1995 Mercedes Benz SL320

MY VEHICLE IS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ SL320R AND WAS BUILT WITH BIODEGRADABLE WIRING INSULATION IN THE ENGINE HARNESS. THE INSULATION IS DETERIORATING AND CAUSING PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS 131,000 MILES. I'M THE 3RD OWNER. POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET INDICATE POTENTIALLY FATAL FAILURES ARE POSSIBLE. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE COMPUTER CLUSTER WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320R. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC ON THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PEELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF AUGUSTA AT (706) 860-1111 (LOCATED AT 3061 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN AND THERE WOULD BE A FEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TT *TR

THE ENGINE BAY WIRING HARNESSES HAVE DISINTEGRATED ON THE CAR DUE TO USE OF HEAT SUSCEPTIBLE WIRE INSULATION. THIS HAS CAUSED BARE WIRES TO SHORT OUT IN THE ENGINE BAY. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPONTANEOUSLY SURGE RESULTING IN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. SUBSEQUENT TO THE SURGING, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE WITH WAS CAUSING THESE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, ELECTRICAL ARCING AND SMOLDERING OF THE WIRING BECAME APPARENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND MB HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT IT. THE REPAIR INVOLVES THE RELATIVELY SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF 4 WIRING HARNESSES IN THE ENGINE BAY. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AFFECTING MANY MERCEDES VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN 1991 AND 1996.

AFTER A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT BY SAFELITE AUTO GLASS I HAD 3 SMALL IMPACT WHICH CAUSED A CRACK AND NOW IS GROWING, I BELIEVE THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IS NOT TO STANDARDS, AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS BACK TO SAFELITE AND A CALL TO THE COMPANY'S CORPORATE OFFICE ALL THEY WILL DO IS OFFER A REDUCED PRICE FOR THE SAME QUALITY PRODUCT, UNACCEPTABLE!!!