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Mercedes-Benz • c230 • c240 • c320 • CL500 • CLK320 • CLK55 • G55 AMG • ML320 • S55 • SLK230 • Odds 'n ends --- News • Mercedes Hopes to Buff Its Image

For many, the Mercedes-Benz represents the height of automotive engineering, or something. For many others, it's a status symbol. The latter it most certainly is. The former some of our readers aren't so sure about.

One reason for the recent spate of complaints may have to do with the growing reliance on electronics in today's cars and porked-up SUVs. European cars have always been known for, shall we say, delicate electrical systems. Adding gadgets of the complexity now common in the Benz is a recipe for big trouble -- and very big repair bills.

Here are a few of the more recent complaints ...

Suren of Van Nuys, CO September 4, 2009

On 06/26/2009 our car broke down. It happened when my wife was returning home with our child and stopped in the driveway in front of the gate. She had difficulties opening the gate, so she decided to bring the car closer in order to get a better signal but it still didn't work. Then she decided to reverse and drive the car from a different angle.

To her shock, after she put the car into reverse position instead of going backward it went forward pushing the gate. After that she tried to do everything for the car to stop going forward (pressing the brakes, pressing the neutral and parking positions, trying reverse again) but the car would still go forward. The only time the car would stop going forward was when the ignition was turned off and the clutch of the parking brake was pushed.

Some neighbors and myself came to see what happened and tried to help but no one could do anything, the car was unmovable. Our car is under full warranty, so we called Mercedes-Benz road side assistance, and they sent their tow truck and towed our car to the nearest Mercedes dealership (which is Keyes European Mercedes-Benz in Van Nuys, CA) for inspection. When their driver came, he also saw that the car was unmovable.

The car was in service for 5 days, and on 07/01/2009 they called and said that they could not find any problem with the car and we could come and pick it up. To our surprise they charged us 175 for the tow track service. My first question is, why if there was nothing wrong with car would everyone involved including the driver let the car be towed? At the time we all felt it was too dangerous to drive the car, especially with a small child and felt lucky this happened in front of the house and not on the busy road.

Secondly, The Service Company did not informed us about the possible charge and the actual price beforehand. Could you please advise us on what we should do in this situation? Many thanks.

Carl of belzoni, MS August 29, 2009

There's a loud nouise coming from underneath the vehicle . The service rep and service manager said that it is the brakes that's making the noise . To me it could be the brakes or even the suppention . However the noise is loud and ignoring . I was told that there is nothing that can be done to stop the noise . I'm being told that it's normal

Attef of MOLDEN, MA August 23, 2009

I went to service my mercedes 2003 E500 chassis no WDB2110701A008422 back in November 2008 when I firest bought the car. I took it there for general check and full service they kept the car for 2 months I took it back in February in the same day I start to hear a bad noises so I give them the car back. 2months later May 2009 they said the car is ready to go again in the same day something is not right I took it back to the service for three times I payed 33.00QR. Any way next day my wife and my sone took the car for a ridr she was stoping in a traffic light than all of a suden the air bags in the right side opended and hit my son in his ears casing him bad enjury He still suferingtill now I caleld the company they took the car calling me sayin I have to pay 7.000QR for the car Can u imagiane I am realy having a bad experience with them no customer services no good care

Philip of Calgary, AB August 20, 2009

I bought a 2008 C350 4 Matic and since I have bought it the car has been to the shop every month almost for 1.3 years that I have had it. First my break were squeeky, then my hall crank shaft sensor went out twice, my keyless go does not detect and has not been fixed till this day, Driver headlight went out due to electrical, Seat cracking, undercarrage molding came undone after hitting a puddle of water, Windshield washer fluid sensor was bad,

and just yesterday on Aug 19th my brakes started to feel like its was slipping or jolting so I parked it at work and decided after during break to go get some breakfast. to my amazement I started the car and the engine light came on. So I called Mercedes and decide to drive it down and when I tried to pull it into drive. The gear would not go anywhere.

So I had to get it towed to the dealer. In which they didn't even have a car to offer up to me to get around in. Lost of time and money. Next step is to go to arbitration to get me out of my lease.

Richard of woodcliff Lake, NJ July 24, 2009

my wife had a tire on her Mercedes blow out last week July15,2009. She lost control of the car and went off the road. The rim was damaged when she went through some high grass and weeds and the undercarriage was damaged. MB refuses to pay for the tire which I think is wrong. This tire is new and it only had 10000 miles on it.

Joseph of Winfield, AL July 15, 2009

On our 2008 Mercedes E320 it is impossible to bring the car to a smooth stop when braking. The braking reaction to the brake pedal pressure is not uniform, gripping harder at points in the stroke. The end of the braking always end in a jolt no matter how hard we try to brake smoothly. The latter (full stop ends in a jolt) appears to be characteristic of other Mercedes automobiles just more pronounced in our E320. We took this problem to our dealer. They offered no solution.

Susan of ASHBOURNE, Ireland July 5, 2009

I bought my C180 4 years ago and all was well. Except 1 year ago my door locks started not to work. I took my car to a dealership in Ireland and they put the car through the diagnostics and found nothing, yet charged me €300 for the pleasure. They said that the door locks would have to be changed but said it was probably the elctrics. Now my central locking does not work at all. I have to use the key physically to open the door and even that is getting stiff and does not want to work. How can Mercedes build great cars but have such huge problems as this. I feel angry with Mercedes. We cant find any manuals relating to the C180 04 model. Any advice?

tamer of alexandria, Egypt June 8, 2009

I Just Bought From ANA The Official Dealer Of Mercedes Benz At alexandria Egypt A New C200 Chassis No. 2040415 L Since 08/04/2009

The Car Air cOndition Was Faild Down Suddenly On 05/06 So I Send The Car To The Service CEnter Of ANA Up To Now Thay Didn't Know What The Error Come From , So It's Prenew Car i Need From Mercedes Benz Head Office At Germany To Let Them Replace The Car By New One

Hope of West Bloomfield , MI May 27, 2009

I took my mercedes c320 in for the same issue about 5 times. the gas gauge kept falling and it wont allow you to fill the tank. the only thing they kept doing was resetting the gauge. now the warranty expired and they tell me its 2000.00 to fix. well the never fixed it but now want me to pay for it.

Ahmad of Riyadh: 11451, Saudi Arabia May 20, 2009

I Filed a complaint in Mercede car agents, in connection with air bag manufacturers defect. And got a response of shame, from the name of outstanding reputation in the automotive industry. The story is about a traffic accident, less than the simple within the city, so the car did not get damaged from the front. However, the front airbags deployed In the face, and hit the right eye of my daughter, age 14 years. She lost her vision. The eye damage happened because of protrusion of the air bag sewing, to the surface of the face Toucher. Review by the doctors need to remove the eye and put a glass eye

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