2001 Mercedes Benz S500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES 500S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 11/03/11 *BF UPDATED 11/04/11

MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS (DASH BOARD) WENT OUT ON MY 2001 S500 MERCEDES BENZ CAR. THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON OCCASIONALLY AND GO BACK OUT. I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER THE SIGNAL LIGHTS BY CHANGING THE FUSES. WHILE ON A ROAD TRIP MY KIDS NOTICED A SMELL AND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH BOARD. WE EXITED THE CAR AND FLAGGED DOWN A POLICE OFFICER. WE WERE TOLD TO GET AS MUCH AS WE COULD OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE. WITHIN IN SECONDS MY DASH BOARD WAS IN FLAMES. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND IGNITED INTO FLAMES. I CONTACTED MERCEDES TO FIND OUT ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL AND TO REPORT THAT THERE IS A MORE SERIOUS DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THE MALFUNCTION OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I WAS ASKED WHAT DID I EXPECT FOR THEM TO DO? THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REMOVED THE CLUSTER FROM THE DASH BOARD TO ASSURE THE FIRE WOULD NOT RESTART AND IDENTIFIED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS AS THE CAUSE OF FIRE. *TR

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST MERCEDES BENZ USA. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED IN AN EMAIL TO MR. GARY BOWNE, MANAGER OF PRODUCT COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY ENGINEERING, MBUSA. HE HAS IGNORED MY CORRESPONDENCE. I HAVE A 2001 S500 MERCEDES CAR THAT HAS THE EXACT DEFECT REFERRED TO IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 MY CAR IS THE 220 TYPE MANUFACTURED IN THE 2000 TIME PERIOD IDENTIFIED IN THE CAMPAIGN. MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS LAST SPRING, JUST LIKE THOSE DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN, AND THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. BOTH MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE DEALER (AMERICAN SERVICE CENTER IN ARLINGTON, VA) HAVE DECLINED TO REPAIR MY CAR, SINCE THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO RECALL ATTACHED TO MY CAR'S VIN AS YET. I AM REQUESTING THAT MBUSA INSTRUCT AMERICAN SERVICE CENTER TO REPAIR MY CAR WITHOUT DELAY. THEY HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE, IN STOCK. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *JB

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING BEGAN FLICKERING, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES WENT COMPLETELY DARK. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS FAILURE IS HAZARDOUS, THE DRIVER HAS NO INFORMATION AS TO THE STATUS OF ANY OF THE CAR'S SYSTEMS. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING GAUGES AND DISPLAYS ARE DISABLED AND NONFUNCTIONAL AS A RESULT: FUEL GAUGE, VEHICLE TEMPERATURE, MPH, RPM'S, THE GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN, TURN SIGNAL OPERATION, AS WELL AS, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS AND DISPLAYS. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WHICH PROVIDE THE DRIVER CERTAIN SYSTEMS INFORMATION, AND THE ABILITY TO OPERATE THE RADIO, CD PLAYER, TELEPHONE AND VOLUME ARE DISABLED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE AS YOU ARE BASICALLY "DRIVING BLIND". I HAVE NOT YET FIXED THE INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER (ALSO REFERRED TO AS: INTERIOR LIGHTING) AND I CAN PROVIDE ANY NECESSARY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB