2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Powertrain & Transmission Problems

This issue almost cause an accident on the freeway, Transmission went from drive to neutral and then reverse. This is cause by the range sensor. Conductor plate for transmission is very common for this type of vehicles. Please investigate. This can cause a fatal injury or death.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 35 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE ABS AND ESP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PALM BEACH (4000 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409, (561) 609-0902), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAULT CONDUCTOR PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED (SLIPPED) SO MUCH SO THAT THE RPM'S SHOT UP AND THE CAR NO LONGER HAD POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS. I NEEDED TO MOVE OVER 2 LANES THROUGH TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER TO THE CURB AND GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE CAR REGAINED POWER THE THE REAR WHEELS AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY WITH SOME MINIMAL SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION. ONCE I GOT THE CAR HOME I CHECKED FOR ERROR CODES EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE ERROR CODE WAS P2206 "THE SIGNAL FROM COMPONENT Y#?*N3 OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR (VGS) IS NOT AVAILABLE". LOOKED THE CODE UP AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO THIS 7 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS CONDUCTOR PLATE/VALVE BODY WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AS A UNIT. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD MY 05 SL500 WHICH HAS 60,000 MILES SERVICED AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE AND OULD HAVE HOPED THAT THE DEALER OR MBUSA WOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME ABOUT THIS COMMON DANGEROUS DEFECT AS THE DEFECT APPEARS TO BE WELL KNOWN TO THE MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE AS WELL AS THE DEALERS AND MBUSA WHO HAVE NEEDED TO REPAIR A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE EARLY 7 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS.

ENGINE WIRE HARNESS FAILURE DUE TO BAD INSULATION/BIODEGRADABLE INSULATOR COVER RESULTING IN VEHICLE STOP WHEN A ASR LIGHT COME ON AND CAUSING POSSIBLE FIRE OR ACCIDENT WHILE THE CAR STOP SHILE IS IN MOVEMENT,VERY DANGEROUS I STOP TO DRIVE THIS CAR 4 YEARS AGO/// REVERSE GEAR JUST STOP WORK DUE TO THE BIG DEFECT FROM FACORY A BEEN SEE TONS OF CARS WITH EXACLTU THE SAME PROBLEMS.

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HER VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE DID ACT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE PAST. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK OR FIX THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIRS WILL HAVE TO BE PAID BY THE CONTACT. *AK