NHTSA Complaint #11343424 — 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ C300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WEST CHESTER DEALER (1260 WILMINGTON PIKE, WEST CHESTER, PA 19382) TO BE SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). DUE TO THE PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, BOTH HER DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS WERE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED AT THE TIME THAT THE DEALER'S POLICY WAS TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS TURNED OFF UNTIL THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. ON JULY 19,2020, THE CONTACT SUFFERED A SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. DUE TO THE SEIZURE, THE CONTACT SIDE SWIPED A TELEPHONE POLE AND DROVE INTO A FLOWER BED. ONCE SHE RAN OVER THE FLOWER BED, THE VEHICLE CATAPULTED INTO THE AIR AND THE VEHICLE LANDED ON HER DRIVER SIDE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS, WHICH WERE STILL ACTIVATED, DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE AUTHORITIES WERE CALLED AND THE PARAMEDIC WERE FORCED TO BREAK THROUGH HER WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF TO REMOVE HER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS IMMEDIATELY TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS TREATED FOR A CONCUSSION AND A MISSING TOOTH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PLACED INTO THE POSSESSION OF HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,815. *DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB