAR BEEPED AND AUTOMATICALLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, IT FELT LIKE MY STEERING LOCKED UP AND I COULD ONLY SLIGHTLY MOVE THE WHEEL, MY BLIND SPOT ASSIST WAS INOPERABLE, MY DASHBOARD LIT UP EVERY LIGHT/WARNING SIGN IT COULD AND I COULD NOT SWITCH GEARS. I HAD TO SLOWLY ROLL TWO LANES OVER INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WHILE IT WAS POURING RAIN. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF HOW SLOW MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING OVER. I DID NOT TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO RESTART IT. I WAITED ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY FOR 2 HOURS TO GET TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS NEWPORT BEACH FLETCHER JONES. ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR TO THIS I HAD MY BATTERY CHANGED AT MERCEDES BECAUSE IT COMPLETELY DIED AND WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE. WHEN I GOT TO THE VEHICLE I WAS INFORMED THAT 2-3 OTHER CLA'S CAME IN THE SAME DAY, WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.