2001 Mercedes Benz C320

I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND WAS STRUCK 3 DIFFERENT TIMES IN 3 DIFFERENT AREAS OF MY VEHICLE. THE EMERGENCY CREW AS WELL AS HIGHWAY PATROL WERE WONDERING WHY MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I NEVER BEING IN AN ACCIDENT IN A VEHICLE WITH AIRBAGS DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. UPON RECUPERATING I CONTACTED MY MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SRS SWITCH HAD OCCURRED BUT MERCEDES DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL THEY INFORMED DEALERSHIPS TO CHANGE OUT THE SWITCH ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS. I CONTACTED MERCEDES USA AND INFORMED THEM OF THE SITUATION THEY ASKED FOR THE POLICE REPORT, THE LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND PHOTOGRAPHS. ALL OF WHICH I SENT. 4 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THEY CALLED ME AGAIN TO ASK WHERE THE CAR WAS, AGAIN I TOLD THEM THE LOCATION AND I ALSO INFORMED THEM THAT THE TOTAL LOSS DEPARTMENT AT AAA INSURANCE WAS PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THAT DAY TO STOP ACCRUING STORAGE CHARGES. 1 1/2 WEEK LATER (POST THE PHONECALL) I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MERCEDES WITH AN AIRBAG AND SAFETY BROCHURE EXPLAINING THE WAY MY CAR WAS HIT IS WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH VARIOUS AUTO ADJUSTERS, BODYSHOPS THEY ALL AGREE THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I ALSO CALLED VARIOUS MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY ALL KNEW OF THE REPAIR AS NEEDED. WHY NO FORMAL RECALL? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE BAD SWITCHES THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT? I WAS FORTUNATE I LIVED I WAS INJURED BUT I LIVED. SHALL WE WAIT AND SEE IF THE NEXT PERSON WILL? I FEEL THAT MERCEDES SHOULD BE FORCED TO ISSUE A FORMAL RECALL, AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL SWITCHES. NO ONE DESERVES A DEAR JOHN LETTER WITH A BROCHURE AFTER THEY HAVE MADE A DECISION TO PURCHASE A QUALITY VEHICLE, AND THAT VEHICLES SAFETY SYSTEM FAILS. MY INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN NON-EXISTENT HAD MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NOT TO MENTION THE 7 WEEKS OF WORK I HAVE MISSED. AND WE WONDER WHY MERCEDES HAS A CLEAN RECALL RECORD, IF ALL DEALERS WERE ALLOWED TO DO THIS COULD YOU IMAGINE THE MESS. *TR

DT: CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS FROM AIR BAGS TO BRAKES TO ALTERNATOR. OWNER DOESNT THINK HE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS, ACTUALLY THE MAIN CONCERN HE HAS IS ABOUT THE WARRANTY. UPON PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHTS CAME ON, THEN THE BRAKES AND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AS WELL. THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AFTER THE OWNER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. *JB

CONSUMER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE TO PARK AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THEN, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH SPEED, JUMPED THE CURB,AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK