NHTSA Complaint #11195780 — 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300

PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE AND LOCKED CAR. 'THE CAR WAS IN A STATIONARY POSITION IN A PARKING LOT.' DID SHOPPING 1/2 HOUR. WHEN I CAME BACK THE CAR DID UNLOCK, BUT WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT, THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN TO START THE CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT, UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, NO RADIO, THE CAR WAS TOTALLY LOCKED AND SHUT DOWN. I CONTACTED MY MERCEDES CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE HAD A TOW COMPANY COME TO RETRIEVE MY CAR. WHEN THE TOW GOT THERE, THE WHEELS WERE TURNED TO THE LEFT AS I HAD PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND THEY WERE STILL TURNED FROM PULLING INTO THE SPACE TO THE LEFT. IT TOOK THEM OVER AN HOUR TO LOAD THE CAR ON THEIR TRUCK BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED IN A TURN POSITION. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE REALIZED THE CAR WAS IN A STEERING LOCK. HE "REMOVED AND REPLACED -ALL." THE INVOICE STATES REPLACED "STEERING LOCK" [XXX] I WILL HAVE A COPY OF THE INVOICE FAXED TO YOU BY UPS. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FAX. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO REASON FOR THE CAR TO LOCK AS IT DID. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN ISSUE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AND IT WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I AM CERTAIN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT *JS