2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Brakes

HAVE VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND WAS UNAWARE OF MERCEDEZ BENZ EXTENDED 10 YEAR WARRANTY, BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLASHED RED WITH "DECREASED BRAKING POWER, STOP DRIVING AND VISIT WORKSHOP". UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS TRAVELLING AT MID DAY IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET TO THE FLOOR, AND I STILL MANAGED TO BLOW THROUGH 2 RED LIGHTS, BUT NOT KILL ANYBODY.(IT TOOK OVER 3 BLOCKS TO STOP.) THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE, AS 750 TSB'S HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST THIS MODEL. IF OWNERS CHOOSE NOT REPAIR THIS MALFUNCTION(5000 COST)...PEOPLE WILL DIE,,,KIDS WILL DIE. BRAKE SYSTEMS SUCH AS THESE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED BY CAR MAKERS BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS. NTSB, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REALIZE THAT THESE "DANGEROUS" VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD AND DEMAND MB EXTENDS THE WARRANTY UNTIL ALL "DANGEROUS" CARS ARE ON THE ROAD AND NEED REPAIRS. THESE VEHICLES ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN A LOADED GUN..JUST WAITING TO KILL SOMEONE. I HOPE TO HEAR SOME ACTION QUICKLY...YOURS TRULY, A GUY DRIVING A LOADED WEAPON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES WOULD HESITATE TO RESPOND AND THE VISIT WORKSHOP BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP MAY FAIL WITH NO WARNING, REDUCING BRAKING POWER BY 80-90%. PUMP HAS "KNOWN" SERVICE LIFE BUT DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO SCAN FOR REMAINING LIFE. PUMP FAILURE RENDERS THE CAR NON-DRIVABLE, WITH TOWING REQUIRED, AND REPLACEMENT OF PUMP IS TYPICALLY BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,500.

I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY, PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR PULLED VERY AGGRESSIVELY TO THE LEFT, I GOT A WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHING RED THAT SAID THERE WAS A BRAKES ISSUE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT NORMALLY WITH NO ERROR DISPLAYING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, THEY SAID WITHOUT A FAULT CODE IN THE SYSTEM, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO FULLY FAIL BEFORE THEY COULD ADDRESS IT. I'M SCARED OF THIS CAR NOW, I DON'T DARE DRIVE IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, ANY OTHER SYSTEM FINE, BUT BRAKES? THIS SHOULD BE A NO BRAINER. NHTSA, PLEASE HELP US. *TR

I RECEIVED THE RED DASH WARNING AT THE SAME TIME AS THE COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE (NOT BEFORE) AND THERE WAS MAYBE 2% BRAKING CAPABILITY REMAINING (USELESS HYDRAULIC FAIL SAFE). THAT'S WITH THE PEDAL ON THE FIREWALL AT 5 MPH. EVEN WITH FORCE ENOUGH TO PUSH THE PEDAL INTO THE FIREWALL IT WAS STILL A GRADUAL SLOW DOWN. THIS WAS AT AROUND 5 MPH! NOW IMAGINE COMING OFF A STEEP OFF RAMP FROM 70MPH THAT ENDS ABRUPTLY AND PERPENDICULAR TO A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS... NOT GOOD. AFTER SITTING IN THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES I DECIDED TO START THE CAR UP AGAIN, THE MESSAGE WAS GONE AND FULL BRAKING PRESSURE RESTORED. TALK ABOUT A GAME OF RUSSIAN ROULETTE, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS TIME BOMB IS SET TO GO OFF AGAIN. THIS IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY ACCEPTABLE AND IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. MERCEDES KNEW THIS AND MOVED BACK TO A STANDARD BRAKING SYSTEM IN 2006 LEAVING VERY LITTLE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WITH THE SBC MODULES INSTALLED. THESE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY DEALERS AT THEIR EXPENSE INDEFINITELY. IT WAS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE AND THEY ADMIT IT, NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE WITH MALFUNCTIONING UNITS AND SAVE SOME LIVES. CHECK MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A FOR MORE INFORMATION. *TR

OUR CAR'S BRAKES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED BECAUSE STOPPING IS AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION. E.G. PADS AND ROTORS AS NEEDED PLUS FLUID FLUSH PERIODICALLY. NOW WE'VE LEARNED WE MAY BE AT RISK OF CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL WITH NO BRAKES - PERHAPS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR PEDESTRIANS - JUST BECAUSE THE MERCEDES' SBC (SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL) SOFTWARE PREDETERMINES WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE REACHED END OF SERVICE AND DISABLES THEM. WORSE, IT MAY DO THIS WITHOUT WARNING! SINCE THE WARRANTY ON THE SBC WAS EXTENDED FROM 4-YR/50K MILES TO 10 YEARS/UNLIMITED, AND CONSIDERING THE LIFE OF THESE CARS IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN 10 YEARS, SHOULDN'T THE REPLACEMENT WARRANTY BE EXTENDED FURTHER, TO PERHAPS 15 OR 20 YEARS? OR BETTER STILL, SHOULDN'T THEY BE RETROFITTED WITH NON-ELETROHYDRAULIC BRAKES . . . LIKE MODELS PRIOR TO AND SUBSEQUENT TO MERCEDES' SBC EXPERIMENT? MOREOVER, WHEN THESE CARS ARE SOLD, IS THE PUBLIC ON THE HOOK FOR THE LIABILITY OF A CAR SOLD WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES? E.G. ONE, WHICH HAS BRAKES CAPABLE OF BEING DISABLED BY MERCEDES' SOFTWARE? PLEASE HELP!

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED SEVERAL WARNINGS OF PROBLEMS WITH SBC, ABS, ESP. THE BRAKES THEN REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE TO EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME MUCH HARDER TO STEER.AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF PARK.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE SBC,AND ESP MODULES. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES WITH THIS BRAKING SYSTEM, SO MUCH SO THAT THE DISCONTINUED USING IT. THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND MERCEDES SHOULD EITHER REPAIR ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES OR REMOVE THEM FROM THE ROAD.

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED, THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES ALONG WITH MUCH LONGER TIME INTERVAL FOR VEHICLE SPEED REDUCTION DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS. MERCEDES (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS MBUSA FOR MERCEDES BENZ USA) SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES DISCONTINUED INSTALLING THIS TYPE BRAKE SYSTEM ON NEW PRODUCTION VEHICLES AT THE END OF MY 06. SUGGESTED CURE - MBUSA SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD (I.E. BRAKE FAILURE) THE SBC UNIT IS. IF MBUSA IS UNABLE TO ASSURE THE VEHICLE OWNER THAT (DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM) THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES WILL NOT DEFAULT TO BASIC HYDRAULIC MODE FOR FRONT WHEELS ONLY WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OF IMMINENT FAILURE, MBUSA SHOULD RETROFIT & REPLACE THE NECESSARY BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS TO INSURE VEHICLE SAFETY AT THE EXPENSE OF MBUSA. THIS IS A MAJOR LIFE-SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED. A MAJOR REDUCTION OF EFFICIENCY IN A VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM OCCURRING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE PROPERTY LOSS, PERSONAL INJURY AND DEATH, ESPECIALLY AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

THE WELL KNOWN BRAKE SAFETY ISSUE OF NUMEROUS MB CARS, ALSO CALLED THE SBC SYSTEM, IS CYCLING WAY TO OFTEN AND FEAR ITS PAST IS PREDETERMINED "LIFE CYCLES". FOR SOME REASON MB PUTS A # OF ACTUATIONS ON THE SYSTEM BEFORE IS QUITS OR MUST BE REPLACED. MB HAS INSTRUCTED DEALERS TO NOT REPLACE THE SYSTEM UNLESS A PARTICULAR CODE SHOWS UP UNDER A DIAGNOSTIC READ. PROBLEM IS THAT FROM THE DEALER OWN SERVICE TECHS.....'FAILING PUMPS DON'T ALWAYS THROW A CODE THAT WILL BE STORED IN THE COMPUTER, OR THERE IS A RESET FACILITY BUILT INTO THE COMPUTER SELF DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM THAT IS TO RESET A CODE FOR ISSUES WITH THE SBC SYSTEM WHEN CAR IS CYCLED OFF THEN RESTARTED.' MB REFUSES TO FIX SUCH SAFETY ISSUE IF REPAIR IS NEEDED BEYOND THEIR 10 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. FOR SECONDARY OWNERS THE REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE SAFETY OF OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR AND ALL THOSE AROUND THEM PRESENTS AN ISSUE. THIS IS SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MB QUICKLY STOPPED PRODUCING VEHICLES WITH THE NEW BRAKING SYSTEM EVEN AFTER THEY HAD TOUTED THIS AS BEING THE NEXT BREAK THROUGH IN BRAKING FOR ALL THEIR VEHICLE LINE. THEY KNOW IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH IS WHY THEY MOVED AWAY FROM PRODUCING IT FURTHER. THE PROBLEM IS THEY ARE NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING ALL 'SBC' BRAKING SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE AN INHERENT DEFECT FOR FAILURES. A NON SAFETY ISSUE I CAN UNDERSTAND A WARRANTY RECALL EXPIRATION, BUT NOT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. *TR

THE MERCEDES MODEL E CLASS FROM 2003-2008 HAVE A DEFECTIVE SBC UNIT WHICH CONTROL THE BRAKES ON THE CAR, THIS UNIT IS PRONE TO FAIL AT ANYTIME TIME WITHOUT WARNING, I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, I WILL BE SHOCKED IF THIS HASN'T CAUSED A FATALITY, MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ISSUED A 10 YEAR WARRANTY TO FIX THIS, BUT IF THE UNIT FAILS AFTER THE 10 YEARS THEY WILL CHARGE YOU OVER $2500 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT THEY MANUFACTURED DEFECTIVE, WHICH IS INSANE. THIS IS A REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, I GUESS TO THEM, A LIFE IS ONLY IMPORTANT FOR 10 YEARS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST (OR MORE LIVES ARE LOST) BECAUSE OF THIS LUDICROUS ERROR ON THE PART OF MERCEDES.

THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS ONLY 20% OF BRAKE POWER. *TR

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM (SBC) FAILED AND THERE WERE NO NOTICEABLE BRAKES. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT IF YOU APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE DURING A FAILURE, THERE WILL BE SOME BRAKING POWER AVAILABLE. IN THE SITUATION THOUGH, WHEN THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, HUMAN INSTINCT IS TO IMMEDIATELY FIND AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. MERCEDES BENZ USA IS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR ALL SBC ELECTRIC PUMPS TO FAIL AT ANY TIME CAUSING THIS SAME SITUATION FOR ANYONE. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE DEFECTIVE PART BECAUSE I AM 1 MONTH BEYOND THE 'EXTENDED WARRANTY.' THEY CLAIM THAT AS WITH ANY CAR PARTS, THE SBC SYSTEM CAN BE EXPECTED TO FAIL AT SOME POINT. ANYTHING BEYOND 10 YEARS AND THEY DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. NORMALLY I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT, BUT NOT WHEN IT CONCERNS THE PRIMARY ELECTRIC SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC BRAKES TO FAIL. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A SUFFICIENT AND NOTICEABLE HYDRAULIC BACK UP IF THIS PART IS ENGINEERED TO FAIL. MERCEDES HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED ALL FUEL TANK RELATED ISSUES AND COMPONENTS TO 15 YEAR COVERAGE, AND THIS WOULD AT LEAST BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE SBC SYSTEM. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE MERCEDES BENZ USA AND THE NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE A RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SBC TO BE INSPECTED YEARLY AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DEATHS OR INJURIES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM - AS THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE ALL ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD AT THIS POINT. IT IS A VALID CONCERN FOR BOTH ME AS A DRIVER OF AN AFFECTED VEHICLE, AND A CONCERN FOR FELLOW MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD. *TR

THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE SBC UNIT, WHICH EXPIRED DECEMBER 5, 2014. THE MESSAGE IN MY CAR APPEARED ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 17, 2014 OF THE FAILURE OF THE SBC UNIT THEREAFTER WHICH I CONTACTED THE POMPANO FLORIDA MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE ISSUE. ALTHOUGH I WAS ADVISED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DECEMBER 5, 2014, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2014. AT THAT TIME, THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I HAD TO BRING UP THE WARRANTY TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT VOLUNTEERED TO ME. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR AS THE UNIT CONTROLLING THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS BROKEN AND THERE WAS NO CONTROL OVER THE BRAKES, WHICH COULD FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. I ASKED [XXX] (THE SERVICE MANAGER) TO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW MERCEDES BENZ WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THIS PARTICULAR PART THAT CONTROLS THE BRAKES THAT WAS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND NO NOTIFICATION WAS PROVIDED REGARDING THIS? THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM HIM AND MERCEDES BENZ USA WAS THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, JUST A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE PART. YOU CAN SEE HOW RIDICULOUS THIS SOUNDS TO ANY HUMAN BEING. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS NOW AND THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE MY PARENTS WHO BOUGHT IT NEW FROM THE ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP.NEITHER ONE OF US EVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE REGARDING THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN MY CAR MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE POMPANO FLORIDA MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND THIS ISSUE WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I ENDED UP PAYING $1060 AFTER FIGHTING WITH THEM ON PAYING THE FULL PRICE. MERCEDES BENZ NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BEFORE PEOPLE DIE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WITH LESS THAN 90K MILES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP WENT OUT. MBUSA KNEW ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE PART AND EXTENDED ITS WARRANT UNTIL 12/24/2014 BUT DID NOT NOTIFY AFFECTED VEHICLE OWNERS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STATING 'REDUCED BRAKING POWER'. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE SPC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,070.

12/31/2014 HI, CUSTOMER CARE / TECHNICAL ADVISER, MB USA. I AM UNABLE TO CONTACT AND DISCUSS WITH ANY CUSTOMER CARE OR TECHNICAL CARE ADVISER TODAY. MERCEDES BENZ, E-500, 2005, V8, 4 DOOR SEDAN YESTERDAY, 12/30/2014 BETWEEN 9:30 TO 10:30 AM, WE BOTH (ME AND MY WIFE, [XXX]) WERE IN THE CAR LUCKILY WE HAD TAKEN AN EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY 404 NORTH IN YORK REGION, ONTARIO, CANADA WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE BRAKE FAILURE SIGN SHOWED UP WITH RED WARNING LIGHT. I COULDN'T CONTROL THE CAR SINCE BRAKE WERE TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE AND FAILED. IT WAS A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE WHICH HAS LEFT US INDIGNANT, I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR NOW EVEN REPAIRED BY MB, ONTARIO, CANADA, NOW MY CAR IS IN MB NEWMARKET LOCATION ON MULLOCK STREET, ONTARIO, CANADA. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WHOLE BRAKE MODULE IS BAD AND YOU HAVE TO REPLACE BEFORE DRIVING AND THE COST IS ALMOST 3000/= CANADIAN DOLLARS. I AM LODGING THIS COMPLAINT AGAINST MB USA NOW IN REGARDS TO SAFETY ISSUE, GOD SAVED US BUT WE ARE STILL IN SHOCKED AND MENTALLY UPSET AND SCARED DRIVING MB CARS FOR NOW. I ALSO HAVE GL 450, 2008 , I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE CALL ME AND DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE WITH ASAP. I AM ALSO FILLING A CIVIL LAW SUITE AGAINST MB USA IN REGARDS TO THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH LEFT US COMPLETELY SHOCKED, MENTALLY UPSET AND AN EMOTIONAL STRESS. THANKS NOTE: I FAXED THIS LETTER TO MY STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY 12/31/2014 AND I AM REQUESTING MY STATE FARM INSURANCE, MORGANTOWN, WV'S LAWYERS TO LODGE THIS INCIDENT WITH NHTSA AND ALSO CIVIL LAW SUIT AGAINST MB USA IN REGARDS TO SAFETY ISSUE. *JS 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *BF

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, I FELT NO PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL BRAKES. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKES AND STILL THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW UNTIL I GOT TO A SLIGHT INCLINE AT THE END OF THE RAMP. THEN A RED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD APPEARED READING "REDUCED BRAKE POWER". I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES. I MANAGED TO GET HOME SAFELY. I CALLED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME TO CALL THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE RECALL. AS PER THE MECHANIC, THIS ARE THE FAULTING CODES: C2131 - PRESSURE RESERVOIR FAULTY C249F - OPERATING TIME OF COMPONENT A7/3 (SBC LEFT HYDRAULIC UNIT) IS EXCEEDED C25D5 - HYDRAULIC FAULT MALFUNCTION IN PRESSURE SUPPLY AS OF THIS WRITING, MY BRAKES HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SBC WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

THE SBC SENSONIC BRAKE CONTROL ON MY 2005 MERCEDES WAS FAULTY AND ACCORDING TO RECALL WEBSITE ON THIS VEHICLE THIS IS A RECALL PART REPORTED TO NHTS. RECALL # 2005070007 AND 2005110001 THE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO REPLACE THE FAULTY PART FOR FREE. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RECALL PART. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM THE DEALER MARCH 2013 BUT THEY DID NOT TELL ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AFTER I ASKED THEM IF ANY RECALL ON 2005 MERCEDES. THE SERVICE MGR SAID ITS A WARRANTY ISSUE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE RECALL DOES NOT EXPIRE. AND IS NOT THE SAME AS WARRANTY. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR IN ON JULY 14, 2014 AFTER RECEIVING A BRAKE REPAIR ALERT ON MY DASHBOARD 1 DAY EARLIER. THE DEALER, JACK INGRAM MERCEDES, RAN A DIAGNOSTIC & REPORTED THE BRAKE PRESSURE RESERVOIR NEEDED REPLACING. I GOT THE ESTIMATE, PICKED THE CAR UP & TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION. JULY 16, 2014 I RETURNED TO JACK INGRAM MERCEDES & REQUESTED ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC. THE REPAIRMAN TOLD US THE BRAKE PRESSURE RESERVOIR NEEDED REPLACING & HE FLUSHED THE BRAKE FLUID. WE AGREED TO THESE REPAIRS WHICH COST $1767. THE DAY WE WERE EXPECTING TO PICK UP THE CAR, 2 WEEKS LATER, THE REPAIRMAN CALLED STATING THE BRAKE PUMP FAILED & IT WOULD NOW COST AN ADDITIONAL $2000 BECAUSE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FROM THE LOT ON JULY 14, AT WHICH TIME THE BRAKE PUMP WAS STILL GOOD, THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE 10 YEAR UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE SBC PUMP. THE SERVICE MANAGER CHANGED THE STORY SEVERAL TIMES IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THIS MY FAULT, HOWEVER THE CAR IS & HAS REMAINED IN THEIR POSSESSION SINCE THE 2ND DIAGNOSTIC WAS RUN ON JULY 16 AT WHICH TIME WE WERE TOLD ONLY THE BRAKE PRESSURE RESERVOIR HAD FAILED. SHE STATED THEY REPLACED THE RESERVOIR ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT WITH A 2ND NEW RESERVOIR BECAUSE THE 1ST WAS APPARENTLY FAULTY & THAT'S WHEN THEY DISCOVERED THE PUMP WAS BAD. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS MY FAULT. THE PUMP WENT BAD WHILE IN THEIR POSSESSION AFTER THEY REPLACED THE RESERVOIR 2 TIMES. SHE ALSO REFUSED TO GIVE US A PRINTOUT OF THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE REPORT WOULD SHOW THE DATE THEY FOUND THE PUMP FAILED PROVING IT WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. I DO, HOWEVER, HAVE A COPY OF THE DIAGNOSTIC FROM JULY 14 & JULY 16 ON WHICH NEITHER SHOWS A SBC PUMP UNIT FAILURE. I AM ASHAMED BECAUSE THERE ARE AT LEAST 4 PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WHO HAVE BOUGHT A MERCEDES BECAUSE OF MY RECOMMENDATION. I ONLY HOPE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE PRESS PEDAL WARNING LIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE SWITCH LAMP LIGHT AND THE HYDRAULICS SPC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE SBS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH LOSS OF MOST BRAKING ABILITY. I MANAGED TO STOP THE CAR, TURN AROUND AND RETURN ABOUT 8 MILES TO MY HOME IN "LIMP HOME" MODE. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I THEN CALL THE MB DEALERSHIP WHICH SENT A TRUCK TO PICK UP THE CAR. THE SBS HYDRAULIC UNIT HAD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AT NO COST. WHILE I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE COST (NONE), THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH THE LOSS OF BRAKE ABILITY. I TAKE ROAD TRIPS TO THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS AND IF THIS HAD HAPPENED THERE, I COULD HAVE SUFFERED A FATAL INJURY. THIS SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVELY ENGINEERED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ON ALL MERCEDES CARS SO EQUIPPED. *TR

DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES GOING DOWNHILL IN PREPARATION TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. RED BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN. DRIVER VEERED OFF ROAD TO AVOID ACCIDENT AND FULLY APPLIED PARKING BRAKE. CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. WHEN CAR WAS TURNED BACK ON AGAIN, RED LIGHT IN DASH WAS GONE, NO WARNINGS EXISTED, AND BRAKES WORKED PERFECTLY. WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. SAME SITUATION OCCURRED AGAIN NOVEMBER 2013 WITH 115,000 MILES (APPROXIMATELY). SLOWLY DROVE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. REPUTABLE MERCEDES SPECIALTY MECHANIC FOUND CODES THAT SAID SBC HAD ISSUES, BUT CODES WERE CLEARED IN ORDER TO DO OTHER DIAGNOSTICS. SINCE MECHANIC WAS NOT A DEALER, HE SUGGESTED CAR BE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR "EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIR" SINCE THIS KNOWN ISSUE WAS NEVER ESTABLISHED AS A RECALL. SKYLAND AUTOMOTIVE IN ASHEVILLE, NC STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION STATING BRAKE ARE OK, BUT DID CHARGE $89 TO LOOK FOR CODES WHICH DID NOT EXISTS. WE ASKED TO BE CONTACTED BY A MERCEDES REP TO REVIEW OUR CASE, BUT WERE DENIED AND TOLD THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM IF WE HAD MAINTENANCE DONE AT SKYLAND. AT THIS TIME, THE BRAKES ARE WORKING AGAIN AS THEY HAVE DONE BEFORE. IF THE BRAKES GO OUT AGAIN AND THE CAR AND OCCUPANTS ARE NOT DAMAGED, THE THEORY IS THERE WILL BE A FAULT CODE SUCH THAT THE DEALER KNOWS WHAT TO REPLACE. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS SET TO EXPIRE IN 3 MONTHS. AFTER THAT TIME, THE COST TO REPAIR WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $1800. LOSS OF BRAKES AT RANDOM, IN MY OPINION, DESERVES TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. DEALERSHIP WAS CLEARLY INFORMED THAT THE BACKUP HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT WORK IN EITHER OF THESE CASES AND TO STOP THE CAR REQUIRED THE USE OF THE PARKING BRAKE! *TR