2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL55 AMG — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed. The contact heard a hissing noise coming from the vehicle and noticed the height of the vehicle had started lowering. The ABC (Active Body Control) Drive warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence and noticed that the air was coming from the driver’s side rear wheel. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with corrosion on the ABC Drive system and that the ABC Drive system needed to be replaced. The vehicle not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline. The failure mileage was 88,795.

IN THE BEGINNING THE LIGHTS FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER BUT ONLY LASTED A FEW MINUTES. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED WORSE AND NOW THE SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER SHOWS. EVEN SO MORE THE PROBLEM NOW AFFLICTS THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NO LIGHTS DISPLAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I CANNOT SEE OR DISCERN CERTAIN VEHICLE INFORMATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS OR AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE INFORMATION IS NO LONGER VISIBLE. THE ISSUE PERSISTS WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. BUT HAPPENS MORE SO WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING.

IN THE BEGINNING THE LIGHTS FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER BUT ONLY LASTED A FEW MINUTES. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED WORSE AND NOW THE SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER SHOWS. EVEN SO MORE THE PROBLEM NOW AFFLICTS THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NO LIGHTS DISPLAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I CANNOT SEE OR DISCERN CERTAIN VEHICLE INFORMATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS OR AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE INFORMATION IS NO LONGER VISIBLE. THE ISSUE PERSISTS WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. BUT HAPPENS MORE SO WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING.

ON SATURDAY JUNE THE 1ST OF 2019, I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 CL55 AMG ON 495 HIGHWAY AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE DASH LIGHT STARTED ACTING UP AND EVERYTHING WENT DARK. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO 4 CARS JUST TRYING TO REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED, HOW FAST I WAS GOING AND HOW TO AVOID A CATASTROPHE. AFTER NO KNOWING HOW FAST I WAS GOING I MADE TO THE EXIT AND MY WIFE COLLAPSED FROM THE EXPERIENCE AND WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW THE CAR HOME. THE DAY AFTER, SUNDAY, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO MERCEDES BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA, CLOSEST TO US. ON MONDAY MORNING BEFORE 8AM, ZACH, THE SERVICE ADVISOR FROM BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA, CALLS AND SAYS THAT THE ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IF WE WANT IT DIAGNOSED WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT AND IF WE WANT IT FIXED WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1500. ON SUNDAY I EMAILED MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTHER AMERICAN AND SO FAR THEY HAVE BEEN ONLY CALLING ME AND NEVER RESPONDED TO MY INITIAL EMAIL AND WHEN I TALKED TO THEM THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY RECEIVED DELIVERY OF IT. I CALLED THE FIRST TIME TO NA MB AND WAS ADVISED OF THE SAME THING BUT WAS TOLD TO WAIT FOR 24 HOURS TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. ABOUT 4 - 5 HOURS LATER I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A LADY AND SHE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT AND WAS ADAMANT THAT IT WAS CAUSED DUE TO AGE AND THE VEHICLE NOT BEING PURCHASED FROM A DEALER. THE ISSUE WAS ONGOING AND ALMOST COST US OUR LIVES AND SHE DID NOT CARE A BIT AND HER GOODWILL OFFER WAS THAT I WILL GET A DISCOUNT IF I BUY A NEW CAR " ADMISSION OF FAULT " AND I SAID NO I WANT MY CAR REPAIRED AND SHE SAID NO. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND TO MY SURPRISE THE DEALER MADE A MISTAKE AND QUOTE ME A PRICE FOR 4 TIRES AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT INSTEAD OF AN ESTIMATE TO A DEAD DASH CLUSTER. WE ALMOST GOT KILLED AND MB OF NA SAID THAT THE DEALER WILL KNOW AND NOT THEM WHICH IS NOT TRUE.