NHTSA Complaint #11324712 — 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350

MERCEDES HAS PRODUCED SEVERAL THOUSAND ENGINES WITH DEFECTIVE BALANCE SHAFT SEEN IN MODEL YEARS 2005-2007 IN THE M272 AND M273. THE DECIDED USE OF SOFT METALS FOR ENGINE COMPONENTS, SUCH AS THE BALANCE SHAFT, LEAD TO A RAPID DETERIORATION OVER TIME AND RENDERS THE ENGINE UNUSABLE AND A POTENTIAL HAZARD AS THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT WILL NOT TURN, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN ON THE ROADWAY, LOSE POWER STEERING OR EVEN LOCK THE STEERING COLUMN, HEAT EXCESSIVELY, OR POSSIBLY EVEN CATCH FIRE. MERCEDES HAS ACCEPTED A SETTLEMENT OFFER IN 2015 COVERING MANY PLAINTIFFS, BUT DENIED RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CONSUMER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHOICE OF MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THE BALANCE SHAFT, AND THEREFORE THE MANUFACTURER IS CLEARLY RESPONSIBLE, AND MUST KNOW IT. UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE BALANCE SHAFT, THE ISSUE SEEMS TO GO AWAY, INDICATING THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE A FIX FOR AN ISSUE THEY KNEW THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR, COVERED IT UP, AND DENIED RESPONSIBILITY. THE NEWER BALANCE SHAFTS ARE RELIABLE AS MERCEDES KNEW OF ISSUES WITH THEIR PREVIOUS FAULTY ONES. MERCEDES HAS ONLY OFFERED TO COVER UP SOME OF THE DAMAGES, IN MOST CASES LESS THAN 38% OR NONE AT ALL, ONLY GAVE CUSTOMERS A FEW MONTHS TO FILE A CLAIM, AND ALMOST NONE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE OR THE SETTLEMENT, AND HAD COME TO REALIZE IT WHEN IT WAS TOO LATE. MANY VEHICLES STILL WELL WITHIN WARRANTY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE DEFECTIVE BALANCE SHAFT, WHICH MEANS THAT OLDER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE PREVAILS ON THE BASIS OF THE INITIAL DEFECT. THE BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE HAS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STALL ON THE ROADWAY ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND IN ONE INSTANT, MY VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AS A RESULT. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO MBUSA FOR A RESOLUTION, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS TOO OLD, IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. VEHICLES 3 YEARS OLD HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. AGE IS NO FACTOR.