NHTSA Complaint #11419705 — 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350

The key in the electronic ignition switch is not recognized causing the car to suddenly throw itself into park while the vehicle is still in motion, at speeds as high as 6 mph, per service bulletin #LI54.25-P-056472. The issue is intermittent and unpredictable and puts the driver at great risk of an accident because the car stops violently and without warning to the cars behind. The car can be put back into Drive and as soon as you start driving again, it will immediately throw itself back into park, which sometimes happens over and over again. This has put me in the position of having entered an intersection only to have my car stop in the middle of the intersection. I've been nearly hit from behind or side several times due to the unexpected and sudden stop my car made when this happened. Despite reporting the TSB to the Mercedes dealership, they would not cover the out of warranty repair because they said it's "only a service bulletin and not a safety recall." This is VERY CLEARLY a safety issue and there are hundreds if not thousands of drivers and cars affected based on internet searches of MB and auto forums.