2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake malfunction warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the SBC hydraulic unit needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 04V296000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 199,700.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS BUT FAILED TO INDICATE IF THERE WERE ANY REQUIRED REPAIRS IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE BRAKE SENSOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES MAY LOCK AT ANY TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE SBC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

BRAKES FAILED AT 70 MPH. "BRAKES WARNING" SBC FAILED. PULL OVER VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCED BRAKING AFFECT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE PUMP HAVING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN A WARNING MESSAGE FLASHED ACROSS MY INSTRUMENT PANEL TO STOP MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. AT THE SAME TIME THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TRIED TO ENGAGE MY BRAKES, BUT THEY FAILED AND I HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE NEXT LANE TO AVOID REAR ENDING AN SUV. I WAS ABLE TO WORK MY WAY OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND COAST TO A STOP. I WAS TOLD BY THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE, BUT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON A SPECIFIC BRAKE PART. IF THE DEALER DETERMINES THAT THIS PARTICULAR BRAKE PART IS TO BLAME FOR THE FAILURE, MERCEDES WILL COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL NOTICE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE (NHTSA RECALL # 04V-296) THAT APPEARS TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A DEFECT, THIS SERIOUS, WOULD NOT WARRANT A RECALL THAT OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF. THE OUTCOME OF THIS BRAKE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY TRAGIC. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE,BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WAS GREATER WHEN APPLIED TO STOP CAR. VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AFTER CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. SBC SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BY MERCEDES DEALER,BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE PRESSURE RESERVOIR THAT ALSO MALFUNCTIONED WITH BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 20 MPH, THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A TOW TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,000. UPDATED 12/10/10 *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS SENSOTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. IT WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. UPDATED 12/27/10 THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE NOT RESPOND. THE CONSUMER THEN DECIDED TO USE THE COMBINATION OF THE FOOT BRAKE AND THE HILL WHICH BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. UPDATED 01/31/11

2004 500E ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PURPOSE OF AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IS THAT WHEN ALL BRAKES ARE LOCKED, IT WILL THEN PULSATE THE BRAKES SO THAT THE DRIVER DOES NOT HAVE TO. THE CONSUMER STATED ON HIS VEHICLE THE BRAKES SYSTEM COULD LOCK WITHOUT PULSING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKES DID NOT LOCK AND THE BAS DID NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED. *JB

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT COLLIDED INTO A GLASS WINDOW OF A BUSINESS. NO INJURIES REPORTED. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT DUPLICATED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MILES PER HOUR DOWN HILL, THE OWNER HEARD A WARNING LIGHT STATING THAT THE BRAKES HAD FAILED. THE OWNER HAD TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE OWNER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

BRAKE FAILURE, CAUSED A MAJOR COLLISION. CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *BF CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RECALL STATING THAT THE PUMP MOTOR MAY RUN OUT OF PERMISSIBLE TOLERANCES THEREBY TRIGGERING THEY HYDRAULIC BACKUP FUNCTION MODE LEAVING CONSUMER TO USE GREATER BRAKE PRESSURE LEAVING BRAKE TRAVEL LONGER LIKELY TO RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TC

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. AS A RESULT, WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. *AK