ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE.
Safety risk
THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LEAKING FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINS GAUGES AND INDICATORS THAT MUST BE ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.
Safety risk
DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION, THE DRIVER WILL BE UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES. PHASE I WAS MAILED OUT TO APPROXIMATELY 7,500 OWNERS ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2006. PHASE II AND PHASE III IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Manufacturer
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Vehicles affected
54,454
Reported to NHTSA
2004-05-13
Owners notified
2004-10-18
Defect description
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE BLOWER MOTOR FUSE HOLDER, THE SIZE OF THE ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR OF THE HOLDER MAY BE BELOW APPROPRIATE TOLERANCES.
Safety risk
CONSEQUENTLY, THE ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR OF THE BLOWER MOTOR FUSE HOLDER MAY DISSIPATE MORE HEAT THAN THE PLASTIC FUSE HOLDER WAS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND, WHICH COULD RESULT IN OVERHEATING OF THE HOLDER AND DISABLING OF THE BLOWER MOTOR AND THE ABILITY TO DEFROST OR DEFOG THE WINDSHILED IN COLD OR HOT AND HUMID WEATHER CONDITIONS. DEPENDING ON THE OCCURRENCE AND WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW BLOWER MOTOR FUSE HOLDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EXCESSIVE STATIC BUILD-UP IN THE TRUNK FLOOR MATS CAN CAUSE A STATIC DISCHARGE WHEN INDIVIDUALS MOVE OR REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT.
Safety risk
THIS CAN DAMAGE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK, INCLUDING THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A STATIC INSULATION PANEL BETWEEN THE CARPET AND THE VEHICLE BATTERY WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN ELECTRICAL GROUNDING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SHEATHING MATERIAL ON THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OF THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE HOSE COULD OVERHEAT.
Safety risk
THIS COULD CAUSE THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC AND INSULATION TO MELT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEATED WASHER BOTTLE HOSE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system
11
96,000 mi
Interior lighting
7
60,100 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
6
102,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash
4
49,700 mi
Suspension
2
129,000 mi
Suspension: front
2
67,000 mi
Air bags
1
46,000 mi
Child seat
1
46,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring
1
50,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
1
—
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)
1
79,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
1
102,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
1
—
Power train: automatic transmission
1
170,000 mi
Seats
1
46,000 mi
Structure
1
61,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
1
61,000 mi
Tires
1
—
Unknown or other
1
—
Vehicle speed control
1
—
The 2000 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2002 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.