2001 Mercedes Benz S500

WE PURCHASED OUR 2001 MERCEDES S-500 USED. EVERYTHING RAN FINE. AFTER RUNNING IT THROUGH AN AUTO CARWASH WITH A UNDER BODY SPRAY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WAS SOAKED. ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDED NON FUNCTIONING LOCKS, WINDOWS, AIR, ALL LIGHTS FLICKERING, SEAT CONTROLS, HORN, HAZARD LIGHTS, SUNROOF, DASH CONTROL, VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL. THESE MALFUNCTIONS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND WHILE PARKED. WHEN WE TURNED THE KEY OFF AND REMOVED THEM, THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. WE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN STILL FOR AN ADDITIONAL 5 MINUTES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, WE HAVE DISCOVERED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME SITUATIONS INCLUDING PASSENGER FLOOR BEING SOAKED RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL FAULTING. (SEE ATTACHED PICTURE) COMPLAINT BELOW MENTIONS A STUPID REPAIR KIT AT OWNERS COST MEANING MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS POSSIBLY DEADLY FAULT IN THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS RIDING MY VEHICLE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT HAYWIRE. I THOUGHT IT WAS BATTERY BUT IT WASN'T THE CAUSE IT DRAINED 4 BATTERIES I HAD ON WARRANTY AND 1 I HAD TO PURCHASE. I FOUND OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DRAINS THE BATTERY AND LOSS OF POWER. I REACHED TO A MECHANIC AND HE LET ME KNOW THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS CAUSING THE POWER LOSS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND REALIZE THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THIS DEFECT. THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE A SERIOUS INCIDENT IF WASN'T PROPERLY AWARE. I WOULD TO HAVE A RECALL IF POSSIBLE.

MBUSA PARTIALLY COVERED ($2400) COST FOR $5800 TOTAL REPAIR TO REMOVE RUST IN 2011 BUT RUST HAS RETURNED TO BOTH REAR QUARTER PANELS AND DOORS. DOCUMENTATION THAT PAINT WAS NOT PREPPED PROPERLY FOR ALL 2001 S500 MODELS, HOWEVER, NOT COVERED FOR COST TO REPAIR, REIMBURSE FOR COSTS INCURRED OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE FINISH. CURRENT QUOTE FOR REPAIRS ESTIMATED OVER $7500.00

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT ON 225 AND CHAMBERS AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AS SOON AS A HIT THE GAS MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT BLANK. I NO LONGER HAD LIGHT AND MY GAUGES WERE NOT RESPONDING EITHER. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEEN SOME FORUMS ABOUT THE RECALL SO I CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH ACKNOWLEDGED AS A SAFETY CONCERN THE RECALL WAS CLOSED JUNE 2011. I PURCHASED THE CAR JUNE 2010 AND NO ONE REACHED OUT. I HAVE ONLY ONE CAR AND I CAN NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE I CANT SEE THE SPEED OR IF I EVEN HAVE GAS. I HAVE KIDS AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I WORK BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY $1800.00 TO FIX THIS AND I SHOULDNT HAVE TO. I CANT UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY RECALL CAN EXPIRE. SEEMS AS IF THERE IS NO TRUE REGARD TO SAFETY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING BECAME VERY DIM AND SHUT OFF. THE ELECTRICAL FUSE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED, BUT EVENTUALLY RECURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. ...UPDATED 06/03/15 *BF UPDATED 06/17/15.*JB

WHEN BACKING UP IN REVERSE THE CAR BEGINS TO SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. ONCE IN DRIVE IT BEGINS TO SHAKE AND MOVES SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC THEN SLOWLY PICKS UP SPEED AFTER AN UNUSUALLY LONG DURATION. DASHBOARD IS ALMOST TOTALLY BLACKED OUT CANNOT READ GAUGES (GAS LEVEL,SPEED ODOMETER, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, MILEAGE). FINALLY, THE AIR CONDITIONING SUDDENLY STOPPED BLOWING. *TR