2002 MERCEDES BENZ 320 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

WITHOUT NOTICABLE WARNING, THE SENSOR PANEL FLASH FOR A SECOND, THEN THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY FREEWAY. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER TOWING TO AN EXPERIENCED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP, THEY CONCLUDED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER SHUTDOWN BY DESIGN TO PROTECT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR WAS OVERCHARGIJNG. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES -BENZ AT MONTVALE, NJ, THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANY INVESTIGATION OR FOLLOW-UP. SIMILAR INCIDENT ON 12/31/2012 ON THE SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR WAS REPORTED ON YOUR WEBSITE DATED MARCH 17, 2013 BY ANOTHER DRIVER . *TR

WITHOUT NOTICABLE WARNING, THE SENSOR PANEL FLASH FOR A SECOND, THEN THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY FREEWAY. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER TOWING TO AN EXPERIENCED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP, THEY CONCLUDED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER SHUTDOWN BY DESIGN TO PROTECT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR WAS OVERCHARGIJNG. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES -BENZ AT MONTVALE, NJ, THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANY INVESTIGATION OR FOLLOW-UP. SIMILAR INCIDENT ON 12/31/2012 ON THE SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR WAS REPORTED ON YOUR WEBSITE DATED MARCH 17, 2013 BY ANOTHER DRIVER . *TR

WITHOUT NOTICABLE WARNING, THE SENSOR PANEL FLASH FOR A SECOND, THEN THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY FREEWAY. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER TOWING TO AN EXPERIENCED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP, THEY CONCLUDED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER SHUTDOWN BY DESIGN TO PROTECT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR WAS OVERCHARGIJNG. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES -BENZ AT MONTVALE, NJ, THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANY INVESTIGATION OR FOLLOW-UP. SIMILAR INCIDENT ON 12/31/2012 ON THE SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR WAS REPORTED ON YOUR WEBSITE DATED MARCH 17, 2013 BY ANOTHER DRIVER . *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT POWER ADJUSTMENT MODULE SHORTED, DRAINING THE BATTERY AND CAUSING A NO-START CONDITION. WHILE THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE STUCK IN TRAFFIC, IT EASILY COULD HAVE, CAUSING A SERIOUS HAZARD FOR MYSELF, ANY PASSENGER OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT MODULE HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED SO THERE IS NO LONGER THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE SEAT AND OBTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM THE AIRBAG OR TO PROPERLY ADJUST THE SEAT AND ALLOW A CHILD SEAT TO FIT AS DESIGNED IN THE REAR SEAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 320. IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V121000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) AND TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. ONE MONTH LATER, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE WENT TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS COMPLETELY DRY AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DAMAGED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS), WHICH REQUESTED THAT SHE BRING HER VEHICLE BACK FOR REPAIR. THE FIRST REPAIR MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENTLY PREVENTED A FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION. WHEN THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THAT A NEW PUMP WAS NEEDED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PUMP UNLESS IT WAS AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALER CREATED THE ISSUE IN THE FIRST PLACE; THEREFORE, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE NEW PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PUMP WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, SO THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PUMP REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,631.