2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 Service Brakes Problems

MB USA is not honoring Recall 2005110001 for 25 years per NHTSA Bulletin. The Mercedes Benz Representative said that the recall is closed for a 2003 car, but which should not be closed until 2028 for my car. The Mercedes Benz Representative agreed that she does see the car matches the 2003-2006 E class with chassis of A336226 falling between A0- and A7- for the recall. The Mercedes Benz Representative gave no explanation as to why the 25 year recall has closed prior to 2031. The faulty SBC has caused numerous problems. If the recall is not honored, I plan to file a lawsuit against Mercedes. A formal complaint is being filed with the NHTSA for MB USA's lack of adhering to the recall for the full 25 years.

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-320. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the braking system became inoperable. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated after the failure. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: 2005110001. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the failure was due to the sensotronic brake control (SBC) braking system. The manufacturer was contacted and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

REPORT NUMBER: CAL-03-07 NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST

Brakes failed

DEALERSHIP FAILED TO FIX AND INSPECT MY SBC PUMP WHICH LEAD TO MY VEHICLE BEING TOTALED AND LOSING ESP.

Mileage: 177,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES AND SPC WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKES AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER BUT FAILED TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL FLUCTUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO W.I. SIMONSON MERCEDES-BENZ (1626 WILSHIRE BLVD, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403 (855) 677-2690), WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPC RESERVOIR WAS DEFECTIVE, AND HYDRAULIC UNIT ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,722.

Mileage: 216,722

I HAVE A 2003 E320 MERCEDES BENZ WITH SBC BRAKE SYSTEM. THE COMPANY HAS ADMITTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SYSTEM AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 25 YEARS ON THE SBC PUMP. MY CAR HAS ON ABOUT 4 OR 5 INCIDENTS GAVE ME A RED WARNING ON MY DASH TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SEE WORKSHOP. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS MY BRAKING ABILITY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED TO THE POINT OF NEEDING A LOT OF DISTANCE TO STOP. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSHED, THAT WORKED FOR A WHILE. AROUND JANUARY OF 2018 THE DEALER UPDATED SOME KIND OF SOFTWARE PACKAGE. JANUARY 2020 THE BRAKE ISSUE HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM BEING TOLD THAT UNLESS A CERTAIN DEFAULT CODE IS INDICATED THEY CANNOT REPLACE THE PUMP. I TOLD MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT HOW WILL I KNOW THAT THE NEXT TIME MY BRAKING IS REDUCED WILL BE MY LAST TIME THAT WILL CAUSE DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO OTHER DRIVERS OR MY SELF BEFORE THIS DEFAULT CODE COMES UP, A CODE NO ONE WILL TELL ME WHAT IT IS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD MY CONCERN BUT UNTIL THIS DEFAULT CODE COMES UP THEY CANNOT REPLACE THE SBC . I FIND THAT STATEMENT TO BE NOT CONSIDER OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE ON OUR NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

Mileage: 120,645

BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. BRAKES ARE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. RED "BRAKE" AND "ABS" LIGHTS IN DASH STARTED FLASHING ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS BEEPING. WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP WITHIN PARKING LOT BY USING PARKING BRAKE. UPON SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING ENGINE, VEHICLE REGAINED BRAKING. CAR WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL ISSUE IS ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 91,000

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF FOR DAYS AT A TIME . BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASH STAY ON ALL THE TIME ABS WILL ALSO COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND MY CAR WILL STOP . I HAVE TO FORCE THE CAR INTO PARK ... PUMP MY BRAKES THE BREAKS MAKE A SOUND AND THEN THEY START WORKING AGAIN .... THERE IS A HUMMING NOICE WHEN I START MY CAR AS WELL AS THE SEAT BELT LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF EVEN WITH MY SEALS BELT ON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE POWER WINDOWS BECAME INOPERATIVE, AS WELL AS THE HORN AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED SEVERAL TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT STOPPING OR SLOWING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MADE A BEEPING SOUND AND THE STOP ENGINE AND BRAKE FAILURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CALLED (MERCEDES-BENZ OF BROOKLYN, NY, 718-258-5100) AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ABS WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

I PURCHASED MY CURRENT VEHICLE 18 MONTHS AGO USED. THIS WEEKEND THE GIANT STOP LIGHT CAME ON ASKING ME TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKES. IT TURNS OUT IT'S THE SBC PUMP WHICH WAS RECALLED BY MERCEDES BENZ. EXCEPT, BENZ WILL NOT REPAIR IT AS IT'S A 2003 AND OUT OF THEIR 10 YEAR RULE. IT'S A $2100 I CANNOT AFFORD AND CANNOT SELL VEHICLE WITH THIS ISSUE AS I FEAR IT MAY CAUSE HARM TO OTHERS. A FRIEND SUGGESTED I ASK FOR NHTSA'S HELP AS BENZ IS UNWILLING TO STAND BY THE RECALL AND REPAIR THE SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 200,000

BRAKES SEEEMED TO WORKING FINE AND OUT OF NO WHERE AT 65MPH A RED NOTIFICATION CAME ON THE DASH SAYING "REDUCED BRAKING EFFECT/LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE VISIT WORKSHOP". MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE SBC UNIT THE IS NEEDED TO SAFELY OPERATE THE CAR BUT DIDN'T DO A RECALL AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED INSTALLING THIS PART IN THE MODELS. IF THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD PLAN TO SHELL OUT THOUSANDS SINCE THE PART ISN'T COVERED AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOUR BRAKES MAY GO AT ANY TIME. I HAVE 96K ON MY VEHICLE AND BECAUSE IT IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD THE FAULTY PART THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT IS NOT COVERED. THE PART IS DESIGNED TO MALFUNCTION AT 300,000 COMPRESSIONS AND THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. THIS IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED! I HOPE SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE TO DIE FOR BENZ TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Mileage: 96,000

MERCEDES DEALER SAYS THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT UNDER THIS RECALL. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON JULY 31,2009 AND THE RECALL FOR THE BRAKE PUMP CAME OUT IN OCTOBER 2009. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE SAME MERCEDES DEALER FOR 8 YEARS AND THEY HAVE NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT ANY RECALL. IS MY CAR COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A 10 YEARS LIMIT ON THE RECALL AND MERCEDES HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICING MY CAR SINCE YEAR 6 TO YEAR 10 I.E. @009 TO 2013 AND THEY HAVE NEVER MENTIONED ANY RECALLS IN ANY OF THE TIMES I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED SINCE JULY 31, 2009.

I OWN A 2003 E320 MERCEDES BENZ WITH 67,000 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY SBC UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY ON THIS COMPONENT WAS EXTENDED BUT IS NOW OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. WHY WAS NOT COVERED BY A RECALL RATHER THAN JUST AN EXTENDED WARRANTY? THIS SEEMS TO INDICATE MERCEDES IS ACKNOWLEDGING A FAULTY COMPONENT. THIS APPEARS TO POTENTIALLY AFFECT SAFETY SO I WOULD HOPE MERCEDES WOULD BE EAGER TO REPLACE THE SBCS.

Mileage: 67,000

I BEEN DRIVING MERCEDES FOR PASSED 20 YEARS BUT NEVER EXPERIENCED SCARY MOMENT LIKE THIS. THURSDAY 09/01/16 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK OUT OF NOWHERE RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT LID UP MY WHOLE DASH WITH BIG STOP SIGN IN THE MIDDLE, FLASHING WITH ESP AND ABS SAYING VISIT WORKSHOP AND I LOST 90% OF BRAKING POWER.LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED ON OPEN ROAD WITH CARS FAR AHEAD OF ME. PULLED ASIDE AND AFTER FEW RESTARTS WARNING WENT OFF AND I MADE IT SAFELY HOME WITHOUT TOWING SERVICE, KEEPING MY LEFT FOOT CLOSE TO EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL. GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED TO MY SURPRISE VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOSCH SBC UNITS INSTALLED IN THIS MODEL. IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE FOR ONE OF THE TOP NAMES IN THE WORLD TO LIMIT THEIR SERVICE CYCLE TO 300,000 BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATIONS? ARE SOME OF THE TOP ENGINEERS INVOLVED OUT OF THEIR MIND? MERCEDES, IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH TWO KIDS IN IT? WOULD ONE OF THE ENGINEERS LIKE TO TAKE MY CAR ON THE AUTOBAHN NOW TO PROOF THEIR POINT? I BELIEVE THE COUNTER IS UP WITH 13 YEARS AND 122K MILES OF SERVICE BECAUSE ALL OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS CHECKED FINE. UNBELIEVABLE??? WHERE IS THE SAFETY RECALL??? ENDED IN 10 YEARS??? WHAT A SHAME FOR BOTH MERCEDES AND BOSCH NAMES.

Mileage: 122,000

ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE A WARNING LIGHT BLINKS IN THE CLUSTER PANEL. THEN THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL BRAKING POWER. ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5TH, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, 110TH SOUTH BOUND 1 MILE SOUTH FROM DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, SUDDENLY A WARNING LIGHT APPEAR WITH THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE 'BRAKES DEFECTIVE STOP VEHICLE' THE CARS BEGINS TO DOWNSHIFT AND IT SLOWS DOWN. HOWEVER THE BRAKE DOES NOT WORK IN FULL. IT APPEARS THAT THE BRAKE WORKS ENOUGH TO COME TO STOP AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS DOWNSHIFTED TO THE LOWEST GEAR. ALL BRAKING ABILITY IS DISABLE. AFTER I RESEARCH THE CODE AND NARROW TO THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD, I NOTICED THAT MERECEDES BENZ HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE ABS PUMP FOR THESE MODELS FOR 10 YEARS, SINCE MY VEHICLE IS 2003 THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ON 2013. THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM SO IF AN ELECTRIC FAILURE OCCURS THERE IS NO WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO MANUAL BRAKE POWER OTHER THAN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THIS VEHICLE.

Mileage: 161,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DOWN AN INCLINE, A "BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE HALT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSATRONIC MODULE FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

RECENTLY ON TODAY 7-12-16 AT 174,000 MILES THE DISPLAY ON MY 2003 E320 4S MERCEDES BENZ ALL OF A SUDDENLY DISPLAYED AN ILLUMINATED MESSAGE IN BRIGHT WHITE : "BRAKE" SERVICE BRAKE VISIT WORKSHOP. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A BUSY MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM EXHIBITED THIS MESSAGE. SHORTLY PRIOR TO THIS MESSAGING, I NOTICE MY BRAKES WERE MORE HARD TO APPLY PRESSURE,. I AM GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING FAST, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS TRAGEDY TO MYSELF AS WELL AS THOSE OTHERS ON THE EXPRESSWAY JUST A AS I WAS. 2. PROBLEM WITH MY GAS TANK AFTER I FILL THE TANK , THE GAS FUMES BECOME SO INTENSE AFTER PARKING THIS VEHICLE INSIDE MY GARAGE. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE A RECALL. IS THIS FUEL SAFETY HAZARD RECALL STILL IN EFFECT? IF SO, WHOM DO I CONTACT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME THE OWNER? 3. 4 MONTHS PRIOR IN MARCH 2016 I INCURRED A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT FLUID LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION RESULTING IN A MAJOR MONETARY EXPENSE OUT OF MY POCKETS ABOVE $5000. CAN THIS BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTUER SO I MAY BE ABLE TO BE REIMBURSED?

Mileage: 174,000

SBC BRAKE UNIT WHICH CONTROL THE BRAKES JUST FAILED WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY,VERY LIMITED BRAKING,VERY SCARY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING 70MPH. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS MAJOR ISSUE WITH MERCEDES BENZ ,SOME KIND OF PENALTY SHOULD BE ASSESSED TO THEM BECAUSE THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT JUST COST ME 2380.73 TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WILL KEEP HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. HOPEFULLY IT'S A SITUATION THAT THE NTSB CAN LOOK INTO ABOUT THIS DEFECTED UNIT FROM MERCEDES BENZ. THANK YOU.

THE SBC UNIT FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS BOUND TO FAIL THERE WAS A 10 YEAR RECALL ON THIS BUT NOT ALL VEHICLE WHERE DONE NOW MERCEDES ATTITUDE IS OH WELL BAD LUCK PAY US AND WE WILL FIX OUR FAULTY PART

SBC PUMP WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, ON A LONELY, DARK TWO LANE ROAD WITHOUT ANY NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE ISSUE, APPROXIMATELY 200+ MILES FROM MY HOME. MESSAGE INDICATOR IN CAR STARTED BEEPING AND AN EMERGENCY MESSAGE DISPLAYED STATING BRAKE MALFUNCTION, STOP VEHICLE. CAR HARDLY ANY BRAKE POWER AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 35 MPH. PULLED OVER AND NOW CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. HAD TO WAIT 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK! LUCKILY I DID NOT HAVE MY FAMILY WITH ME OF WHICH INCLUDES SMALL CHILDREN!

Mileage: 108,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Mileage: 144,000

THE SBC BRAKE UNIT FAILED WHILE I WAS ON VACATION. THE REST OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM WORKS FINE. MERCEDES RECALLED THIS BRAKE SYSTEM AND KNEW IT WAS UNSAFE, HOWEVER NOW THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART UNLESS I PAY AND THE COST IS $2,500.00 PER THE DEALER. WITHOUT IT THE CAR IS GARBAGE. IT IS AN ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM.

Mileage: 100,000

BRAKES JUST WHEN OUT ON IT AND THEY HAVE A RECALL BUT IS GOOD FOR JUST 10 THEY NEED TO BE RESPONS FOR THIS PROBLEM MAKING CARS WITH NO BRAKES IS A DEITH WISH I HOPE YOU GUYS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE'S "SERVICE BRAKES-VISIT WORKSHOP" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

Mileage: 77,000

I WAS TRAVELING ON A SECONDARY ROAD AT A SPEED OF 30MPH WHEN THE MFD TURNED RED, STARTED BEEPING AND STATED BRAKE FAILURE, STOP DRIVING. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY DOWN SHIFTED. AFTER PULLING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK WHERE IT LOCKED IN PLACE. AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES THE SBC RESET ITSELF AND THE TRANSMISSION UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED TO THE MERCEDES DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. THE MERCEDES TECH STATED THAT THE SBC NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE SBC UNIT, BUT IT EXPIRED IN JUNE 2013. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND MERCEDES BENZ USA STATED THAT THEY DID NOT NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION OR OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SBC. THE COST TO REPLACE THE SBC IS $2,000.

Mileage: 60,000

WHEN I'M STOPING THE CAR, THE BREAKS DID NOT WORK AS IT SHOULD, AND THE STOP DISTANCE INCREASED BY 50% !! ON AUGUST 10TH I WAS IN THE ON THE WAY BETWEEN CHARLOTTE AND NASHVILLE, IN THE MOUNTAINS CURVES WAY DOWN, I USED THE BREAKS, THE CAR ALMOST GOT OUT OF CONTROL.... I FELT LIKE THE FRONT AND REAR BREAKS DON'T DO ANY SYNCHRONIZATION TO STOP THE CAR, ITS MAKING THE CAR LOSING CONTROL ON THE CURVES..... I RED ON THIS ISSUE ON INTERNET I FOUND THAT MERCEDES HAS USED A NEW BREAKING SYSTEM FOR THIS CAR AND STOP INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IT IN 2006! THE REASON WHY THEY STOP USING THIS BECAUSE IT 100% ELECTRONIC BREAKS SYSTEM, IT CALLED SBC (SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL ) WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 130,000

VEHICLE PRESENTED WITH RED LIGHT INDICATING TO TAKE VEHICLE TO WORKSHOP IN RED. BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, SRS SYSTEM STALLED THE VEHICLE, EMERGENCY MODE WAS ACTIVITED,WE WERE UNABLE, AT FIRST TO TURN ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS IF IT WAS PARALYZED. WE FINALLY GOT THE VEHICLE TO RUN AND RESET THE CODE BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED FOR LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES, THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND MYSELF NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR ADEQUATE BRAKING DISTANCE. THIS CAR LEFT ME WITH NO BRAKES AT ALL DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS I'D NOT SAFE!

VEHICLE PRESENTED WITH RED LIGHT INDICATING TO TAKE VEHICLE TO WORKSHOP IN RED. BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, SRS SYSTEM STALLED THE VEHICLE, EMERGENCY MODE WAS ACTIVITED,WE WERE UNABLE, AT FIRST TO TURN ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS IF IT WAS PARALYZED. WE FINALLY GOT THE VEHICLE TO RUN AND TURNED VEHICLE INTO MB DEALERSHIP. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE SBC UNIT WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, WE WERE BESET WITH 1,800.00 REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED FOR LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES, THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND MYSELF NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR ADEQUATE BRAKING DISTANCE. FUEL: UPON FUELING VEHICLE, THE FUEL HANDLE WILL STOP AND IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF FUEL WILL SPURT OUT FROM FUEL TANK. THERE IS ALSO A SMELL OF GAS/FUEL IN THE CABIN AFTER FILL UP. THIS CREATES A HUGE SPILL AND NOTIFICATION TO ATTENDANT. TAKES UP A GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME TO FILL UP TANK. SURPRISINGLY WE HAVEN'T BEEN CHARGED FOR FUEL SPILLS. SRS: LIGHT ON FOR SAFETY RESPONSE SYSTEM, SHORTLY AFTER VISIT AT MB DEALERSHIP. HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO MB DEALERSHIP FOR FEAR OF ANOTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR.

Mileage: 125,000

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS RELAYED IN THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006.I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2007 AS A USED VEHICLE WITH APROX. 40,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT BEEN SENT ANYTHING FROM MBENZ NOTIFYING OF THIS ISSUE.VEHICLE PUT IN SHOP 4-16-20015 AT MERCEDES. DIAGNOSIS WAS FAULTY SBC PUMP SYSTEM AT A COST FOR REPAIR $2400.00. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.LASTLY, PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. KNOWN AS THE SRS SYSTEM.THIS ISSUE IS SPELLED OUT AS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN IN MERCEDES E CLASS OPERATOR'S MANUAL, TOLD BY MERCEDES SERVICE DEPT,THIS IS A $800.00 BILL TO HAVE REPAIRED. QUESTION,, DOES SOMETHING TRAGIC HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE, MERCEDES BENZ LIVE UP TO THEIR OBLIGATION OF KEEPING THOSE WHO PURCHASE THEIR VEHICLE,,,,,SAFE. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT THE IGNITION BEING TURNED TO THE ON POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBC UNITED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

Mileage: 153,000

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 120,000

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD BY A COLLEGE IN LOWELL MA AND MY DASH BOARD LITE UP AND STARTING BEEPING. SAID BRAKE FAILURE SORT STOPPING DISTANCE, VISIT WORK SHOP ASAP. I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR BUT IT WAS VERY HARD STOPPING IT, I HONKED THE HORN BECAUSE I WAS COMING UP ON A SCHOOL CROSSING( THANK GOD) THEY ALL MOVED OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE RAN OVER THEM ALL. I GOT THE CAR STOPPED AND SHUT IT OFF, POLICE OVER SAW THE WHOLE THING AND PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED, WE WENT TO GO START THE CAR UP AND ALL THE LIGHT WHERE OFF AND THE CAR SEEMED FINE, THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS TAKING THAT CHANCE AGAIN SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY GARAGE, MECHANIC JUST CALLED ME AND SAID NOTHING WAS STORED IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THE BRAKES ARE WORKING FINE NOW. HE CHECKED ON LINE TO SEE IF THERE WHERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND INFORMED THERE A LOT OF PROBLEM FROM MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS ON THIS ISSUE. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN, I COULD HAVE KILLED ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN THE WALK WAY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES IS AWARE OF. PLEASE HELP ! I JUST LOOKED UP THE SAME INFORMATION ON GOOGLE AND THERE ARE HUNDRED OF COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, MY BRAKES ARE NEW. IT IS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF. *TR

Mileage: 93,580

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

THE W211 MERCEDES (E-CLASS) HAVE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) UNITS FOR THE BRAKES. WHEN, NOT IF, BUT WHEN THEY GO OUT, THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING OR ANYTHING AT ALL. ALL BRAKING ABILITY JUST STOPS OUT OF NOWHERE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE ALL BRAKES IN THE CAR STOP WORKING. THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN AND MERCEDES NEEDS TO CHANGE OUT THE SBC PUMPS ON THESE CARS BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES CAN, AND WILL, BE DISASTROUS. *TR

Mileage: 124,000

MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON TEXAS HWY 281 JUST NORTH ON MARBLE FALLS TEXAS. I NOTICED A TRAIN COMING AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND MADE THE DECISION TO STOP FOR THE TRAIN! WELL AT THAT TIME MY BRAKE DASH WARNING CAME ON AND IT WAS ALL RED AND MY BRAKES FAILED. THEIR I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP GOING 75 MILES PER HOUR (LEGALLY) AND I COULD NOT STOP AND IT WAS WAY TO LATE FOR THE TRAIN TO STOP ALSO SO I FLOORED IT TO GET OVER THE TRACKS THEN I FINALLY CAME TO A SAFE STOP. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR A FIX AND TO MY SURPRISE MERCEDES HAD KNOWN OF THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND STOPPED ALL HELP WITH THE ISSUE WHEN THE CAR REACHED 10 YEARS OLD. THIS CAR SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE COMPANY THAT KNOWINGLY PUT IT ON THE ROAD WITH AN EXPERIMENTAL NEW TYPE OF BRAKING SYSTEM THEN TELLS OWNERS DOWN THE ROAD TO KISS THEIR BUTT. AND ITS NOW THE OWNERS PROBLEM. WHAT A DEAL MY CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE BUT HAS A DEFECTIVE EXPERIMENTAL BRAKING SYSTEM THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT EVEN DISCUSS FIXING. I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A CORVAIR OR MAYBE A PINTO AT LEAST YOU CAN STOP THEM! WOW WHY HAVE YOU NOT JUMPED ALL OVER THIS MANUFACTURE ABOUT THIS DEADLY PROBLEM EVEN YOU HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS! BUT NO ONE HAS TOLD ME??? THE TITLE SHOULD BE MARKED DEADLY IN BOLD LETTERS. *TR

Mileage: 132,500

MERCEDES-BENZ HAS DIAGNOSED MY SBC PUMP UNIT, IN WRITING, AS "FAULTY." THEY HAVE THEN GONE ON TO DENY AND REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL PUBLISHED ON THIS WEBSITE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000. ACCORDING TO 2 MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS, AND MBUSA CUSTOMER CARE AND CLAIM DEPARTMENT, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A RECALL ON THE SBC UNIT, OR HAVE THEY EVER HEARD OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 -- THERE IS, HOWEVER, A LIMITED WARRANTY FOR THE SBC PUMP. AFTER DOING SOME INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, IT IS CLEAR THAT AFTER RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000, HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE NHTSA, IT HAS GONE COMPLETELY UNACKNOWLEDGED FROM THAT POINT ON. MERCEDES HAS INSTEAD "REBRANDED" IT AS A WARRANTY-RECALL, UNDER INTERNAL CAMPAIGN #2005110001, WHICH NO LONGER COVERS THE SBC PUMP ITSELF, ONLY THE WIRING AROUND IT. THERE IS CLEARLY A CONFLICT/CONTRADICTION HERE, AS THE MBUSA.COM WEBSITE REFERS TO THE SERVICE ON MY CAR (BY VIN) AS 05V-311, BUT THE INVOICE I RECEIVED FROM MERCEDES-BENZ REFERS TO IT AS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 199,950

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SBC SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC ). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

Mileage: 106,000

WENT TO START THE CAR AND AT FIRST THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN OVER I HAD TO KEEP TAKING PUT AND INSERTING IT AT A DIFFERENT SIDE IT EVENTUALLY STARTED. SOON AS IT TURNED OVER THE BRAKE LIGHT ESP AND ABS LIGHT STARTED FLASHING THE CAR IS STUCK IN PARK. *TR

Mileage: 88,881

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE VISIT WORKSHOP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

Mileage: 139,000

I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 2005 AND EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2003 MERC. BENZ E320, IT'S BEEN A CRAZY RIDE! HERE'S A LIST OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT HAPPENED TO ME OVER THE COURSE OF ME OWNING THIS VEHICLE, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY I STILL DO. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY LITTLE GIRL IN TOW AND MY BRAKES WENT OUT ON ME SEVERAL TIMES, MY BATTERY DIES CONSTANTLY, I HAD AN ISSUE WHEN AFTER I PUMPED GAS YOU COULD SMELL FUEL BOTH INSIDE MY CAR & OUTSIDE OF MY CAR, I LITERALLY ONE TIME HAD FUEL POURING FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR THAT ENDED ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. (THANK GOD I DON'T SMOKE!) MY SUSPENSION IS CONSTANTLY RATTLING, I HAVE WATER THAT LEAKS ON MY FEET WHEN I DRIVE OCCASIONALLY AND SOMETIMES I HAVE HEAT IN THE WINTER AND SOMETIMES I DON'T. I ALWAYS HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND AS SOON AS I FIX ONE, ANOTHER ONE COMES ON. I CURRENTLY HAD ISSUES WITH CODE PO134, PO135 AND HAD THE O2 SENSOR CHANGED, THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND NOW I HAVE CODES PO171 & PO174 THAT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GET FIXED BECAUSE IT COULD BE A NUMBER OF ISSUES. MY BATTERY DRAINS WHEN MY ELECTRIC SEATS ARE PLUGGED IN AND SO I HAVE TO HAVE THEM UNPLUGGED TO SAVE MY BATTERY. DID I MENTION MY BACK TIRE BLEW OUT ON INTERSTATE 95 AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. IT'S DEVASTATING TO PAY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU DO FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, IT'S PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE AND IS A MESS UNDER THE HOOD! IS IT NORMAL WHEN YOU HAVE THE AC ON FOR IT TO SOUND LIKE AN AIRPLANE READY FOR TAKE OFF? I'M TIRED OF INVESTING ALL KINDS OF MONEY INTO THIS CAR, I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! I CAN'T EVEN PASS MY VA. STATE EMISSIONS TEST BECAUSE OF ALL THESE ERROR CODES (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MALFUNCTIONS) AND THE STATE DOESN'T EVEN FIND MY CAR WORTHY OF BEING ON THE ROADS. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKING SYSTEM HESITATED TO ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED NUMEROUS TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME STUCK IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS PUMP UNIT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,714.

Mileage: 137,714

I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP OF COURSE I EXPECTED TO HAVE TO HAVE MINOR WORK DONE ON IT. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE HEATER DIDN'T WORK WHEN I HAD IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD THAT SOME VALVE OFTEN GETS STUCK ON THESE CARS THE DEALERSHIP ALWAYS RUN DIAGNOSTICS ON YOUR CAR WHETHER YOU WANT THEM TO OR UPON RUNNING THE DIAGNOSTIC I WAS ADVISED THE MY NEW USED CARD WOULD NEED ABOUT $6K IN WORK DONE FROM THE HOOD TO THE TRUNK I DECIDED TO KEEP THE CAR AND GET THE MAJOR WORK DONE IN STAGES 1ST THING I HAD DONE WAS FRONT BREAK PADS AND ROTORS ALTHOUGH I OPTED TO HAVE THE WORK COMPLETED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AND NOT THE DEALSHIP FOR OBVIOUS REASONS (COST) NOT ONCE DID THE DEALERSHIP COMPLETE RECALL REPAIR WORK OR EVEN MENTION IT TO ME THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALLS AND MY CAR NEEDED TO HAVE THOSE REPAIRS COMPLETED BUT RATHER OVER CHARGED ME FOR BALL JOINTS PLUS SEVERAL OTHER THINGS THAT MORE THAN LIKELY DID NOT NEED TO BE REPAIRED. I FELT COMPLETELY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND RAISED MY CONCERN ADAMANTLY TO LITTLE AVAIL. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIME PRIOR TO THE EXPRIRATION OF THE SAID 10YR EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH REGARD TO THE SBC FAILING NOT ONCE DID THEY MENTION OR REPAIR IT KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF ME BRINGING MY CAR TO THEM WAS SPECIFICALLY DUE TO THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SOME TYPE OF SENSOR NOT A BIG DEAL TO WORRY ABOUT THAT MY CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO STOP AND THERE WAS NO NEED TO REPLACE THE SAID SENSOR AN UNNECESSARY COST SINCE MY BREAKS WERE FINE I TOLD THEM MY BREAKS WEREN'T FINE IT WAS TAKING TOO LONG FOR THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP THEY DID NOTHING THAT WAS 2012 THE CONDITION WORSENED AND THE LIGHT WENT FROM WHITE TO RED I DECIDED TO RESEARCH ONLINE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND CAME ACROSS 3 RECALLS I CALLED MBUSA THEY TOLD ME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED NOVEMBER 2013. *JS

Mileage: 120,000

IT STARTED WITH A ESP WARNING ON THE CLUSTER, WITH INCREASED BRAKE DISTANCE, AFTER RESTART THE WARNING WAS GONE, AFTER MANY MONTHS THE WARNING CAME BACK ON IN NOV OF 2013, WENT BACK OFF AND CAME BACK ON JAN 14 2014, CALLED THE MERCEDES DEALER IN NASHVILLE TN, WAS ADVISED THAT THE AUTO DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE SBC UNIT, WHICH IS THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, BUT THE RECALL ENDED ON 11-12, WHICH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY RECALL CAN EXPIRE WITH MILEAGE OR DATE. THE REPAIR WILL COST ABOUT $2000.00 WITH NO MANUFACTURE SUPPORT OR HELP. MERCEDES HAS KNOW ABOUT THE BOSCH SYSTEM HAVE ONLY SO MANY BRAKE CYCLES, I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2009 AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THE RECALL. THIS IS NOT THE WAY A RECALL IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.. MERCEDES SAID SORRY, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, THIS IS THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHERS THAT OWN THESE VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 155,000

RED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH FLASHING WARNING DRIVER " REDUCED BRAKING EFFECT VISIT WORKSHOP" AND " INCREASE BRAKING DISTANCE VISIT WORKSHOP:. AFTER RESEARCH THIS WARNING IS DISPLAYED BECAUSE THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND REVERTED TO HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS TAKEN EFFECT AS BACKUP. THIS CONDITION WAS SUBJECT TO NHSTB RECALL #'S 2004050014 AND 2005110001. I CONTACTED MERCEDES USA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS REFUSED HELP. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM A CASE MANAGER WHO STATED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BY MERCEDES AND THAT THEY HAD NO FURTHER OBLIGATION TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE STUDIED MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETINS AND BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION THE VEHICLES THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THESE RECALLS HAVE NOTES WITHIN THE SERVICE BULLETIN THAT "PLEASE NOTE THAT RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGNS DO NOT EXPIRE AND MAY BE PERFORMED ON A VEHICLE WITH A VEHICLE STATUS INDICATOR" IT IS FURTHER STATED IN MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN THAT THE "SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL UNIT PUMP MOTOR MAY RUN OUT OF PERMISSIBLE TOLERANCES THEREBY TRIGGERING THE HYDRAULIC BACK UP FUNCTION MODE. FURTHER, "GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH". TO THIS DAY MERCEDES ENGINEERS ARE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM WITH SOFTWARE FIXES WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF ANOTHER MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN. THE REFUSAL OF MERCEDES TO REPAIR AN OBVIOUS HAZARDOUS CONDITION OF A COMPONENT THAT DOES NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED IN UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE VEHICLE POSES A THREAT TO NOT ONLY THE OPERATOR BUT OTHERS IF OPERATED UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. PLEASE HELP ME I HAVE NOT ALLOWED MY WIFE TO OPERATE WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 106,059

I WAS DRIVING EWA BOUND ON BERETANIA STREET AT ABOUT 7:45PM AT SPEED 25MPH. THE CAR HAD A RED WARNING AND BEEPS SAID BRAKE MALFUNCTION, STOP VEHICLE! AT THIS TIME MY CAR CAN NOT BRAKE AT ALL BECAUSE THE BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY NOT WORKING WHEN MY CAR IS DRIVING. I HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND USE THE ASSISTANCE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON HIGHWAY WITH FAST SPEED! I FOUND OUT THIS IS COMMON HAPPEN TO THIS MODEL DUE TO THE FAULT OF SBC ABS BRAKE PUMP. PARTS IS BREAKING DOWN BUT NOT ON BRAKE PUMP HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING. IT IS TOTALLY DANGEROUS! MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ENFORCING MERCEDES TO IMPROVE. THANKS *TR

Mileage: 81,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH A DELAYED RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V296000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), HOWEVER THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

Mileage: 86,000

SBC BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES NOT WORKING. CAR REFUSED TO STOP. I PUT IT ON PARK AND JUMPED OUT. *TR

Mileage: 88,300

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN MY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. MY CAR DISPLAYED A CODE STATING "BRAKE DEFECTIVE; STOP VEHICLE". THIS OCCURRED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I AM A PREGNANT FEMALE AND WAS IN THE CAR ALONE, IT WAS TERRIFYING. AFTER HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I LEARNED OF AN EXTENDED 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE SBC UNIT OF MY CAR. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, I WAS NOT THE "REGISTERED USER" EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE LOAN AND TITLE IN MY NAME. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN SEPT OF 2013. AFTER MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED, IT WAS FOUND THAT IT WAS THE DEFECTIVE SBC UNIT THAT FAILED ME. I HAD PREVIOUS SIMILAR CODES (NONE THAT CAUSED MY BRAKES TO FAIL) RELATED TO THIS SBC UNIT DEFECT IN APRIL 2011 & AUGUST 2013 TO WHICH I PURCHASED NEW BRAKES. IT IS NOT KNOW WHETHER THIS WAS NECESSARY OR NOT SINCE MY CODE OF "SERVICE BRAKE" AT THOSE TIMES ARE A PART OF THE FAULTY SBC UNIT AND NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO THE SAFETY OF MY BRAKES. AFTER MY CASE WAS REVIEWED AND DENIED AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL, MY HUSBAND AND I HAD TO SHELL OUT $1135 TO FIX THE PART OURSELVES. MY HUSBAND WAS PREVIOUSLY LAID OFF AND JUST STARTED A NEW JOB IN JUNE. I FEEL IT IS UNFAIR THAT WE HAD TO PAY THIS MONEY WHEN WE TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND WERE NOT PRIVY TO THE INFORMATION TO FIX THE BRAKE SYSTEM WITHIN THE WARRANTY TIME. I WORRY ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS CAR, ARE UNAWARE OF THE WARRANTY, AND ARE OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT HAVE DAMAGE OR INJURY. I FEEL MERCEDES SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I ALSO FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AS THIS WAS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE AND I FEEL IT WAS HANDLED UNFAIRLY ON THE CORPORATE LEVEL OF MERCEDES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

Mileage: 128,521

ON JUNE 6, 2013, WHILE BRAKING ON APPROACHING INTERSECTION, BRAKES FAILED AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED. MERCEDES CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER, M-B GREENWAY, HOUSTON, TX, WHERE THE SERVICE ADVISOR EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESSURE RESERVOIR OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE UNIT HAD FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,350. I COMPLAINED THAT THE SBC UNIT WAS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 05V0133 AND TWO MBUSA RECALL CAMPAIGNS (2005070007 AND 2005110001) RESULTING IN THE EXTENSION OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE SBC UNIT, BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CODE REQUIRED BY MB USA, LLC FOR A DEALER TO FILE A WARRANTY CLAIM UNDER THE NHTSA 05V033 CAMPAIGN DID NOT APPEAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. I PAID THE DISPUTED $1,350 CHARGE AND DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 6 MILES ON JUNE 6, 2013, AND THE BRAKES AGAIN FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED. MERCEDES CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TOWED IT BACK TO M-B GREENWEAY, WHERE THE SERVICE STATED THE ENTIRE SBC UNIT HAD FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,030. I COMPLAINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WAS MANDATED AT NO COST BY NHTSA 05V0133, BUT SHE SAID MB USA LLC WOULD ALLOW THE DEALER TO HONOR THE SBC WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS "DRIVEN OUT OF THE SHOP." SHE ALSO REFUSED TO CREDIT THE $1,350 CHARGE I PAID FOR THE SBC PRESSURE RESERVOIR REPLACEMENT, BUT OFFERED TO "DISCOUNT" THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SBC UNIT TO "$1,799." *TR

Mileage: 42,039

VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOWED BRAKE REDUCE "REQUIRE LONGER BRAKING DISTANCE". I HAD THE SAME ISSUE BEFORE BUT I DID NOT PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION OF IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD JUST BE A BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT INDICATOR. UNTIL I SENT THE CAR IN AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE RELATED TO THE SBC UNIT. LATER, I FOUND IT ONLINE THAT IT WAS A COMMON KNOWN ISSUE FOR 2003-2005 MODEL. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURE AND ALL THEY SAID WAS THE UNIT WOULD ONLY BE COVERED WITHIN A 10 YEAR PERIOD AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER SOLUTION PROVIDED. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

FIRST INCIDENT, BRAKES, VISIT WORKSHOP MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INFORMATION SYSTEM. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SBC PUMP FAILURE. MERCEDES HAD EXTENDED THIS WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS BECAUSE OF KNOW DEFECTS TO THE PART SO ALL PARTS AND LABOR WERE COVERED. *TR

Mileage: 139,000

FIRST INCIDENT, BRAKES! VISIT WORKSHOP! MESSAGE WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INFORMATION SYSTEM. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SBC PUMP FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED PART UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PART BECAUSE IT HAS A KNOWN DEFECT. SECOND INCIDENT, ON APRIL 25, 2013, ONE DAY AFTER I TOOK MY CAR FROM THE DEALER, STOP!, REDUCED BRAKE POWER, ESP MALFUNCTION MESSAGE APPEARED. I STOPPED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED THE PART AGAIN STATING THAT THEY ONLY HAVE RE-MANUFACTURED ONES AND THE ONE I HAD GOT WAS A BAD RE-MANUFACTURED PART. DEALER REPLACED PART AGAIN. THIRD INCIDENT, ON MAY 1 2013, 5 DAYS AFTER I PICKED UP MY CAR STOP!, REDUCED BRAKE POWER AND ESP MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO A GARAGE AT A HOTEL. I CAME CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS TAKING A TICKET TO GET INTO THE GARAGE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS GOING FASTER THAN I WAS. THE BRAKE WILL NOT WORK AT ALL ONCE THESE MESSAGES APPEAR. *TR

Mileage: 139,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

Mileage: 43,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FUNCTIONED WITHOUT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH TO GO TO WORK MY CAR LOST THE BRAKES. THE DISPLAY SHOWED BRAKES DEFECTIVE. LUCKILY I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP THE CAR WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES. I DID DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR AND THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SBC UNIT AS MERCEDES-BENZ CALLS IT (THE BRAKE UNIT) WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE DEFECT AND COULD BE LIFE THREATENING TO OTHERS IF THEY LOOSE THE BRAKES LIKE I DID WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS WELL AND REPLACED THE SBC PUMP.

Mileage: 86,150