2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHTS WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED HE REPLACED THE BULB HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE I-95 AT 60 MPH AND TURNED ON MY AIR CONDITIONER WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE VENTS. I SHUT OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. I VISITED WITH MY PARENTS AND AS I STARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS IDLING, I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE VENTS AGAIN AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND PULLED THE FUSE BOX COVER OFF AND FOUND THE FUSE BOX WAS WHERE THE FIRE HAD STARTED. THERE WAS A PAPER WITH FUSE SIZES AND LOCATIONS PUT (BY MERCEDES) IN BETWEEN THE FUSES WHICH HAD BEEN SINGED, AND PART OF THE FUSE BOX AND SOME OF THE FUSES HAD MELTED. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND A COMPLAINT ON A MERCEDES FORUM WHERE THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ANOTHER 2004 MERCEDES C230.

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ACKERMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH HIS 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO A CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE CAM SENSORS ON THE MERCEDES M271 ENGINE LEAK OIL WHICH SPREADS TO OTHER COMPONENTS VIA THE WIRE HARNESSES CONNECTED TO CAM SENSORS. OIL CONTAMINATION WILL DAMAGE OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (NAMELY THE ECU AND EXHAUST OXYGEN SENSORS) IF THE CAM SENSORS AND WIRE HARNESSES ARE NOT REPLACED. A NEW CAM SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS THE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE DEFECTIVE CAM SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS WERE USED ON THE PREVIOUS ENGINE DESIGN (M111). THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR M111 ENGINE BUT NOT THE M271 ENGINE. MERCEDES REFUSES TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THE M271 ENGINE CAUSING OWNERS TO PAY FOR THE $900 PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. WITHOUT THIS REPAIR THE ECU (PART COST $2000) AND OXYGEN SENSORS (QTY 2 @ $250 EA) WILL BE EVENTUALLY DAMAGED AND WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE ALARM SOUNDS CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE KEY WILL NOT DISABLE IT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES BUT I SEEM TO FIND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET BLOGS REGARDING OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS OUR RIGHT AS A CONSUMER? SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL TO GET THIS CORRECTED? *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MERCEDES C230 COMPRESSOR. YESTERDAY, I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND AFTERWARDS LEFT IT PARKED. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. IT ENGULFED THE WHOLE VEHICLE IN SMOKE AND DAMAGED MOST OF THE INTERIOR. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR CAME ,AND STATED THAT IT WAS FROM THE ELECTRICAL WIRES INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *AK