2003 MERCEDES BENZ CL CLASS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I HAVE A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CL55 AMG. THE ABC OR ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING, THE FLUID STARTED TO LEAK , SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE AND I NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE THICK SMOKE AND POOR VISIBILITY. I HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE THE CL55 TOWED TO MY MECHANIC MY MECHANIC, WHO SPECIALIZES IN HIGH END MERCEDES BENZ TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MERCEDES CL 55,65,600 MODELS FROM 2003-2006. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND REDESIGNED THE LATER MODELS. THE ORIGINAL STICKER PRICE OF THE CL MODEL IS ABOUT $120,000. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE ABC SYSTEM ON THE AMG MODELS BUT DID NOT MAKE A FACTORY RECALL. I HAVE KNOW MET SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL CAR, 2003-6 CL55 AMG AND ALL OF THEM HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE ABC SYSTEM REPLACED WHICH IS WELL OVER $5500. ALSO , A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO MERCEDES BENZ, CALLED BENZWORLD.COM, HAVE NUMEROUS OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH THE ABC SYSTEM. THERE IS A CAMPAIGN OF CURRENT OWNERS WHO ARE PLANNING TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE BREAKDOWN OF THE ABC SYSTEM WHILE DRIVE COMES VERY SUDDENLY AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. I AM VERY LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME. THE REPAIR IS NOT ONLY VERY COSTLY ( $5500 ), BUT WILL CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED BY ORIGINAL MERCEDES PARTS BECAUSE OF THE FLAWED DESIGN. INSTEAD OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE MERCEDES HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL ON THE 2003-2006 CL AMG MODELS TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CL55 AMG. THE ABC OR ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING, THE FLUID STARTED TO LEAK , SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE AND I NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE THICK SMOKE AND POOR VISIBILITY. I HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE THE CL55 TOWED TO MY MECHANIC MY MECHANIC, WHO SPECIALIZES IN HIGH END MERCEDES BENZ TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MERCEDES CL 55,65,600 MODELS FROM 2003-2006. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND REDESIGNED THE LATER MODELS. THE ORIGINAL STICKER PRICE OF THE CL MODEL IS ABOUT $120,000. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE ABC SYSTEM ON THE AMG MODELS BUT DID NOT MAKE A FACTORY RECALL. I HAVE KNOW MET SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL CAR, 2003-6 CL55 AMG AND ALL OF THEM HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE ABC SYSTEM REPLACED WHICH IS WELL OVER $5500. ALSO , A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO MERCEDES BENZ, CALLED BENZWORLD.COM, HAVE NUMEROUS OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH THE ABC SYSTEM. THERE IS A CAMPAIGN OF CURRENT OWNERS WHO ARE PLANNING TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE BREAKDOWN OF THE ABC SYSTEM WHILE DRIVE COMES VERY SUDDENLY AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. I AM VERY LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME. THE REPAIR IS NOT ONLY VERY COSTLY ( $5500 ), BUT WILL CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED BY ORIGINAL MERCEDES PARTS BECAUSE OF THE FLAWED DESIGN. INSTEAD OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE MERCEDES HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL ON THE 2003-2006 CL AMG MODELS TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CL55 AMG. THE ABC OR ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING, THE FLUID STARTED TO LEAK , SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE AND I NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE THICK SMOKE AND POOR VISIBILITY. I HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE THE CL55 TOWED TO MY MECHANIC MY MECHANIC, WHO SPECIALIZES IN HIGH END MERCEDES BENZ TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MERCEDES CL 55,65,600 MODELS FROM 2003-2006. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND REDESIGNED THE LATER MODELS. THE ORIGINAL STICKER PRICE OF THE CL MODEL IS ABOUT $120,000. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE ABC SYSTEM ON THE AMG MODELS BUT DID NOT MAKE A FACTORY RECALL. I HAVE KNOW MET SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL CAR, 2003-6 CL55 AMG AND ALL OF THEM HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE ABC SYSTEM REPLACED WHICH IS WELL OVER $5500. ALSO , A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO MERCEDES BENZ, CALLED BENZWORLD.COM, HAVE NUMEROUS OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH THE ABC SYSTEM. THERE IS A CAMPAIGN OF CURRENT OWNERS WHO ARE PLANNING TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE BREAKDOWN OF THE ABC SYSTEM WHILE DRIVE COMES VERY SUDDENLY AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. I AM VERY LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME. THE REPAIR IS NOT ONLY VERY COSTLY ( $5500 ), BUT WILL CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED BY ORIGINAL MERCEDES PARTS BECAUSE OF THE FLAWED DESIGN. INSTEAD OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE MERCEDES HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL ON THE 2003-2006 CL AMG MODELS TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2003 MERCEDES CL55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON JUNE 11,2006, THEY WERE INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE( LIMOUSINE) AT 45 MPH. WHEN THE DRIVER DOWN SHIFTED, THE DRIVER DROVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE FRONT END OF THE MERCEDES WAS DESTROYED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST AFTER THE CRASH. THE FRONT OF THE LIMOUSINE WAS "SHEERED" OFF. THERE WERE THREE FATALITIES AND ONE INJURY. THE CONTACT WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND ADMITTED TO THE ICU. THE POLICE RESPONDED AND FILED A POLICE HOMICIDE CASE REPORT # 246/7/9-06. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. THE CONSUMER WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN THE MERCEDES BENZ, STATED THE SEAT BACK FAILED DURING THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE DRIVER OF THE MERCEDES BENZ WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER IN THE MERCEDES BENZ WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO EXPIRED. UPDATED EVOQ 08/26/10 UPDATED 11/05/10 INFO RECEIVED 01/19/11 UPDATED EVOQ 03/28/12 UPDATED 11/25/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN HIM. UPDATED 12/02/13

TL*THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2003 MERCEDES CL55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON JUNE 11,2006, THEY WERE INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE( LIMOUSINE) AT 45 MPH. WHEN THE DRIVER DOWN SHIFTED, THE DRIVER DROVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE FRONT END OF THE MERCEDES WAS DESTROYED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST AFTER THE CRASH. THE FRONT OF THE LIMOUSINE WAS "SHEERED" OFF. THERE WERE THREE FATALITIES AND ONE INJURY. THE CONTACT WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND ADMITTED TO THE ICU. THE POLICE RESPONDED AND FILED A POLICE HOMICIDE CASE REPORT # 246/7/9-06. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. THE CONSUMER WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN THE MERCEDES BENZ, STATED THE SEAT BACK FAILED DURING THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE DRIVER OF THE MERCEDES BENZ WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER IN THE MERCEDES BENZ WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO EXPIRED. UPDATED EVOQ 08/26/10 UPDATED 11/05/10 INFO RECEIVED 01/19/11 UPDATED EVOQ 03/28/12 UPDATED 11/25/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN HIM. UPDATED 12/02/13