2002 MERCEDES BENZ 240 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) MY MERCEDES C240 (VIN: [XXX]) BURNED UP ITS FUEL PUMP WIRING, AND THE DEALER THAT REPAIRED IT, SAYS THEY HAVE SEEN THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE . I REPLACED A FAULTY FUEL PUMP AS DIAGNOSED BY MY MECHANIC. CAR STILL DID NOT WORK SO I HAD THE CAR SENT TO DEALER (EURO MOTORCARS OF GERMANTOWN MD 301 601 5560). DEALER SAID THE WIRES TO FUEL PUMP MELTED AND CHARGED $460 TO REPAIR THEM (NOT A SIMPLE EFFORT I WAS TOLD). THE DEALER SAYS THIS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT IT IS MORE COMMON TO SEE THIS HAPPEN AT CONNECTORS AT FUEL PUMP (WHICH IS SUBMERGED WITH GASOLINE INSIDE FUEL TANK!) IN MY CASE WIRING BURNED AFTER COMPUTERIZED FUSE BOX. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A LATENT DEFECT. A WELL DESIGNED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FUSES THAT ARE SACRIFICED BEFORE DAMAGE IS DONE THAT COULD START A FIRE, OR BURN WIRES (THAT IS WHY THEY ARE THERE). THERE IS A 30 AMP FUSE FOR THIS SYSTEM, AND APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT BLOW. I KNOW MY COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTOR WOULD FAIL ANY NEW HOUSE WIRING THAT WAS NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM SITUATIONS THAT EXCEED THE RATING OF THE WIRES, IT SEEMS CRAZY THE SAME IS NOT HAPPENING HERE, AND ON A CIRCUIT THE RUNS INSIDE THE GAS TANK NO LESS! PLEASE INVESTIGATE, AND IF YOU TALK TO MERCEDES, I THINK FOR ME PAYING FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP IS SUFFICIENT, BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR A LATENT DEFECT AND OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! THANKYOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MY COMPLAINT *TR

I PURCHASED MY CAR ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO . I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM . I HAD SERVICE DONE ON THE CAR AND I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSORS. THE LIGHTS KEEP SHORTING OUT . I REPLACE THE BULBS AND IT SHORTS OUT AGAIN . ALSO BRAKE SENSORS KEEP WEARING OUT CAUSING THE BRAKE SENSOR TO KEEP COMING ON . NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL LEVEL SENSOR IT IS SAYING REDUCE OIL LEVEL I HAD THIS DONE AND NO CHANGE . THINKING IT MAY NEED THE OIL CHANGED I TOOK IT IN. SAME NO CHANGE OIL WAS CHANGED AND REDUCE THE OIL LEVEL AS THE CAR STATED AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE STILL . THIS CAR HAS HAD PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM. THAT IS COSTING 500.00 EACH TIME TO HAVE SERVICE AND AMONG OTHER THINGS DONE. *TR

CAR SAFETY ISSUE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES CUSTOMER STATES THAT HIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HOPED THE CAR WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE OR SOLD TO ANYONE THAT WAS NOT INFORMED OF PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY OF THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE CLIENT POSITION ON THE MATTER STANDS AND WILL NOT BE RESPONDING TO ANY FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. *TR

CAR SAFETY ISSUE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES CUSTOMER STATES THAT HIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HOPED THE CAR WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE OR SOLD TO ANYONE THAT WAS NOT INFORMED OF PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY OF THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE CLIENT POSITION ON THE MATTER STANDS AND WILL NOT BE RESPONDING TO ANY FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 240. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 2 MPH, THE CONTACT'S WIFE DROVE OVER THE CURB THROUGH A NINE FOOT HIGH FENCE, SPED DOWN A THREE FOOT EMBANKMENT, DROVE ACROSS AN ABANDONED RAIL ROAD TRACK, AND INTO A CHAIN LINKED FENCE. SHE THEN CRASHED INTO A POST WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE PARAMEDIC AND POLICE WERE CALLED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY. A SEPARATE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON APRIL 8, 2007. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 2 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. SHE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND # OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 34,275. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. UPDATED 06/26/07. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED MERCEDES BENZ WAS WILLING TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, BUT HE WANTS TO KNOW SHOULD HE KEEP THE VEHICLE IN HIS POSSESSION. THE CONSUMER WANTS A STATUS ON HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED 06/27/07. *JB THE CONSUMER IS STILL AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM MB. UPDATED 07/10/7.*JB THE DEALER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE CONSUMER AT A WHOLESALE OFFER. UPDATED 07/16/07. *JB