2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaint Log

I have a rust free, relatively lower mileage car I bought for my teen daughter. Despite being such a clean car the rear subframe has rusted and rear suspension has broke off while driving, hitting the fuel tank and is unstable. We avoided an accident but the car is not drivable.

Mercedes of Danbury replaced the rear sub frame CODE 3441 47, since my mechanic (Newtown Auto Repair) told me that the Front subframe is in real bad shape, rotten/rusted, that it is dangerous to drive the car in this condition since the wheel and steering components are part and attached to it, the car would be out of control and all over the road any of these components fail and pull / brake away from the rusted out Sub Frame. When I brought the car in was under the impression that Mercedes Benz would replace front and back Sub Frames. But now they informed me of only recall on rear subframe, rear subframe will let go wheels will collapse, front controls the car and failing could kill people and total the car. frames.

The taillights in my 2012 c300 was starting to go out intermittently. At first the notification came on for the brake light but the brake light kept working. Afterwards the rest of the taillights and the sidemarker light went out as well. I went to go take a look and the grounding wire was oxidated and corroded. A known issue in which there was a recall made for the 2008-2011 version of the w204 but this did not apply to the 2012 w204. As of last week my entire rear drivers side light is out which is a safety hazard especially at night. The hazard lights dont work in case of an emergency on one side, the brake lights are out to notify the driver behind me take I need to stop which can lead to a rear end collision, as well as the left turn signal not working leading to drivers not knowing that I will be turning left or needing to merge left as needed. All of this is a known safety hazard to Mercedes but no recall has been submitted yet.

-The steering wheel and brake locked up and became unusable while driving at approximately 75mph. Cruise control was enabled for a few miles (maybe 2) and disabled after. Around 5 minutes after disabling, the car began to surge between acceleration and deceleration drastically on its own. All of the dashboard lights that come on when the key is initially inserted came on at once while engine was on/running and the car was in drive. After finally being able to reach a safe enough spot, I put the car in park and turned the engine off. I sat for a few minutes to try and turn the engine/car back on and the car would not crank, but the overhead lights, radio, and dash lights were functioning. -This was an extremely dangerous experience. The car began to decelerate rapidly in heavy freeway traffic. At that speed, with many semi-trucks traveling nearby, this sudden loss of speed created an extremely dangerous situation. My vehicle instantly became a slow moving obstacle in the lane. Only by luck and quick reaction was a serious or fatal collision avoided. The car would not start back up so I was sitting at the edge of the highway as many cars flew by just inches away from my car. -I am away at college in a rural city. Accessibility is limited as well as support because of lack of resources. -The car was towed to a mechanic who does not specialize in German cars and stated they did not have the proper tools to "get into the car" because the motor is "locked up" and the car wouldn't crank. -The vehicle will be towed to the nearest dealership (50mi away) who stated they won't be able to look at it for a few weeks from date of arrival. Research indicates this may be linked to a known issue with Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) / Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS) failure in Mercedes vehicles, which can electronically disable the engine and steering. This could've easily been fatal for me and still poses an alarming threat if not addressed.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that the rattling sound continued, and the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The independent mechanic provided mobile service and diagnosed the vehicle with cam shaft timing chain adjuster failure. The contact was informed that the cam shaft timing chain adjuster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated the fuel tank was emitting a fuel odor. The contact stated that the fuel odor was extremely strong and could be smelled inside the residence while the vehicle was parked in the garage. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a Certified Mechanic, who diagnosed that the leak was coming from the top of the fuel tank; however, the mechanic was unable to specify the cause. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V557000 ( Fuel System, Gasoline) online; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Rear subframe rotted out and broke due to corrosion. Rear crossmember is broken and needs replaced. My safety as well as the safely of other was put at risk. Loss of control at high speed could have been deadly. Luckily, I wasn’t going very fast at the time of incident or else who knows what would have happened to me or bystanders. Independent service center inspected and confirmed that incident was due to corrosion in the rear. They informed me of the extended warranty (20 years, unlimited miles) on 2008-2015 C300 models for this particular issue as my safety and the safety of others was put at risk. There were some symptoms leading up to the incident. At the time of braking the car would become unstable and feel skittish in the rear. It felt as if the rear was sliding to one side. The vehicle would also make some metal clinking noises at sharper turns. The symptoms had been more frequent in the prior 2-3 months of incident. The vehicle has been inspected and diagnosed by one shop and is currently getting a second opinion from another independent service center.

Rear subframe crossmember rotting, needs replacement. It seems to be a common problem with this vehicle and the assumption by most professional is that it a faulty part supplied by a third party to Mercedes. The rest of the cars undercarriage is pristine, making me wonder why just this one part would rust out.

I was driving normally last week when the driver's head restraint system (known by Mercedes as Neck Pro) unexpectedly and without warning blew at my head. The noise was very loud, and the headrest slammed against my head. Luckily, I was driving approximately 20-25 miles per hour, daytime, on a residential street without too many other vehicles. I was able to pull over to investigate what happened and ensure I wasn't injured and did not collide with any objects in the road. If this had happened on the highway at highway speeds with a less attentive driver, I could see this potentially resulting in a major collision. The road was fat, no bumps, weather was clear. There is no reason why this happened. From what I can tell, the system looks like it failed (plastic clips broke off) and the system did not intentionally deploy. It has not been repaired and is available for inspection. I have not taken it to the dealership for review. The vehicle is in perfect condition with no warnings. It very recently passed Maryland state inspection.

The electronic steering lock failed resulting in my car being completely disabled. My safety was not at risk in this particular instance. I was left stranded in a parking lot at night. The component was not inspected by the manufacturer or dealer. The manufacturer/dealer did not inform anyone that this problem will happen to every car with this compensation. This component failed without warning/symptoms/messages. It will fail on all Mercedes Benz cars from 2008-2016. The problem has not been confirmed or communicated by the dealer. Other Mercedes benz owners have encountered this problem resulting in their cars being disabled and leaving them stranded.

I was replacing rear tail light bulb. Now I'm getting an error message on instrument cluster. I tried to fix the issue but couldn't do to the fact the wiring harness has melted. Mercedes Benz had a recall back in 2013 saying this is a safety issue. No recall for our car.

The model/year Mercedes-Benz are well known for experiencing this/these particular issues. My research has shown that these year/make/model vehicles are experiencing the same type of mechanical failures nationwide. The issues all relatively begin around 75,000 miles. I've only had my car 3 years putting 30000 on it hardly driven/cared for **Issue Found:** Oil was leaking onto the ignition coil and spark plug of cylinder 3. **Source of Leak:** Valve cover gasket failure. **Recommended Repairs:** - Replace the valve cover gasket (to halt the oil leak). - Replace spark plugs and ignition coil (which were contaminated/damaged by oil). **Relevance to Warranty:** The valve cover gasket is only covered if it fails as a result of an internally lubricated engine part causing damage. Ignition coils and spark plugs are maintenance items and are not covered by warranty plans. **Required Repairs (Identified Mechanical Issues)** - **Coolant Pipe Leak – $850** **Issue:** Coolant leaking from a pipe on the side of the cylinder head. **Relevance to Warranty:** Typically not covered unless it pertains to a failure in a covered system such as the water pump or cylinder head due to an internal breakdown. This is likely classified as an external plumbing component, which is not included. - **Oil Feed Line Leak – $600** **Issue:** Oil leaking from the side of the engine, traced back to the oil feed line. **Relevance to Warranty:** This is not typically covered unless the oil feed line is part of the oil pump system and has failed due to an internal issue (usually regarded as an external line). **Other Items Found (Worsening Issues)** - **Timing Chain Rattle / Cam Adjuster Noise – $6,000** -**Issue:** Rattling sound during startup. **Diagnosis:** Noise emanating from the timing chain and camshaft adjusters. **Relevance to Warranty:** This is covered under Secure Plus, as both the timing chain and camshaft adjusters are recognized as internally lubricated par

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Check Engine and High Pressure Fuel Pump warning lights was illuminated. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The contact did research and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. 

Took the car in for an oil change and asked them to look at the brakes and rear as there was a strange noise. Vehicle was inspected and found the entire subframe is rotted. Was advised this is a common problem with Mercedes and there were some recalls. Unfortunately no open recall on this vehicle and it is now not driveable as this is a safety risk. Car has been driven 60 miles/day for the past 3 months and could have had serious consequences.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the anti-lock theft prevention feature failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the steering wheel was seized, and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact was informed by the tow truck driver that the failure was due to the electronic lockout system. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

I got stranded in the middle of the street my vehicle does not crank steering lock so I had my vehicle towed into the Mercedes dealership the one in Figueroa st Monday November 18 2024 at around 03:24pm and this is what they told me. Needs immediate attention custom recommendation ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK During vehicle inspection found electric steering lock has malfunction code 25464 recommend to replace electric steering lock first and perform re-check. Repair total estimate: $2,829.78 I definitely can't afford to pay that amount please help with this issue

Lost of drive power and the vehicle steering wheel locked on my mercedes from a damaged malfunctioning steering lock actuator module due to mechanical issues within the steering column such as bad steering wheel assembly, faulty steering lock module or issue with the wiring or other electrical components and the mercedes dealer is the only one who solves this issue no other mechanic in general. My safety was at risk due to I lost power and lost of front brakes due to bad sway bar assembly or components could of caused and accident when this happened on November 12, 2024 the problem dealership found during vehicle inspection was code 25464 they told me recommend to replace electric lock module and repair estimate was $2,829.78 and before I approved the the amount I told Mr Ivan Velasco service advisor that after they replace the module that if my vehicle was going to be working again and that if I was just going to make 1 payment of $2,829.78 then I would approved it so I did. Weeks later I got an email asking for more money they wanted another payment for $600 saying it needed a sensor that has something to do with the transmission because after replacing the new module the vehicle did not start up there was no type of communications nothing at all and I responded that I was not going to pay $600 more just cause they don't know what their doing because they promise me the car was going to work after they replace the module now that it did not want to crank up they found another issue that's their fault on not doing there job the right way and for telling lies yes their was flashing blue or red icon on my dashboard that look like a car and a lock would go on and off and it displayed a message saying The theft protection is activated. I want to know if I can get this issue approved and to be considered a recall can you please help I'm so frustrating and mad that they want more money when it's already so expensive please help I would of appreciate it thank you.

1. The car radio, blue-tooth, speakers, sound, car remote sound. Happened after a battery change by AAA - unsure if it's related. CUstomer service tried to resolve it - radio turns on, but nothing else works. 2. Doors won't unlock outside or inside - except passenegers side is open. 3. Accelerator acting strange - won't pick speed after 30, then 60 4. there was an air bag recal of this car a while ago.

Active headrest on front passenger seat forcefully deployed without any collision or impact occurring. It happened during a gradual stop at red light. Bits of broken plastic were found on the passenger seat after deployment. Cannot re-set the headrest because of broken parts. No one was in the seat at the time but now concerned that the same thing will happen to driver's headrest.

The subframe has developed extensive rust and corrosion, which I believe is a result of faulty manufacturing. This corrosion has severely compromised the structural integrity of the subframe, posing a serious safety risk. The corrosion appears to be inherent to the materials or design used in the manufacturing process, leading to the rapid deterioration of the subframe. There are also no warning lights or failure indicators for this issue. As a result, the subframe is at risk of collapsing, which could cause catastrophic failure of the vehicle's suspension and steering systems. This situation creates an immediate danger to both the occupants of the vehicle and others on the road.

Brake line corrosion

We are having issues when braking. The backend of the car wiggles when braking hard. Shop advised that the subframe on the passenger side completely broke away and on the driver side it is very rotted. They advised this is a safety issue since the broken side could pierce the gas tank. I googled this and found that there was a warranty extension for the same year and make car (document MC-10233796-0001) Spoke to the service department and they advised this did not apply to our VIN. I called the corporate number on the warranty extension letter and they advised the same. My complaint is that several other Mercedes models and makes have this issues and are covered. Why isn't ours? Based on images I found online it looks to be the exact failure mode. My son was supposed to drive the car 4.5 hours on the 4th and could have gotten into an accident or been stranded. I also read that in Germany they are fixing all vehicles with this issue.

My 2012 c300 has a rotted rear subframe making the car not able to be driven. It has major ,life threatening, costly damage and this issue already has a recall all over the world but not in the United States. If I can get the assistance to pay this repair, it will be gladly appreciated.

During hard acceleration the high-pressure fuel pump fails. I've never had to replace this part on any other car that I have owned. When I research the part for this car, I reviewed many forums and articles complaining about the failure of the high-pressure fuel pump on the Mercedes c250 sport or similar chassis. The vehicle performs normally until there is hard acceleration; then the engine light comes on. This causes the car to lose acceleration power and slows the car down significant and can be dangerous especially if driving on a freeway or highway. The failure of the part has been reported to occur as early as 30k miles.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the passenger’s side rear taillight was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired since the VIN nor the model year was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Took my car for a doorknob repair and was told the whole subframe is rotted. They told me not to drive the car on the highway. The car brakes very hard to the right and always goes right while making cranking noises. Car feels very unsafe. I paid a lot of money for this and own a 2012 c300 4matic.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? As I started my car from a cold start and even when starting the engine, the car was creating this tractor like sound. No system has failed but I read the camshaft adjuster and tensioner pulley has come out of site, which can ruin the engine. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, it was audible by the dealer but I was told that it would be a normal issue on a cold start. Now they will charge $200 for a service diagnosis. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Mercedes Benz gave an extended warranty on the program for extension of 10 years but the problem has been happening for multiple people and it has been happening again that this warrants a recall over a poorly designed part that can destroy the car’s engine. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No such codes or messages. Which is why this is so scary. This incident has been happening for the past 8 months or so and besides a letter about a warranty no such information.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that after opening the sunroof and then attempting to close the sunroof, the sunroof failed to fully close. The contact had to open and close the sunroof several times before the sunroof closed. Additionally, the contact stated that there was water entering the vehicle from the sunroof which caused electrical failures. The contact stated that the vehicle was drivable, but the "Anti-Theft" warning light illuminated. The contact stated that several other warning lights were later illuminated, and the vehicle would not start. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that water had damaged the driver’s side electrical wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle, prompting him to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. After a visual inspection, the contact observed that both trailing arms had become detached. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that extensive frame corrosion had caused both trailing arms to detach. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 143,000.

This is a low mileage car with odometer reading of 25668 (less than 2000 miles per year), used sparingly and always parked in the garage. On 05/07/2024 I noticed brake fluid flowing from the left rear side of the car; on examination this seemed to come from the flexible hose that connects the brake fluid line to the brake caliper. I called my Mercedes-Benz (MB) dealer and arranged for further inspection and service. The technician identified that the brake fluid lines to the rear were both totally corroded and in need of immediate replacement. Since the lines were embedded behind the subframe it necissated lowering the subframe to access. Other parts were also severely corroded and required replacement. (see attached PDF of Invoice) The total cost of the repair was $4,592.93. The dealership applied a discount of $150.00 to this for an amount due of $4,442.93. As an engineer, I believe the material used for the brake fluid lines were unsuitable and furthermore were unprotected for the harsh environment experienced under the car, and I believe MB with all their experience in automobiles manufacturing over the years clearly should have known and forseen this fact; I do believe that MB is responsible for this premature failure of the brake lines of my car aven driven only 25,666 miles to date. I am therefore requesting NHTSA to require MB to reimburse me for the unnecessary expense of the costly repairs. It is only fortunate that this failure was identified in my garage and not on the highway. Please advise me of your resolution. Thank you.

MY VEHICLE, HAS THE ENGINE MAKING NOISE ,WHEN STARTING,, THE LIFTERS RATTLE...I WAS TOLD TO CHECK WITH MERCEDES BENZ FOR RECALL INFO...HOWEVER, THE COMPANY STATES,THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED....IT HAS 52,000 ORIGINAL MILES, AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED...I BELIEVE, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER...PLEASE ADVISE.....I HAVE HAD THE MB DEALER DO A DIAGNOSIS..THEY CONFIRM THE LIFTERS ARE DISFUNCTIONING....

Vehicle will not start, possible ESL/EIS failure.

Subframe rusted and broke. It is available for inspection. Burlington Mercedes inspected the vehicle and told me it was not safe to drive. Mercedes-Benz USA is aware of the problem. They issued a letter extending the warranty covering only the subframe to twenty years and unlimited miles. Burlington Mercedes refused to do the subframe replacement without installing all new arms, which are currently not damaged. The cost to install all new arms is $2826.54. Mercedes-Benz USA is offering a warranty extension that their dealerships refuse to honor. This needs to be turned into a recall instead of a warranty extension. This subframe issue is dangerous. It affects Mercedes vehicles dating back to 2005 and encompasses many of their models including: SLK- Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class C-Class Sedan/Coupe, GLK-Class E-Class Sedan/Wagon, E-Class Coupe/Cabrio

Took my 2012 Mercedes c300 to my mechanic and the Rear Sub frame is rusting out.

car has a rear subframe damage from corrosion

vehicle sub-frame is cracked rusted corroded.

the rear subframe broke while in motion and caused the car to drift and bounce while i was cornering the traction control and stability control intervened and i also counter steered once back in straight line i braked and the car tilted on the side, we lifted the car in a mechanic shop and found a rotten subframe one side broke the other was almost giving up.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shake without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a tire rotation; while there, the mechanic discovered severe corrosion on the vehicle's subframe and the contact was advised to no longer drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000. The VIN was not available.

While I was driving my 2012 MB C300 4Matic Sport Sedan in Nov', 2023 with history of regular maintenance, noticed a pretty load knocking noise, shudder and drifting to left a bit when it brakes from the driver's rear side especially on the highways. I took it to our local mechanic who was horrified to report that the sub frame was broken and completely rotten out too specifically rust issue with the rear suspension-rear subframe. He gets other German Cars like BMW & Audi even older and more miles in Chicago but none have rusted so much as these MB C-Class cars. Knowing the Dealers wont accept it a manufacturing defect, he was planning to repair it (no chance of wielding that thin metal sheet as the likelihood of breaking it is high). I was surprised to see 2010 Chevy Impala having a much more robust under the cover protection and no rusting with 115k miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

a rusted rear subframe is more prone to crack when a driver hits a pothole or wants to brake quickly, which can lead to instability in the vehicle's rear suspension.

My rear subframe has corroded and has snapped, which is a major safety issue as while driving when I come to a stop the rear end of the car swags sideways. It do not stop straight.

1) cranshaft and camshaft position sensors, timing problems and it has to be replaced this is a common damage in Mercedes Benz 2012 c250. 2) this put in risk my life because it can brake the engine in a highway and the car could be off.

I started hearing noises about a week ago while driving. Last night while driving home in the evening traffic, I braked and car violently jerked and veered to the right almost hitting the car in the front. I took the car to a shop this morning and they found that the rear subframe had collapsed due to rust and advised the car was extremely dangerous to drive.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a strong smell of fuel around the exterior of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the fuel odor was extremely strong, and the contact could not wind the windows down. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.

Rear driver side wheel was making a clicking noise leading us to believe there was an issue with the strut and/or shock. Due to the nature and severity of the noise, we took the vehicle to our mechanic ASAP. Upon inspection, mechanic identified that the sub-frame had completely rusted through which could lead to other catastrophic issues making vehicle no longer safe to drive unless repaired. Due to the age of the vehicle being 11 years old, the cost to repair was almost the value of the vehicle basically making this a complete loss. I understand that Mercedes Benz has extended the warranty to 20 years for this issue for other models identifying that it is a design/parts defect but not the C300 although I have found that this is also an issue for this model.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, he smelled a rubber burning odor. A message indicating that the turn signal was inoperable was displayed. The contact stated that he pulled to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle. The contact noticed that there was smoke coming from the rear passenger's side taillight. The contact stated that he opened the taillight panel and noticed that the interior and the bolt had melted. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact related the failure to Mercedes-Benz Campaign Number: 2014050001; however, the dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the campaign. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Rear subframe is corroded, rusted through, and cracking.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the front driver's side interior door handle was fractured. The contact was unable to open the door from inside the vehicle. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

While trying to pass big rig on freeway my car went into lymph mode and stalled causing the car behind me to brake and almost caused an accident. My engine light came on & after getting it checked out I retrieve the following code P0002. After doing some research it appears this is an ongoing issue with this year and model of car.

I was driving on the highway and came to a sudden stop and the car fishtailed putting our safety and the safety of others at risk. I brought my car to a mechanic and I changed my tires. When I went for a wheel alignment the mechanic found that the K bar subframe was corroded and cracked. There was no warning prior to the failure. I had no idea there was a problem because the K bar is behind the snow flap and was hidden.