1999 Mercedes Benz 230

APPROXIMATELY, IN 2001 I STOPPED INTO A MERCEDES DEALER IN LATROBE, PA. FOR HELP REPLACING MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT. IT WAS FROZEN IN THE SOCKET AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT THE SOCKET HOLDING THE BULB GETS SO HOT THAT THE PLASTIC ADHERES TO THE FRAME. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY EXPLAINING TO ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS OUT OF WARRENTY SAFETY ISSUE RESPONSIBILITY NEVER EXPIRE AS A MANUFACTURER. I LIKE THAT, I FELT OK WITH IT. SINCE THEN I AM CONTINUING TO PLACE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS ON BOTH SIDES FREQUENTLY NEEDING PLIERS TO GET THE BULB OUT. NOW REPLACING DOESN'T DO IT AND 2 DEALERS ARE TELLING ME THAT SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT BOTH SIDES NEED REPLACING IT WILL COST ME $501 TO REPAIR THEIR MANUFACUTRERS DEFECT, NOT WHAT I WAS TOLD IN LATROBE. I GUESS SAFETY DOES EXPIRE, WELL NOT TO ME.I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE HOW LONG THE NEW MODULE WOULD WORK. BRAKE LIGHTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE OR THEY WOULDN'T GIVE TRAFFIC TICKETS IF THEY ARE NOT WORKING. SINCE EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THIS COUNTRY RECOGNIZES THAT BRAKE LIGHTS ARE A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY I AM SURE THAT YOU DO ALSO. AT LEAST THE WIRING DOESN'T MELT WITH THE GAS TANK BACK THERE. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES ADMITS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. BRAKE LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE ON ALL CARS FOR PUBLIC SAFTEY REASONS AND IF A MANUFACTURER BUILDS A CAR WITH DEFECTIVE SAFTEY EQUIPMENT THEN THEY NOT ME OR ANY OTHER CONSUMER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THEIR DESIGN PROBLEM.*AK