2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY BALANCE SHAFT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER MERCEDES-BENZ MECHANIC WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED A THIRD TIME. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING ENGINE FAILURES AFTER THE DEALER (SILVER STAR MOTORS, 36-11 NORTHERN BLVD, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101, (855) 216-2452) SERVICED IT DUE TO A FAILURE WITH THE SUN ROOF NOT PROPERLY CLOSING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SUN ROOF CLIP AND OIL CAM COVER, THE TRANS OIL LEAK WAS SEALED, AND THE OIL FILTER, HOSES, AND DRIVE BELT WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE FURTHER DIAGNOSED TO SERVICE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SERVICED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER THEN INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V006000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

1. AIR SUSPENSION BAG RT SIDE NEEDED REPLACED. CAR WAS SETTING LOW AND LEANING TO RIGHT REAR- WHILE THIS WAS IN FOR REPAIR HAD MECHANIC CHECK RECENT "CHECK ENGINE " LIGHT CODE CAME UP WITH VERY SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE ISSUE: 2.BALANCE SHAFT GEAR DEFECTIVE APPARENTLY MERCEDES HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, CLASS ACTION SUITS HAVE BEEN FILED- NO RECALL YET. I PLAN TO CALL MERCEDES DEALER TOMORROW- DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY HELP ON THEIR PART - IF THAT'S THE CASE WILL TRY TO JOIN CLASS ACTION SUIT AS THIS IS A KNOWN AND VERY COSTLY -(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS) PROBLEM FOR NUMEROUS MB VEHICLES- MANY CLASSES FROM 2007 -2011. MERCEDES BENZ WAS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS DEFECT WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE (USED) FROM LOCAL MB DEALER HERE IN CENTRAL PA ON DEC. 3, 2012. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS A BALANCE SHAFT AND INTAKE MANIFOLD ISSUE AS WELL AS A AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT IS COMMON IN OTHER MB R350 VEHICLES. MB ACCEPTS THAT THIS VEHICLE MODEL HAVE A CONGLOMERATE OF PROBLEMS AND IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE A RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS ALWAYS MAINTAIN AND SERVICE BY AN AUTHORIZED MB DEALER AND THEY INSURE THAT IN ANY OF THE PREVIOUS SERVICES THE DIAGNOSIS WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED OR MENTION. THE LOW SUSPENSION IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAY CAUSE THE WHEELS TO RUB AGAINST THE FENDERS AND CAUSE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL. THE BALANCE SHAFT MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOOSE POWER AND CREATE A REAR ENDING CRASH. *TR 10/01/2012 *JS UPDATED