1995 Mercedes Benz C220

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE LOWER SUPPORT ARM RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO LITERALLY FALL OFF WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

I PURCHASED A 1995 MERCEDES C220 FROM A MERCEDES DEALER AND THEY KNEW THE CAR HAD A WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS DEGRADING WITH EXPOSED CONDUCTORS THROUGH OUT THE CAR... BUT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME , AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS HAVING TONS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I FOUND OUT THE HISTORY OF THIS MODEL ..THE MB DEALER TOLD ME THE WIRING HARNESS COULD BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $3000.00 ... A MONTH OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. RANDOMLY THE SPEEDOMETER,ABS,TEMP GAUGE ,FUEL GAUGE, TACHOMETER DO FUNCTION, BUT RARELY AND NOT ALL AT ONCE. *TR

I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MY 1995 C220 MERCEDES. THE WIRES ARE EXPOSED AND SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A "COMMON" PROBLEM BY MECHANIC AND THAT IT COULD BE "DANGEROUS." I COMMUTE EVERYDAY ON LA FREEWAYS. I DO NOT WANT TO RISK MY LIFE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE OF MERCEDES BENZ OF AMERICA TO TAKE CARE OF A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW. TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT NOR A FIRE. DO YOU WANT ME TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR TO DIE BEFORE THIS COMPLAINT IS EFFECTIVE? ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET I AM ONLY PART OF A GROWING, VOCAL GROUP WHO ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR MERCEDES AUTOMOBILES. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, LUNGED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE MERCEDES MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DISINTEGRATING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

THE ELECTRICAL INSULATION OF THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS HAS VIRTUALLY DISINTEGRATED, APPARENTLY FROM THE (NORMAL) HEAT OF THE ENGINE. THE INSULATION LITERALLY FLAKES AWAY IN MY HAND WHEN BEING HANDLED EVEN WITH THE MOST GENTLE TOUCH. THE COST TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS IS $600+ FOR ONLY THE PART; THE COST OF INSTALLATION IS ALSO IN EXCESS OF $500, THUS COSTING OVER $1,000. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE! THE DETERIORATED INSULATION CAUSES INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUITS, CAUSED MY CAR TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING (ON THE EXPRESSWAY), THEN AFTER I PULLED OFF AT THE EXIT, SMOKING (ELECTRICAL FIRE) FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE FACT IS THAT THE WIRING INSULATION/COVERS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SOMEONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. *JB

THE CAR FREQUENTLY HAS VERY ERRATIC IDLE TO THE ENGINE. IT DIES WHILE WARMING UP AND DIES WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD REGARDLESS LOCAL OR FREEWAY. TODAY, (AGAIN!!!) WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE LOST ITS POWER AND ALMOST GOT KILL OVER OTHER CARS. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1995 MERCEDES C220 WITH 107K MI DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURE WIRE INSULATION WHICH CRACKS AND OPENS UP DURING HOT ENGINE HEAT. IT ALSO CAUSES THE CYLINDER MISFIRED DISABLE THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD (CAUSED FREQUENT BULBS BURNT). I NEVER HEARD OR EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES THAT I DROVE IN MY LIFE. WHEN I LOOKED INTO THE MATTER ON THE WEB, SURE ENOUGH IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1994 AND 1995 MERCEDES C220. I AM VERY ANGRY AND SURPRISED THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED BY MERCEDES USA. I AM ALSO SURPRISED THAT FACT THAT NO ONE CAME FORWARD TO FORM A CLASS-ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY. THIS IS PURELY A MORAL ISSUE THAT HURTS HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OWN AND DRIVING THE DEFECTIVE CAR ON THE ROAD EVERYDAY. NOW I KNOW THAT REAL REASON BEHIND OFFERING 24/7 FREE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO ITS OWNERS. SIMPLY THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT THEY PUT ON THEIR PRODUCTION LINE. *TR