2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaint Log

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 51K MILES, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY ON C230 MERCEDES. THE BALANCE SHAFT IS BROKEN. NO HELP WITH MERCEDES ON THIS $3000 REPAIR. *LN

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT (REAR-ENDED) ON DEC 21ST 2010. THE COLLISION RESULTED IN MY VEHICLE BEING PUSHED IN TO ANOTHER VEHICLE (TRUCK) IN FONT OF ME. THE RESULTING CRASH PRODUCED DAMAGES TO THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR TOTALING 15K. I NOTICED THAT MY DASHBOARD WAS LIT UP WITH WARNING SIGNALS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT THE SEEN OF THE COLLISION. THE REAR LIGHT WAS EXPLAINABLE AS THE LIGHT WAS KNOCKED OUT IN THE CRASH. THE ENGINE LIGHT HOWEVER WAS A BIT OF A MYSTERY. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THREE DAYS LATER AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE DRIVER AT FAULTS' INSURANCE COMPANY. THE REPAIR COMPANY NOTED THE LIGHT ALSO. I COULD ARRIVE AT NO OTHER CONCLUSION BUT THAT THE COLLISION WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY COMING ON. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ARGUES THAT THE COLLISION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT PARTICULAR LIGHT COMING ON. THE MATTER IS BEING DEALT WITH IN COURT. IN THE MEANTIME, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND RAN ACROSS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE, BY MERCEDES BENZ DRIVERS, COMPLAINING OF A CAM SHAFT PROBLEM THAT IS IDENTIFIED BY AN ENGINE LIGHT INITIALLY. IT APPEARS THAT A PART WAS DEFECTIVE YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED BY MERCEDES. I'VE REACHED OUT TO MERCEDES BENZ OF AMERICA. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS RESPONDING TO MY INQUIRY, THEY STOPPED INFORMING ME OF ANY FURTHER FINDINGS. THIS AFTER PROMISING TO APPRISE ME OF THE STATUS OF MY COMPLAINT. MY ISSUE IS TWO FOLD. HOW MUCH EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY BEFORE IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS PRODUCT AND THE SERIES OF CARS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY IT, WARRANTS A RECALL? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE? I MUST TELL YOU THAT AS A CONSUMER, IT IS NO MYSTERY WHAT MOST HAVE LOST TRUST IN GOVERNMENTS ABILITY TO SERVE AND PROTECT IT'S CITIZENS IN THESE MATTERS. I FOR ONE AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROCESS. I INITIALLY CONTACTED THIS OFFICE EIGHT MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HEARD NOTHING. REGARDS,[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *KB

AROUND DECEMBER 2010 I BEGAN NOTICING THERE HAS BEEN A GAS SMELL FROM REAR WHEEL HOUSING AND REAR SEAT WHENEVER I FILL UP THE GAS TANK. I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH VARIOUS FUEL LEVEL AND CONCLUDED THAT GAS SMELL STARTS WHEN GAS IS MORE THAN 3/4 FULL. I HAVE BEEN TRYING NOT TO FILL GAS MORE THAN 3/4 AND HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED A DELIVERY UNIT AND ALL THE SEALS, WHICH HAVE BEEN PROBLEMATIC AREAS FOR MANY MERCEDES. THE GAS SMELL DID NOT GO AWAY AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DUE TO THE RISK OF FIRE IN ADDITION TO THE UNPLEASANT GAS SMELL IN THE CABIN. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I HAVE THE MB C230 2006. I'VE BEEN LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHILE THE CAR IDLES IT'S RUNNING AS IF IT'S MISSING LIKE OUT OF TIMING. I'VE BEEN TO THE PARTS DEPT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS MISSING. I HAD THE COILS CHANGED. SPARK PLUGS CHANGED, YET STILL THE CAR HAS NO POWER AND WHEN IDLING THE ENGINE RUNS SO VIOLENT IT'S CAUSING THE BELT TO WEAR. SO FAR I HAD TO BUY 5 BELTS AND THEY WON'T LAST MORE THAN 4 DAYS. THIS PAST WEEK I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE 4 MAGETS WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED. WELL I HAD THEM CHANGED AND STILL I HAVE A CAR THAT HAS NO POWER. I WAS FINALLY TOLD BY A MD MECHANIC MY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THERE'S A BALANCE SHAFT THAT'S INOPERABLE. WHEN I INQUIRE ABOUT THIS ITEM I WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES BENZ DOES NOT HAVE THIS AS A RECALL ITEM WHEN IN FACT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE 2004. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO REPAIR. THERE IS NO WAY A CUSTOMER OF THIS AUTO MAKER SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF PAYING FOR AN ITEM WHEN IN FACT IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM WITH MERCERDES BENZ FROM THE START. *KB

THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON IN MY 2006 C230 MERCEDES (CURRENT MILEAGE 57,000) SINCE SEPT 2010. I LATER CONFIRMED IT'S THE PROBLEM IN THE BALANCE SHAFT, WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACT ON THE ACCELERATION AND FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE SUDDEN STOPPED RUNNING FEW TIMES IN MY COMMUTE TO WORK IN A FREEWAY. LUCKILY, IT WAS DURING THE RUSH HOUR AND THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING SLOWLY. MANY TIMES WHEN I ENTERED TO THE FREEWAY IN A MERGE LANE, THE ACCELERATION DIDN'T WORK AT ALL AND I ALMOST GOT HIT BY THE OTHER CARS IN THE MERGE LANE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED IF CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT REPLACING BALANCE SHAFT WILL LEAD TO A BIG DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SINCE THE ENGINE CAN BE STOPPED ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME. REPLACING THE BALANCE SHAFT COST $6,000 (FROM THE DEALER) AND MERCEDES USA REFUSE TO COVER ANY PORTION OF THE REPAIR SINCE MY CAR EXCEEDS 50,000 MILES/4 YRS WARRANTY. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE ADVISER. THEY SAID THIS IS A COMMON KNOWN PROBLEM FOR MANY OF THE MERCEDES MODELS. IN FACT, IT WAS IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN SINCE 2007. UNFORTUNATELY MERCEDES WOULDN'T COVER ANY REPAIR UNLESS THERE?S A RECALL OR SOMEONE DIE FROM IT. I WONDER IF MERCEDES WILL WAIT UNTIL MORE INJURIES BEFORE THEY CONSIDER STOP USING THE SAME BALANCE SHAFT IN THEIR CARS. THIS BALANCE SHAFT IS A VERY SMALL PIECE LOCATED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ENGINE. THE COST OF THE MATERIAL IS VERY INEXPENSIVE. HOWEVER, IT REQUIRES INTENSIVE LABOR BECAUSE THE ENGINE MUST BE TAKEN APART IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE BALANCE SHAFT. *TR

THE FAILURE IN THIS CASE IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT ON A 2006 C230 MERCEDES BENZ WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I'VE READ THAT MANY OF THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AND THE REASON FOR FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE SHAFT NOT HAVING PROPER HARDENING. I'VE ALSO READ THE MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS ABOUT $4500 ON A VEHICLE THAT THE WARRANTY GOES OUT IN 4 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. ALL SERVICES TO THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN DONE AS REQUIRED, BUT NOT THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. INFORMATION I'VE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM STATES THAT THERE'S NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AND THAT IT'S HAPPENING TO MANY, MANY VEHICLES. I BELIEVE IF THIS IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY THAT THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR

MY C230 2006 CAR HAS A ENGINE NOISE AND THATS SO LOUD. PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT THIS NOISE . I THINK THAT IS NEED TO REPLACE. *TR

2006 MERCEDES BENZ C230 68K MILES. ERROR MESSAGE STATES "SRS RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. DRIVE TO WORKSHOP". I AM TOLD THAT MY ENTIRE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. REPAIR COSTS AROUND $700 TO FIX AND I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTRA $700 LAYING AROUND RIGHT NOW. FROM READING ONLINE, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON/WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES AND SHOULD LEAD TO A RECALL AS PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT STAKE WHEN DRIVING A VEHICLE WITHOUT WORKING AIRBAGS OR PRE-TENSIONERS. *TR

2006 C230 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN LOWER GEARS AND IT WOULD ALSO SHIFT HARD. ALSO, THE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING OIL. *JB

BATTERY WENT DEAD ON OUR 2006 C320 MERCEDES THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND THE DEALER CLLAIMS THE BAG CAN DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNIG IF NOT REPAIRED THE CAR ONLY HAS 36000 MILES THEY REFUSED TO FIX PROBLEM WIYH OUY BEING PAID BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS 30 DAYS OUT OF WARRANTY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES C280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VALVE STEMS BEGAN TO FAIL AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE SPARE TIRE ALSO BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE SPARE TIRE DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX THE VALVE STEMS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON SAYING SOMETHING IN ENGINE IS BAD WITH A PRICE TAG OF OVER 6000.00 TO FIX. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MISFIRED AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND CAM SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO PROCESS A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

IN JULY 2009, AFTER FILLING MY VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE (38,000 MILES), I DROVE HOME, PARKED MY VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE AND EXITED THE INTERIOR. AFTER EXITING, I SMELLED THE VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTING FROM, WHAT APPEARED THE REAR OF THE CAR. I DID NOT SEE ANY LEAKS OR ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL, SO I WENT INSIDE MY HOUSE. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I ENTERED MY GARAGE AND WAS IMMEDIATELY OVERWHELMED WITH THE FUMES OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED MY CAR AGAIN, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY LEAKS. I THEN OPEN MY CAR DOOR AND THE FUMES WERE EVEN STRONGER. AFTER LOOKING AROUND, I NOTICED THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE REAR SEAT. FEARING AN EXPLOSION MAY OCCUR, I OPENED MY GARAGE DOORS AND CAR DOOR AND TURNED ON SEVERAL FANS TO "AIR-OUT" THE AREA. THE NEXT DAY, I DROVE TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY YEAR AND MODEL AND SAID THE FUEL GASKETS WERE BAD ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK WHICH IS RIGHT UNDER THE BACK SEAT. HE EXPLAINED WHEN FILLING UP, THE SEALS LEAK, BECOME SATURATED WITH FUEL AND EVEN SATURATE THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE SEAT. HE SAID IF I WANTED IT FIXED, IT WOULD BE AN ESTIMATED $500. HE ALSO SAID IF I DID NOT WANT TO PAY TO FIX IT, HE SUGGESTED I ONLY FILL MY TANK TO 3/4 SO THE SEALS WOULD NOT BECOME WET. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT MY CAR WAS STILL LIKE NEW WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES AND MBZ SHOULD FIX THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT AT NO CHARGE. HE REFUSED. I CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THIS DANGEROUS, FAULTY ISSUE TODAY. MY CAR ONLY HAS 79,000 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED, HOWEVER, I DO NOT KNOW THEIR STATUS. CAN YOU PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. MY FAMILY AND I SUFFER FROM SEVERE HEADACHES EACH TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Engine pulley noises

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND REAR-ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. WHILE BACKING UP FROM THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE SPED BACKWARDS AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN ITS REAR. THE POLICE ISSUED A TICKET FOR $130 AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE MERGING ONTO AN INTERSECTION AT 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED DIRECTLY INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT PROPERLY. THREE OCCUPANTS WERE MODERATELY INJURED. THE CONTACT HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE FAILED INCIDENT. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF CALLING THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 05V560000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,000.

HIGHWAY CRUISING AT STEADY STATE SPEED, APROX 65 MPH. RIGHT FRONT TIRE FAILURE. CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED. PULLED OFF TO SHOULDER AND REPLACED TIRE WITH SPARE. TIRE IS BEING REPLACED. DAMAGED TIRE IS AVAILABLE. *JB

1. VEHICLE TAKES TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP ON 8/31/07 FOR SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION. SEAT BELT SELF-ARRESTING. MERCEDES BENZ INSPECTS AND DETERMINES "SEAT BELT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY". 2. VEHICLE IN A REAR COLLISION ON 9/25/07 AND SEAT BELTS DO NOT ARREST. DRIVER (SELF) HITS THE STEERING WHEEL AT RIGHT BROW AND LOWER BACK INJURY APPEARS WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF ACCIDENT. 3. SAFETY COMPLAINT REGISTERED WITH MERCEDES (AFTER MUCH PRESSURE). MERCEDES INSPECTS IN FRONT OF ME BY YANKING THE BELT AND SAYS THE SEAT BELT IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE SEAT BELT DOES ARREST WHEN YANKED, BUT DID NOT ARREST WHEN REAR ENDED. 4. QUESTION: DOES MERCEDES HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FURTHER INSPECT THE SAFETY OF THE SEAT BELT BESIDES "YANKING" IT IN FRONT OF ME? SHOULD THE SEAT BELT BE REPLACED? MERCEDES REFUSES TO GO ANY FURTHER AND MY STATUE OF LIMITATIONS - 2 YEARS IS ALMOST RUNNING OUT. HOW CAN I MAKE SURE I AM DRIVING A SAFE VEHICLE? *TR

"CHROME" COATINGS ON GEARSHIFT AND MISCELLANEOUS INTERIOR TRIM IS PRONE TO SHREDDING APART, RESULTING IN SHARP METALLIC SHARDS THAT CAN BECOME LODGED BENEATH THE SKIN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WEARING SUNGLASSES THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT READABLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. UPDATED 09/15/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PEDAL SHAKES WHILE DEPRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.

THIS CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND NEARLY CHANGED LANES AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR DURING A SPLIT SECOND OF LOOKING AT THE GAS GAUGE AND NOT DOWN THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MZB WITH THE COMPLAINT. THEY SAID IT WAS MY DRIVING HABIT. LATER THEY SAID IT WAS THE CURVE OF THE ROAD. STILL LATER THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIRES NOT INFLATED. AS I CONTINUED TO ASK FOR HELP ON THIS ISSUE AND SEVERAL TIMES BRINGING IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY FINALLY SAID THAT A MZB REP WILL GO WITH ME ON A TEST RIDE. DURING THE TEST RIDE I STATED THAT AT ANY MOMENT YOU ASK I WILL LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR WILL TURN TO THE RIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL OF THESE DEMONSTRATIONS TO HIM HE THEN HELD THE WHEEL HIMSELF AND FELT THE PULL. HE AGREED WITH ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. UPON RETURNING TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY MET IN A MEETING WITHOUT ME AND BEGAN TO DO THIS AND THAT WITH THE CAR ON THE RACK. I ASKED WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THEY TOLD ME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS. LATER THE CAR WAS RELEASED TO ME AND IN FACT THE PROBLEM WAS BETTER HOWEVER NOT CORRECTED. THIS CAR HAS A TERRIBLE PROBLEM AND DOES NOT RUN DOWN THE ROAD STRAIGHT SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW. I DRIVE IT NOW THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF MZB AND THEIR TACTICS. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO MZB 12 TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE HELP IF POSSIBLE. *TR

THE MERCEDES CLK350 VIN [XXX]- THE PASSENGER SEAT AND DRIVER SEAT WHEN RELEASED TO ALLOW A REAR PASSENGER OUT OF THE CAR CAUSES THE HEAD REST TO AUTOMATICALLY DESCEND AND CAN TRAP THE REAR OCCUPANTS HAND IN PLACE AS IT DID WITH A 10 YEAR CHILD IN MY CAR. THE CONTROL TO RAISE THE HEADREST IS DISABLED WHEN THE SEAT IS IN THIS POSITION THEREBY NOT ALLOWING ANY METHOD TO RELEASE THE TRAPPED HAND. I SPOKE WITH MERCEDES THIS MORNING AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS HOW IT IS DESIGNED AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT WOULD TELL THEIR ENGINEERS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE EVERYONE NEEDS TO USE THE FRONT SEAT TO ASSIST THEMSELVES WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE LURCHED CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE.

I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 C230 ON 2/27/2006 . I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT AND AFTER 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE TIRE ON DRIVER REAR SIDE WAS SHREDDED. I REPLACED THIS TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE. AFTER ALL REMAINING TIRES WERE CHECKED THAT WERE GOOD TO DRIVE...I DROVE ANOTHER 15-20 MINS AND DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE SHREDDED. AT THIS TIME I HAD TO CALL AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN BEVERLY HILLS. THIS DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS SOMETHING HAD IMPACTED THE WHEELS OF THE CAR AND THAT SHREDDED THE TIRES. I ALSO LOOKED AT THE WHEELS MYSELF AND I DID NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE TO THE WHEELS WHERE THEY WERE POINTING TO SAYING THERE IS SLIGHT RAISED OR INDENTATION . THEY TOLD ME MERCEDES WILL NOT COVER FOR THE WARRANTY OF THE TIRES AND WHEELS. I FEEL THAT I DID NOT DO ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR TO CAUSE THIS DAMAGE AND I SHOULD NOT BE AT FAULT FOR THIS AND THAT THE MERCEDES COMPANY SHOULD COVER THIS COST AND REIMBURSE THE COST OF WHEELS AND TIRES. THE COST OF THE PARTS WAS $1050 AND I PAID $1431 IN TOTAL TO THE DEALERSHIP AT BEVERLY HILLS. ALSO THE MERCEDES LOGO ON MY NEW WHEELS THAT WAS PUT ON IS RUSTED AND DOES NOT NEW WHILE THE OLD WHEELS THAT WERE NOT REPLACED HAVE THE MERCEDES LOGO THAT LOOKS NEW. ALSO, IF THERE IS ANY EXTRA OR SPECIAL WARRANTY FOR TIRES AND WHEELS ...I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS WARRANTY WHILE PURCHASING THE CAR. *JB

MANY NEWER CARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH BLINDING, BLUE-GREEN, HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE PROHIBITED. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS. FIRST, WHEN SEEN FROM ANY ANGLE, THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE HIGHLY DISTRACTING, IN THAT THEY DRAW ONES EYES FROM THE ROAD AHEAD AND ON EITHER SIDE; THE REASON THAT THEY ARE DISTRACTING IS THAT THEY ARE OF A NOTABLY DIFFERENT COLOR AND ARE MUCH BRIGHTER THAN THE TRADITIONAL INCANDESCENT LIGHTS. SECOND, WHEN VIEWED FROM ANY ANGLE, THE LIGHT "FLARES" ABOUT ONES EYES, FORMING SPIKES THAT RADIATE OUTWARDS FROM THE LIGHT ITSELF, THEREBY OBSCURING ONE'S VIEW OF THINGS ABOVE, BELOW AND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE LIGHT ITSELF. THIRD, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THE LIGHTS ARE OFTEN BLINDING, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE ROAD IS FLAT OR HILLY, THE RESULT BEING TO OBSCURE ALMOST EVERYTHING AHEAD, ABOUT THE SAME AS TRADITIONAL INCANDESCENT LIGHTS ON "HIGH"BEAM. FOURTH, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON ROADWAYS THAT ARE NOT PERFECTLY LEVEL, THESE HEADLIGHTS ALTERNATE RAPIDLY, BACK AND FORTH, LIKE A STROBE LIGHT, BETWEEN "STANDARD" AND "BLINDING," A RESULT OF THE FACT (WHICH I ASSUME) THAT THE LIGHTS ARE VERY TIGHTLY FOCUSED, AND THE PROBLEM BEING THAT THE "FOCUSED" LIGHT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS IS REPEATEDLY FOCUSED ON THE EYES OF THE DRIVER HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE MOST HAZARDOUS ARE ITEMS THREE AND FOUR, BUT ITEM FOUR IS PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS BECAUSE IT COMBINES THE WORST OF ALL OF THE OTHERS - BOTH DISTRACTION AND BLINDINGNESS. CLEARLY, HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE DESIGNED TO LIGHT THE WAY AHEAD; BUT THERE ARE COMPETING GOALS, WHICH INCLUDE NOT BLINDING OTHER DRIVERS. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD, WHAT IS GOOD FOR ONE PERSON MUST BE WEIGHED AGAINST ITS NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON OTHERS. THAT IS WHERE GOVERNMENT HAS A KEY RESPONSIBILITY; TO ASSESS THE BENEFITS AND BURDENS AND ARRIVE AT A COMPROMISE THAT OPTIMALLY SUITS EVERYONE'S NEEDS BEST. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION OF MY NEW CAR, 2006 MBZ C280, HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. THE CAR GOES INTO A FALSE NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND THEN EVENTUALLY FALLS INTO GEAR. AFTER THIS EPISODE, THE CAR CONTINUES TO DRIVE IN A LOW GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED: 1. REPLACING THE VALVE BODY ON THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION AND UPLOADING THE NEW SOFTWARE 2. REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WITH A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION FROM THE DEALERSHIP 3. REPLACING THE VALVE BODY OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION. *JB

FEW MILES DRIVEN AND A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD DO NOT ALLOW TO DRIVE WITH NECESSARY SERENITY. AFTER 5 INTERVENTION ON THE CAR FINALLY THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM, REPLACING 3 TIMES THE PLASTIC COVER UNDER THE WINDSHIELD, ONE TIME COMPLETELY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. NOW THAT THE WINTER AND COLD TEMPERATURES ARE BACK THE NOISE IS BACK AGAIN. UNBELIEVABLE FOR A MERCEDES-BENZ. *TR

2006 C280W4 WITH A SIDE VIEW MIRROR DESIGN FLAW. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE SNAP OFF SIDE VIEW MIRROR SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THE MIRROR COST $1200.00 TO REPLACE IF IT GETS BROKEN. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE STOLEN TWICE. UPDATED

THE AIRBAGS WERE RECALLED A YEAR AGO AND MERCEDES KEEPS SAYING THEY DONT HAVE PARTS TO FIX. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE TRYING HARDER TO FIX.