2015 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. WHILE ROTATING THE SEATS, THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,657.

WINNEBAGO VIEW WITH MERCEDES SPRINTER CHASSIS AND CHROME REAR OUTSIDE DUAL WHEELS DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INNER DUAL TIRE TO CHECK AND CHANGE THE AIR PRESSURE. WINNEBAGO PROVIDES A RUBBER TUBE TO BE USED AS A TOOL TO REMOVE AND REINSTALL THE TIRE VALVE CAPS ON THE INNER WHEEL BUT THE ANGLE AND LENGTH OF THE INNER TIRE VALVE STEM MAKES THE JOB OF REINSTALLING THE VALVE CAP VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT REMOVAL OF THE OUTER CHROME DUAL WHEEL. AS A RESULT, MOST OWNERS CAN NOT AND WILL NOT CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE ON THE INNER DUAL TIRE CREATING A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. WINNEBAGO AND MERCEDES REFUSE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE USE OF VALVE STEM EXTENDERS TO MAKE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE MORE USER FRIENDLY. REMOVAL OF THE OUTER CHROME WHEEL IS A JOB THAT SHOULD ONLY BE DONE BY PROFESSIONALS WITH THE PROPER EQUIPMENT, NOT BY THE VEHICLE OWNER.

THE VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC TURN INDICATORS WHICH ARE ACTIVATED AFTER THE WHEEL IS TURNED APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY SIGNALING INCORRECT INTENTIONS TO SURROUNDING VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS WHEN MANEUVERING AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS IN PARKING LOTS, ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, AND CURVED ROADWAYS APPROACHING TURNS.

THE VEHICLE IS A MERCEDES SPRINTER VAN CONVERTED BY WINNEBAGO INTO THEIR MODEL ERA RV. A PART OF THE CONVERSION IS CHANGING THE STANDARD, OUTER REAR WHEELS FROM MERCEDES AND REPLACING THEM WITH WINNEBAGO STEEL WHEELS. IN MAKING THIS CHANGE, THE VALVE STEM OF THE INNER TIRE BECOMES INACCESSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE OR TO ADD AIR TO AN UNDER INFLATED TIRE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LES SCHWAB TO HAVE BRASS VALVE STEMS PUT ON THE INNER REAR TIRES SO THEY WOULD PASS THROUGH THE WINNEBAGO REPLACEMENT WHEEL OPENINGS. AFTER TWO HOURS OF LABOR THE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT IN HIS EXPERT OPINION THE COMBINATION OF THE MERCEDES AND WINNEBAGO WHEELS IS A "TERRIBLE DESIGN" AND ADDED THAT WITH "...NO VIABLE OPTIONS. WHICH RESULTS IN A SAFETY CONCERN." I RETAIN A COPY OF THIS REPORT, IF NEEDED. I CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR A MEANS OF BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE REAR, INNER TIRE SO WE CAN CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE, ADD AIR WHEN NEEDED, SO WE CAN FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING. UNTIL THEN I HAVE A CONCERN THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS IN OTHER WINNEBAGO CONVERTED ERA RVS, CREATING POTENTIAL DRIVING SAFETY CONCERNS.