2001 Mercedes Benz 430

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 MERCEDES 430 CLK DOWN HWY 281 IN SAN ANTONIO TX. MY TRANSMISSION SEIZED BRINGING MY CAR TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF HWY 281 DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS STRANDED THERE & MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHILE IN DRIVE, NOR WOULD MY CAR SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. I WAS LIKE A SITTING DUCK. WHEN THIS OCCURRED I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE ON & OFF MANY TIMES DURING ABOUT A 5 MINUTE PERIOD, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY CAR FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL BACK TO DRIVE AGAIN & I WAS ABLE TO BUT ONLY IN 1ST GEAR. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER & HAD MY CAR TOWED. AFTER SENDING MY CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALER I LEARNED WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF LIQUID WHICH SPILLED INTO THE GEAR SHIFT BOX 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CUP HOLDER IS LOCATED JUST A COUPLE OF INCHES FROM THE GEAR SHIFT BOX. THERE IS A CONTROL PANEL LOCATED UNDER THE GEAR SHIFT BOX THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION, IF IT GETS WET IT CAUSES THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW & DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. MYSELF & TWO CHILDREN WERE TRAUMATIZED BY BEING PUT IN HARMS WAY WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN VERY SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO US & OR OCCUPANTS OF OTHER VEHICLES. THE MANUAL DOESN'T WARN AGAINST THIS DEFECT. MY CAR IS AT MERCEDES BENZ OF SAN ANTONIO. MERCEDES BENZ OF SA KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO PRIOR SEPARATE INCIDENTS WITH OTHER CLIENTS & MERCEDES VEHICLES. MERCEDEZ BENZ CORPORATION IS ALSO AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM DUE TO PRIOR SEPARATE INCIDENTS AS WELL AS DUE TO OUR INCIDENT. AFTER NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM IT IS THEIR STAND THAT THIS IS NOT A LIABILITY, WARRANTY OR RECALL ISSUE. MERCEDES WON'T TAKE ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW & FAILURE. THEY HAVE STATED THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF SENDING OUT ANY TYPE OF RECALL NOR HAVE THEY OFFERED ANY PERMANENT REPAIR OPTIONS. THE ONLY OPTION OFFERED IS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING FAULTY DESIGN PANEL WITH ONE JUST LIKE IT FOR $1000. *JB