2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HESITATED THEN ACCELERATED UP TO 20000 RPMS (TACHOMETER RED LINE). HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION'S ELECTRONIC DEVICE FAILED. HOWEVER HE SPECULATES THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000.

MY WIFE DROVE OUR MERCEDES BENZ R350 TO A FRIENDS HOUSE TO DROP OFF THE KIDS. UPON STOPPING ON THE DRIVEWAY MY WIFE SHUT THE CAR OFF (KEY IN OFF POSITION) GOT OUT AND WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO HELP MY DAUGHTER OUT OF THE THIRD ROW. AT THAT SAME TIME MY SON EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR. AS MY WIFE BEGAN TO MOVE THE SEAT FOR MY DAUGHTER THE CAR ROLLED DUE TO NOT BEING IN PARK, ROLLED PAST MY SON AND WENT THROUGH THE FRIENDS GARAGE DOOR. ALL CARS I KNOW OF THAT ARE AUTOMATICS REQUIRE THE VEHICLE BE IN PARK PRIOR TO THE KEY GOING TO THE OFF POSITION. MERCEDES BENZ HAS THE CAR PROGRAMMED SO THAT IF THE USER FORGETS TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, PARK WILL BE ENGAGED ONCE THE KEY IS REMOVED (A HAPTIC ADMISSION OF GUILT). FOR SAFETY REASONS THE LOGIC SHOULD BE MODIFIED SLIGHTLY TO: ZEROSPD+(DOOROPEN*KEYOFF)=PARK I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY SEE THIS AS MY WIFE'S FAULT. IT IS SIMPLE TO THEM, PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE THEIR KEYS IN THEIR CARS SO GOING INTO PARK ONCE THE KEY IS REMOVED IS FINE. THE SHIFTER THIS CAR HAS IS HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL AND WILL TAKE A LOT OF GETTING USED TO IN ORDER TO REMEMBER TO PUT IT IN PARK. ON THE SECOND DAY WE HAD THE CAR HOME I ALMOST GOT OUT WITHOUT BEING IN PARK. IT WILL COST $1100 FOR A NEW GARAGE DOOR AND THE R350 HAS SOME MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE FACIA. TO ME THIS IS SIMPLE, MERCEDES BENZ PUTS THE CAR IN PARK (FOR THOSE THAT FORGET) ONE STEP TOO LATE OVERLOOKING CONDITIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO SAFER LOGIC. MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED BY THE CAR, HE ONLY MADE IT AS FAR AS THE FRONT FENDER AND WAS ABOUT TO WALK IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM BERNARD, THE CHIEF TECHNICIAN THAT I LEFT A VM WITH ON THE 800-FOR-MERC LINE. *NM