2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Powertrain & Transmission Problems

WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. WE OWN A 2004 CLK320 WHICH HAS PRESENTED WITH CONTINUING PROBLEMS. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AXLE ALIGNMENT WAS DEFECTIVE IN WHICH REQUIRED REALIGNMENT AND REAR TIRE REPLACEMENT. AT 21,937 MILES THE CAR PRESENTED WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE CAR WOULD JERK/STALL WHILE BEING DRIVEN. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE FELT WE WERE GOING TO GET REAR-ENDED AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WHICH REQUIRED THE TRANSMISSION TO BE FLUSHED. THEN AGAIN AT 28,714 MILES THE VEHICLE PRESENTED WITH RECURRING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS, JERKING & STALLING.. WE SCHEDULED A MERCEDES-BENZ DEPARTMENT SERVICE AND THE DIAGNOSES WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACE AT OVER $9,000. WE REQUESTED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ OF AMERICA REPLACE OR ASSIST US WITH THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE AT NO COST TO US THE CUSTOMER SINCE THE VEHICLE IS A "LEMON". THE MERCEDES BENZ REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT HE WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND GET BACK TO US WITHIN 24 HOURS. WE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM HIM EVEN AFTER LEAVING NUMEROUS VOICE MAIL MESSAGES. WE HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS. THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MERCEDES-BENZ SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED A CONDITION THAT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT VERY ROUGHLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS SHIFTING CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STUTTER WHEN DOWN SHIFTING OR SHIFTING FROM 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. I HAVE HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE, REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION, REPLACEMENT RADIATOR ALL INSTALLED TO NO AVAIL. THE CONDITION IS AT BEST A NUISANCE, AND AT ITS WORST A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS ROUGH SHIFTING OCCURS IN THE LOWER GEARS, AND AT LOWER SPEEDS.

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET WHEN THE MERCEDES BENZ STARTED JERKING. AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO ACCELERATE PAST 2ND GEAR; THUS, I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET WITH A 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT AT LESS THAN 20 MPH. THEN, AS I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR FINALLY STALLED. LUCKILY, BECAUSE IT WAS AN INTERSECTION, THE ONCOMING CARS MANEUVERED AROUND ME. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION, IT STARTED UP AGAIN, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT INTO A PARKING LOT (ONCE AGAIN, NOT PAST 2ND GEAR). I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION; AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER ARE ALL DAMAGED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THE FAULT LIES ON MERCEDES TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED PARTS DUE TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIALLY FAULTY RADIATOR INSTALLED IN THEIR VEHICLES. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON A BUSY STREET OR HIGHWAY ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP OPERATING. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS POTENTIALLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE SINCE THE INCIDENT AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE. PLEASE HELP US. *TR

ON MONDAY, APRIL 4TH, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 CLK55 CONVERTIBLE TO MY OFFICE, GOING 55 MPH AND LOST ALL POWER. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR GOING AGAIN, WITH NO SUCCESS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN DRIVE A FEW MILES PER HOUR TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE BROKEN. THE TORQUE CONVERTER PART HAS BEEN ORDERED FROM GERMANY, AND IT IS ON BACKORDER FOR THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, IT COULD HAVE LED TO A LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU TO MAKE YOU FORMALLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF A $2 BILLION MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANY, AND HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED IN OUR BUSINESS WITH AN OPERATING ROOM PRODUCT, OR ANY CRITICAL DEVICE, WE WOULD BE OBLIGED TO IMMEDIATE FULLY INVESTIGATE AND NOTIFY THE FDA IF A RECALL WAS NECESSARY. *AK

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM ARM MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED FOR LEAKING FLUID, AND NOT CHANGING GEARS.*AK