2002 Mercedes Benz CLK320

WHEN DRIVING ON RTE 6 IN HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS IN MY MERCEDES CLK 430 (THE DROP DOWN OPTIONS ONLY INCLUDE CLK 320) , THE "BATTERY ALTERNATOR" LIGHT WENT ON ON THE DASHBOARD. WITHIN SECONDS THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT DOWN AT HIGH SPEED. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITH A VERY HARD STOP ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS AN "OPEN RECALL" ON MY CAR FOR PRECISELY THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO FIND OUT WHY I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT INSTEAD A "SERVICE BULLETIN" WAS ISSUED AND THAT, UNDER THIS CIRCUMSTANCE NO NOTICES WERE REQUIRED TO BE SENT TO THE CAR OWNER. THE RATIONALE WAS THAT THIS WAS NOT DEEMED A "SAFETY" ISSUE. I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE POSSIBILITY OF A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE CAR COULD NOT BE DEEMED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIPS CAN VOLUNTARILY CORRECT THE PROBLEM IF AND WHEN THE CAR IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. IF THE CAR IS NOT BROUGHT IN THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE HARD STOP. ALTHOUGH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED (THE BUMPER HAS NOT) I HAVE NOT YET PICKED UP MY CAR SO I AM UNSURE AS TO WHETHER I WILL BE CHARGED FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE BY THE DEALER THAT I WOULD NOT BE CHARGED SINE THIS IS A RECALL BUT THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE. *NM

THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN ONE MONTH OLD WHEN I BEGAN EXPERIENCING MAJOR PROBLEMS SUCH AS SEAT BROKEN, SIDE MIRROR BROKEN, SUSPENSION/ALIGNMENT OFF, EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, REAR HYDROLIC BODY MOUNTS LEAKING AND DEFECTIVE. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, I HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP OVER 12 TIMES. MERCEDES WILL NOT SETTLE WITH ME AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. I FILED FOR THE LEMON LAW BUT HAS TAKEN OVER A YEAR AND IS STILL NOT RESOLVED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TOWED THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *PH THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PERMANENTLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE CONDUCTOR PLATE, 2 RINGS ON THE CONNECTOR, TRANS PAN AND VALVE BODY. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR NEVER CLOSED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. IT HAD TO BE SLAMMED TO ENSURE IT WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT. THE SEAT BELTS DON'T SEEM TO PROVIDE MUCH PROTECTION AS THEY ARE LOOSE AND SLIP OFF THE CONSUMER'S SHOULDER WHILE DRIVING. (NAR)

MY MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH REGARD TO THE FAILURE OF ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW DURING THE SNOW STORM ON DEC 5TH. THESE SYSTEMS ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE A LAYER OF SAFETY IN THESE CONDITIONS. WHEN I CONTACTED MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE SENSORS MUST HAVE GOTTEN WET AND THEREFORE MADE THE SYSTEM INOPERABLE. THEN DOES THIS MEAN THAT THERE IS AN INHERRENT DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE A LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM, BEFORE ANYONE ELSE HAS TO GO THROUGH A NIGHTMARE DRIVING SITUATION AS I HAD TO. THAT I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT IS A MIRACLE. HOWEVER SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. DT