2002 Mercedes Benz C230

The rear subframe rusted out and failed at the driver side trailing arm mount. It is available for inspection. My pregnant wife was driving it when it failed, luckily it failed an 1/8th mile from our house on a 25mph back road. The problem with these subframes has been well documented in later models and the subject of a class action lawsuit. Nobody has inspected it. There were no symptoms prior to the failure.

Recall ID: 24V874 on Sliding Roof Bonding was issued. Mercedes-Benz of Nashville was not able to open the Roof and asked for $219.88 to determine cause of sunroof being inoperative. Recall letter stated that: "vehicle repair will be provided at no cost to you" "If dealer for any reason is unable to remedy the situation without charge.. you may submit a complaint to the NHTSA.." Hence I am submitting this complaint that my sliding roof was not checked nor repaired.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000. ..UPDATED 09/25/17 *BF .. .UPDATED 10/04/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK FAILURE THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES FREELY WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS MELTED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

ON JUNE 9, 2011 I DROVE TO SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA TO VISIT MY COUSIN WHEN I GOT THERE I WENT TO LOCK MY DOORS BUT THE LOCK KEPT JUMPING UP AND DOWN. IT FINALLY LOCKED AFTER 12 ATTEMPTS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $3500.00 TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 18, 2011 WITH MY BRAKES.THE BREAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND $795.00 THEY CLAIMED I NEEDED FOR BOTH BRAKES AND ROTORS WHICH I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND SINCE 6 MONTHS PRIOR THE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED. I AGAIN HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND BREAKS REPLACED IN JULY 2012 AS WELL AS THE BACK BREAKS BUT THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE OTHER THAN THE DEALER AND HERE IT IS 2014 AND THEY ARE STILL HOLDING AND THE COST WAS $495.00 FOR BOTH FRONT AND BACK AS WELL 4 NEW MICHELIN TIRES THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME $495.00 FOR THE BACK ALONE. THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED IN LAS VEGAS I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. IT STARTED BACK RIGHT AWAY BUT I HAD A TEN HOUR DRIVE TO MAKE IT HOME AND THIS WORRIED ME. THE FOURTH INCIDENT WAS WITH THE SUNROOF I WENT TO THE CAR WASH AND THE WAX THAT WAS USED CAUSED THE SUNROOF TO STICK AFTER IT DRIED AND LATER THE MOTOR WENT OUT BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE ROOF, THE DEALER QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $5000.00 TO REPAIR IT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE DRIVERS SEATBELT AND BACK SEATBELT ON DRIVERS SIDE WERE DEFECTIVE AND IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS MIGHT NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELTS MIGHT NOT HOLD, THIS WILL COST ME $700.00 TO HAVE FIXED. I DON'T HAVE A MONEY TREE GROWING IN MY YARD. ALSO MY REAR TAILLIGHT KEPT GOING OUT AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THE ENTIRE CASING HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. THE ENTIRE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE PAID MORE IN REPAIRS ON THIS CARS THAN I PAID IN GROCERIES OVER THE PASS FIVE YEARS. *TR

AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, I PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL LEVER LOCK, (RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON), AND ADJUSTED THE HEIGHT AND DEPTH OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN PUSHED THE STEERING WHEEL LEVER LOCK BACK IN (RED WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED). I STARTED DRIVING AND WHILE I WAS MAKING A RIGHT ON A CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL SLIPPED OUT OF PLACE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE. I PULLED OVER ATTEMPTED TO REENGAGE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT POSITIONS, BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY LOCKED. THE RED WARNING LIGHT ONLY COMES ON WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK LEVER IS PULLED OUT, BUT IT DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS DISENGAGED WHEN THE LEVER IS PUSHED IN EVEN THOUGH THE LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT FUNCTION. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND A FORUM WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES OF DIFFERENT YEARS. I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE MY VEHICLE. *TR