2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Air Bags & Restraints Problems

ON MAR. 18, 2017 I WAS IN A PARKING LOT PREPARING TO LEAVE. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE MECHANISM THAT BRINGS THE SEAT BELT FORWARD SO I CAN GRAB IT BEGAN TO MOVE BACK AND FORWARD ERRATICALLY. WHEN IT STOPPED THE SEATBELT FAILED TO COME ALL THE WAY OUT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND THE MECHANISM CAME OUT LIKE IT SHOULD BUT THE SEATBELT WOULDN'T COME OUT. I PLAYED WITH SEATBELT UNTIL I GOT IT TO COME OUT, HOWEVER, IT WOULDN'T RETRACT TO FIT SNUG AGAINST MY BODY. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AGAIN AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND THE MECHANISM CAME OUT AS IT SHOULD BUT THE SEATBELT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. I TRIED TO MANUALLY RETRACT THE SEATBELT BUT IT DIDN'T WORK SO I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT A SEATBELT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

I HAVE HAD SEAT BELT TROUBLE. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS WEAK TO RETRACT. THAN 9 MONTHS LATER IT GAVE OUT ON ME. I LOOKED INTO IT ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT ALMOST ALL THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE DOZENS OF FORUMS IN COMPLAINTS PLENTY OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM TO IN EACH. ITS A HAZARD THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THESE CARS AND DECIDE THEY DON'T HAVE $500 TO BUY A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR PLUS $200 IN LABOR. ALSO IT OFTEN LEAVES NO WARNING THAT IT WON'T RETRACT. THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY AND SOMEONE WILL DIE AND ITS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX A SEATBELT THAT SHOULD BE WORKING. MINE GAVE OUT OF NO WHERE SO WHEN I WAS AWAY FROM HOME IF I WOULD OF GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT'S A PROBLEM WORTH FIXING. MY GIRLFRIEND IS AN EMT AND SHE SAYS THAT A SEAT BELT PLACED TO HIGH OR TOO LOW CAN CAUSE U TO BE CRUNCHED UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL OR FLY UP OVER INTO THE WINDSHIELD. SO ONE THAT GOES LOOSE ON YOU WHILE DRIVING WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY BECAUSE JUST THE FACT THAT THERE IS MOVING SPACE WILL CAUSE YOU TO WIGGLE LOOSE FROM YOUR SEAT. *TR

2003 MERCEDES (CONVERTIBLE) 350 CLK TRAVELING APPROX 35 MPH ON 2-LANE ROAD VEERED RIGHT AND STRUCK A PARKED CAR, CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $20,000 DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE MERCEDES (TOTAL LOSS). NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, ALTHOUGH THE REAR SEAT ROLL BARS DID DEPLOY. DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, SUFFERING CONCUSSION. APPARENTLY THE AIR BAGS WERE DEFECTIVE. *TR

ONCOMING CAR SLID SIDEWAYS INTO THE FRONT OF MY CAR ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE (CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS), AND INJURIES TO THE DRIVER WERE SUSTAINED. SEATBELT WAS ON BUT INJURIES RESULTED FROM CRASH. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH MERCEDES BENZ, EVEN SENT A PICTURE OF THE DAMAGE, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DISENGAGE AS DESCRIBED IN OWNER'S MANUAL. DEALER SAYS IT IS RELATIVE TO A MERCEDES BENZ BABY SMART COMPATIBLE CHILD SEAT. HOWEVER, THE MANUAL SAYS IT SHOULD DISENGAGE EVEN WHEN THE SEAT IS EMPTY. IT DOES NOT EVER DISENGAGE ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT SENSOR. *JB

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SUFFERED THREE TIRE SIDEWALL FLATS. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHEN THE DEALER WENT TO REPLACE A DAMAGED TIRE, THEY FOUND THAT THE REMAINING TIRES ONLY HAD 2MM OF TREAD LEFT. THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT BUTTON WAS REPLACED. WATER LEAKED FROM THE TOP CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *PH *NLM

THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL OFF WHILE BELT WAS BEING FASTENED. THE TORQUE SCREW CAME UNDONE. *JB