2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C204

THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) GOING BAD. I EXPERIENCED THIS DANGER EXACT FAILURE. THE CAR JUST HIT 80,000 MILES AND THIS FAILURE HAPPENED. WHEN THERE ESL LOCKS, YOU CANNOT TURN ON THE CAR TO DO ANYTHING. I HAPPENED TO BE OUT OF TOWN AND I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED HOME WHICH COSTED ME OVER $400 AND DIVER THE STEERING WAS LOCKED THEY HAD TO USE SPECIAL DOLLIES TO TOW MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME $2200 TO DO THE REPAIR WHICH IS UNHEARD OF AND IT'S RIDICULOUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STATIONARITY. PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE IGNITION BUT IT'S THE STEERING LOCK SINCE IT WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE WITH THE MOTOR INSIDE OF THE UNIT FAILING.

THERE ARE SMALL CRACKS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS ALLOWS FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP AND POOL IN THE CENTER OF THE PUMP WHERE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT ARE SUBMERGED IN FUEL. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM AS THERE IS A REAL POTENTIAL FOR IGNITION OF THE LEAKED FUEL WHICH IS RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER SEAT WHERE MY 5 YEAR OLD'S CHILD SEAT IS LOCATED. THERE IS ALSO AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR WHICH IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE LIGHT HEADEDNESS AND POSSIBLE SYNCOPE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE NTSB OPENED UP AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OPENED A PROBE IN JANUARY 2012 AFTER RECEIVING 20 REPORTS IN 2003-2006 E55 AMG VEHICLES AND EXPANDED THE PROBE LAST YEAR INTO ALL 2003-2008 E-CLASS VEHICLES. OWNERS SAID THEY REPORTED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY AFTER REFILLING THE FUEL TANK. MANY COMPLAINTS SAID THE ODOR SUBSIDED AFTER DRIVING SOME DISTANCE THEREBY LOWERING THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK. OTHER OWNERS REPORTED THEY WOULD ONLY FILL THE GAS TANK TO ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS FULL TO AVOID THE ODOR. SOME OWNERS SAID FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FUEL FILTER/SENDER, LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND COLLECTED ON TOP OF THE TANK. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THERE ARE OTHER MODELS AND YEAR MODELS THAT ARE AFFECTED AND DID NOT FALL UNDER THE MERCEDES RECALL CAMPAIGN.