2007 Mercedes Benz C280

I am writing about this incident after finding out about the lawsuit filed against Mercedes concerning problems with the balance shaft, the soft metal they used in production, and the COMMON engine codes (P0016 & P0017). I am [XXX] and I was on the highway with my girlfriend going around 75mph and I smelled a burning smell and thought it might’ve been the truck/one of the cars in front of me. All of a sudden my power steering was gone and my car basically lost all power. Only the brakes worked. Thank god the other cars were far enough away from me and I didn’t put anyone else in danger. Due to the loss of control I was forced to pull into the breakdown lane on the LEFT side which was so incredibly dangerous since the highway was so busy. I eventually pulled to the right side of the highway when there was enough space and time to do so and opened my hood and saw that my tensioner blew and the serpentine belt came off. I was so angry because the dealer that sold me the car told me the codes were only emission related and did not affect the mechanics of the car. That’s a whole other issue. I am not so very mechanically inclined but after extensive research I’ve found that this code (which was covered up by Mercedes) was most likely the culprit and has been causing me issues throughout my experience with the vehicle. I am a broke college student. Yes, it was stupid to buy a Mercedes, but I was [XXX] and I’ve learned a lot about cars and the industry since then. At the end of the day, despite my stupidity and ignorance, Mercedes should be held responsible for this issue and everyone who has [had incidents similar to myself or have the codes that I have deserve to be reimbursed for all the repairs, time, and danger they have and will eventually put people in. Don't wait for someone to die on the highway before you consider issuing a recall. DO SOMETHING. I shouldn’t have to fear for my life going out in this car to get to work, school, and most importantly, my family. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF I

IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ USA INITIATED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN THAT AFFECTED APPROX. 1,064,723 VEHICLES. THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID. MBUSA SENT THIS NOTICE TO ALL DEALERSHIPS, BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY THE VEHICLE OWNERS DIRECTLY. THEY APPARENTLY DID NOT DEEM THIS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL AND FELT NO OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SOLENOID MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PART IT DOES IN FACT AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE AND DRIVING ABILITY OF THE CAR. IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IN WHICH IS THE CASE HERE, IT DOES BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN. IT SEEMS THAT MBUSA KNOWINGLY WITHHELD THIS INFORMATION FROM THEIR CONSUMERS. DURING THE TIME OF THEIR CAMPAIGN MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL. MBUSA HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO NOTIFY THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS ISSUE TO HAVE IT CORRECTED. THEY NEVER ACTIVELY PROVIDED NOTICES TO CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY. DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AFFECTED SOLENOID, MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED IN APRIL 2015. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MARCH 2014. I HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AT A COST OF $232.93. MBUSA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE VEHICLE OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IF NOT CORRECTED, AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE ANY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES THAT WERE INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE BULLETIN THAT MBUSA PROVIDED TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS, BUT AGAIN FAILED TO PROVIDE TO THE 1,064,723 CONSUMERS THAT WERE AFFECTED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS RACED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT RESPONDING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF, AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION SHAFT, SPRINGS, INTERNAL SPEED SENSOR, AND CAM SHAFT NEEDED TO BE RE-ADJUSTED TO THE CORRECT POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF UNTREATED ALUMINUM. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT SALT WILL REACT EASILY WITH ALUMINUM, EXTENSIVE CORROSION RESULTS. THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT SITS IN A POCKET IN THE FRAME, WHERE BRINE CAN LAY ON IT FOR PROLONGED PERIODS. OF NOTE, MANY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS ARE NOW USING A BRINE MIX, INCLUDING MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, THAT WILL REACT WITH MOISTURE IN THE AIR TO CONTINUE THE CORROSION PROCESS. A RECENT STUDY BY VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS THAT THIS ACCELERATES THE CORROSION PROCESS. IN APRIL OR MAY OF THIS YEAR, I HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON MY CAR REPLACED. ONE FAILED COMPLETELY, THE OTHER WAS SEVERELY CRACKED AND NEARLY THE SAME WAY. THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY MISSING, APPARENTLY FROM CORROSION. WHAT WAS LEFT WAS WHITE POWDER. THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT CORROSION. THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON MY CAR SAID THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND NOT THE FIRST HE HAD SEEN. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. A COMPLETE FAILURE OF MOTOR MOUNTS COULD CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT, WITH WIRING AND OR FUEL LINES BEING SHEARED, AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BREAKAGE WOULD BE LIKELY TO OCCUR UPON ACCELERATION (THINK ABOUT ENTERING AN INTERSECTION) OR WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICES. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT. I AM NOT. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. IT HAS BEEN A FEW MONTHS NOW WITH NO RESPONSE. THIS SITUATION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C280W. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COOLING FAN STAYED ON INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C-280.THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE RIGHT INTAKE CAM SHAFT MAGNET AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE BALANCE SHAFT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE.