2007 Mercedes Benz C280

Engine Control Unit failed during warranty after replacement by the Mercedes Benz Dealership. The ECU causes stumbling and cutting out of engine in traffic while driving which can cause an accident putting my self, wife and others at risk. I took the car to the dealership and showed them the stored code of 1596 “The engine off time has an implausible value” (P1026) on the Mercedes Benz Xentry DAS software. Yes: the dealer inspected the car and did a diagnostic. The code was cleared and the dealer claimed there was no code. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT was present when the problem started approximately 23 months after the ECU was replaced be the dealer with a two year advertised and communicated warranty.

I was pulling out of my driveway when all of a sudden, the car came to a screeching halt and would not move. I was stuck diagonally in the middle of the road. When I called AAA for a tow they said it looked like the passenger front ball joint failed. Upon inspection, it was found that the ball joint failed and the tie rod, lower control arm, and strut all broke as a result. The axel was also ripped out when the control arm failed. All of these things needed to be replaced. I can only image what would have happened if I had been traveling on a main road or highway at a higher rate of speed. But to have a catastrophic failure like this happen was completely unexpected, especially after having brand new tires and an alignment completed only one week earlier. Ultimately, I am unsure if this was due to an error on the tire shop's part with the alignment they did or a Mercedes general quality issue. Either way, my vehicle is inoperable and I'm faced with a $1,700 bill for what should potentially be a recall. To know that another one could fail at any time at any speed with no warning is deeply unsettling and I will be getting rid of the car as soon as possible, likely never buying a Mercedes again.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS RACED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT RESPONDING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF, AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION SHAFT, SPRINGS, INTERNAL SPEED SENSOR, AND CAM SHAFT NEEDED TO BE RE-ADJUSTED TO THE CORRECT POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.