2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320 Service Brakes Problems

There has not been an incident report, however, my brakes failed while driving and I pulled over. This is the fault the SBC System which has an Extended 25 year warranty. I brought it into Mercedes prior to complete failure, but they only replace the Pressure Reservoir. It must be returned to Mercedes for the SBC UNIT replacement.

A warning in Red came up on the dashboard which said something like "catastrophic break failure" ..I was going slow about to stop at the Red light and the brakes did not work and I hit a mini van

car break looses 70% of its pressure and only left with 30% break. It happened 3-4 times already. break booster malfunction sign comes up. When i restart the car, malfunction sign goes away and it run ok for few days till it happen again. I am not driving it right now. it can cause serious accident at high speed

Break booster malfunction sign popped up 3-4 time while driving and I lost 70% of the break. Luckily it happened on local road at speed under 30mph. It is very dangerous and can result in an accident

While driving in highway, SBC brake failure warning and failure. Fortunate to be able to come to a stop without crashing into a car ahead since had plenty of time and distance to slowly come to a stop even with reduced braking power. If traveling in rush hour would likely have rear ended a stopped car in front and potentially causing serious injury and damage! This is a known issue with Mercedes, and there is an extended 25 year warranty on the vehicle but for some reason, my vehicle was not included in the recall: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 04V296000 2005 Mercedes e320 automatic sedan. I had the dealer replace parts of the the SBA brake unit once, but it has since reappeared on an intermittent basis usually during cold start and then it goes away in a few seconds while pulling out of a driveway, but this time it occurred after having driven for awhile on a freeway Please investigate to include additionally affected vehicles!!!

Brake warning lights flashed and brakes failed

Please see this discussion... 2005 Mercedes E320 SBC brake system should be recalled. Thanks for considering!

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND RED WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND NO BRAKES

Mileage: 153,000

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT (LUCKILY) AND MY CAR STARTED ROLLING FORWARD. I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARDER AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR CONTINUED ROLLING FORWARD. I THREW THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNED ON MY HAZARDS. THE POLICE SHOWED UP. HE TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD BUT IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. MY HUSBAND SHOWED UP, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED TO A CLOSE PARKING LOT. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND CODES (C233D, C22BC, C23BD, C223C, C26DE, C25D5) FOR PRESSURE SYSTEM FAILURE AND PRESSURE FAILURE TO ALL FOUR TIRES AT THE SAME TIME. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED BEFORE ANY SENSOTRONIC WARRANTY WORK WOULD BE REIMBURSED. SO WE PAID $465.99 TO HAVE THEM FLUSHED AND WERE TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WAS RETESTED AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. I WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, BRAKE EARLY AND PRESS THE BRAKES REALLY HARD. IF WE GET A DIFFERENT CODE NEXT TIME, THEY WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MERCEDES AND THEY HAVE REFERRED US BACK TO THE EXPERTISE OF THE DEALERSHIP.

Mileage: 89,000

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT (BRAKE WORKING AT THIS TIME) ON TO A CITY STREET. THIS WAS A DIVIDED MULTIPLE LANE ROAD, WITH THE CAR TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CAR COULD NOT BE SLOWED OR STOPPED. AN INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS AHEAD, WITH MULTIPLE CARS IN FRONT. SWITCHED OFF THE IGNITIOM OF THE CAR TO SLOW IT DOWN. TOOK A TURN OFF AT THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR RAN OVER THE CURB AND CAME TO REST NEXT TO A GAS STATION.

Mileage: 135,000

CAR SHUT OFF RANDOMLY BY GOING SAFE MODE WHILE DRIVING, CONSTANT BREAK WARNING IN BRIGHT RED " BREAK VISIT WORKSHOP" I WENT TO MULTIPLE SHOPS AND A CONSISTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT, PROBLEM TO BE DETERMINED, CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE I PURCHASED IT FROM THE USED CAR DEALER WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. THE CAR HAS HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES, BOTH BATTERIES TWICE, ONE SHORT WAS FOUND IN FAULTY WIRING HARNESS IN TRUCK BEING PINCHED. THE DEALER WOULD DENY SBC UNIT RECALL EVERY TIME I CALLED FLETCHER JONES, AND ONLY GAVE ME THE OPTION TO PAY THEM FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THEN THEY WILL DETERMINE IF ITS FAULTY INSTEAD OF MY LIFE BEING RISKED AS WELL AS THOSE AROUND ME I FINALLY TRACKED DOWN THE NUMBER FOR CORPORATE AND I GOT CONFORMATION FROM MERCEDES CORPORATE SAY MY VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE LIST. THE CAR WOULD LEAVE ME WITHOUT BREAKS, POWER STEERING MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALWAYS WITHOUT NOTICE OCCURRING MOSTLY ON THE FREEWAY. THE SBC UNIT WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED BY A SUPPOSED AUTHORIZED SHOP AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REIMBURSEMENT AND THEN THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR. THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAD DRAINED THE BATTERIES YET AGAIN SO THE CAR WAS GARAGED AT MY PARENTS WHERE IT EVENTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE IN THAT LOCATION WHICH MAKES THIS WHOLE ORDEAL EVEN MORE OUTRAGEOUS DUE TO MERCEDES MAJOR LACK OF CONCERN WITH THIS AND THEY STILL WANT ME TO PAY THEM TO FIX IT BEFORE THEY WILL EVEN DECIDE TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE MANY DIFFERENT QUARTERLY REPORT PRINT OUTS AS WELL, OUT OF THE 100S OF 1000S DOCUMENTED TO POSSIBLE 2 MILLION TOTAL FAULTY CARS , MY CAR HAD ALMOST ALL OF DIFFERENT SAFETY ISSUES REPORTED. BOUGHT CAR @ 73K MI, CAUGHT FIRE, BLEW HOLE IN MANIFOLD @ 123K, JUST ISN'T RIGHT, SEEMS THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER UP TRUE AMOUNT OF FAULTY CARS IN US BY ASKING CONFIDENTIALITY BY NHTSA GRANTED BLACKED FILES ILLEGIBLE

Mileage: 12,300

I WAS DRIVING AND MY BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH. I WAS ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AND HAD TO IMMEDIATELY GET TO EDGE OF ROAD AND TURN MY CAR OFF AND THE RESTART.. TOOK TO A AOTO SHOP. FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE SBC ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL

Mileage: 130,000

THE SBC BRAKING SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING. DONG ROAD AT 35 MPH ONLY WAY TO AVOID RUNNING INTO SOMEONE OR CARS WAS TO DRIVE THIS INTO TREE. I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR ME. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME WITH ALL THESE MODELS. THEIR NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESES MODELS BEFORE TO MANY PEOPLE DIE. THIS MODEL IS KNOW TO HAVE COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ESPECIALLY ON THE MERCEDES FORUMS. SOMEONE CAN INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I CAN WAIT TO FIX TO MAKE SURE THIS CAN NEVER HAPPEN TO ANYONE AGAIN OR CAUSE A DEATH.

Mileage: 210,000

I WAS DRIVING 40MPH ON A CITY STREET, WHEN THE CAR DASH FLASHED IN RED, "BRAKE MALFUNCTION, SEE WORKSHOP SOON". A RED LIGHT WAS COMING UP, SO I WENT TO PRESS BRAKES & ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES! I SWERVED IN A CHURCH/SCHOOL PARKING LOT TO MY RIGHT SO I WOULDN'T GO FURTHER AHEAD & BE IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION. BECAUSE OF THE QUICK TURN, I HIT A TREE IN AN ISLAND, WHICH STOPPED THE CAR, BUT TOTALED MY CAR. I HAD MY CAR FOR 12 YRS & ALWAYS SERVICED IT & HAD IT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION & NO RECALL, ETC WAS EVER ON THIS CAR FOR THIS DEAL. MY HUSBAND LOOKED ON LINE AFTER & SAW OTHERS HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN, WITH SAME MAKE./MODEL & OLDER MILES.

Mileage: 196,000

WAS DRIVING IN MY 2005 E320 W211, LAST WEEK 500 AM IN THE MORNING SOUTHBOUND TOWARDS FREEWAY ABOUT 45 MPH HAD PERFECT BRAKES THEN RED WARNING ON DASH NO BRAKES HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WENT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT ROLLED TO A STOP!GOOD THING IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING.. 2ND COMPLAINT I CALLED MERCEDES DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR JUST GOT BRUSH OFF AS USUAL. WELL ANOTHER W211 WITH SBC PUMP FAILURE!HOW MANY DOES THIS MAKE! GOOD THING NOT DOING 80 ON FREEWAY WITH KIDS IN THE CAR!!!!!!! ANYWAY MY STARTECH MECHANIC WARNED ME ABOUT THIS WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER IN 2013 STILL UNDER EXTEDED GOODWILL WARRANTY THAT NOBODY KNEW ABOUT. I CALLED AND ASKED ABOUT RECALL, I WAS TOLD: "NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT MODEL CAR NO RECAL"L AND NOW!!!NEVER GOT A LETTER EXPLAINING THE BRAKES COULD GO OUT ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING OR PHONE CALL, ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE BRAKE PUMP DRIVING AROUND IN POTENTIAL DEATH MACHINE!!!! JUST REALLY DISSAPOINTED IN MY DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THEM AGAIN TELLING THEM SBC PUMP WENT NO GOODWILL GOODHEART CHANGE OF DEFECTIVE PUMP AND NOW COST ME 2000.00 TO FIX A DEFECTIVE SBC PUMP THAT SHOULD HAD BEEN CHANGED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, OR CORRECTED ME WHEN I CALLED THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS A EXTENDED WARRANTY I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT IN THEN! VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MERCEDES BENZ DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR HOPE THIS BECOMES A NATIONAL RECALL BEFORE SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPENS, MOST PEOPLE 2ND OWNERS ARE PROBABLY HAVE NO IDEA.

Mileage: 3

I GOT A MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD TO VISIT CAR SHOP FOR BRAKES. THINKING THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE BRAKES, I DROVE IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS ( I HARDLY DRIVE) AND TOOK IT IN. ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE HYDRAULIC PUMP THAT WENT OUT AND COULD LEAVE ME WITHOUT ANY BRAKES AT ANY SECOND!! I HAD TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR 4 DAYS AND PAID 1544.

Mileage: 157,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 60 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *TT *TR

Mileage: 65,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DEALER (RBM OF ATLANTA, INC, 7640 ROSWELL RD, ATLANTA, GA 30350, (770) 390-0700) SOLD THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED THAT IT WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE SBC PUMP. IN ADDITION, WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND A RED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE POLICE HAD TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH COASTING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF SARASOTA, 4754 CLARK RD, SARASOTA, FL 34233, (941) 275-1293) ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SERVICED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE SBC PUMP, STATING THAT THE STATUTE HAD EXPIRED TO RECEIVE THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING 2 DAYS AGO (2005 E320) I SUDDENLY GOT A BRAKE WARNING, BRIGHT RED "STOP" 'REDUCED BRAKING POWER DEPRESS BRAKE FULLY' AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH LITTLE OR NO STOPPING ACTION, IT WAS VERY SCARY. I WAS ONLY GOING WITH 15-20MPH BUT THERE WAS A RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I COULDN'T STOP IN TIME AND HAD TO HIT THE BARRIER TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE IS INJURED, BUT MY CAR WAS A SERIOUS THREAT TO ME AND OTHERS. I CONTACTED THE MB SERVICE AND IT IS RELATED WITH SBC UNIT AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY WANT $2700 TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I THINK MB NEEDS TO REALIZE THIS ISN'T LIKE THE GLYCOL CONTAMINATION OR SOMETHING NOT THAT SERIOUS, THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE ACTUAL BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE CAR!!! VERY SCARY AND IMAGINE THOSE PEOPLE DRIVING THESE 03-06 E'S, OR 06'S CLS, OR SL'S THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE CHANCES OF THE SYSTEM FAILING AND WHAT TO DO.

Mileage: 111,000

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SBC - SENSOTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM. ROLLING AT CITY SPEED LIMIT, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING CAUSING ME TO USE THE TRANSMISSION AND EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH A MERCEDES BENZ WHO DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT IN TERMS OF REPAIR COST

Mileage: 114,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE STATUTE TO RECEIVE AN EXTENDED SERVICE CAMPAIGN EXPIRED; THEREFORE, THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

Mileage: 145,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBC PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V296000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,000.

Mileage: 217,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320CDI. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND AND AN EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR'S DISPLAY TURNED RED WITH WARNING MESSAGE "BRAKE DEFECTIVE STOP VEHICLE"- BRAKES BECAME STIFF. CAR WAS IN LIMP MODE. I TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER IN FRESNO. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN "SBC BRAKE CONTROLLER FAILURE". THEY TOLD ME THAT THESE HAD BEEN TROUBLESOME FOR YEARS, THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN DISCONTINUED BECAUSE OF UNRELIABLITY OF THE BRAKES, AND MERCEDES WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR COST.

Mileage: 68,000

I HAD SUDDEN AND ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF BREAKING. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED IN A LEFT TURN LANE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN A RURAL AREA SO THERE WAS LITTLE DANGER. HOWEVER, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE HAD THIS HAPPENED IN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I HAD TO PRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO TRY AND DIAGNOSE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THEN THE CAR LOCKED UP IN PARK SO IT COULDN'T EVEN BE PUSHED. THE DEAL WOUND UP REPLACING THE SBC PUMP AND THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER WHICH WAS DAMAGED DURING MY EFFORTS TO STOP THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 110,400 MILES AND HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED THE ENTIRE TIME.

Mileage: 110,400

AFTER BEING TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT SBC GOING INTO EMERGENCY MODE HE STATED HE THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF RECALL CALLED MERCEDES IN LAGUNA NIGUEL TOLD ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL CAR BLOW OFF . BUT THERE WAS EXTENDED WARRANTY 10 YEARS NO LETTER NOW RED WARNING OTHER DAY AND COULD BARELY STOP THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR 2007 NOW THEY TOLD ME OHH THERE WAS ONE NOW EXPIRED VERY VERY UNHAPPY AND SCARED TO DRIVE NOW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. ONE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE SERVICE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,809.

Mileage: 154,809

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP MAY FAIL WITH NO WARNING, REDUCING BRAKING POWER BY 80-90%. PUMP HAS "KNOWN" SERVICE LIFE BUT DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO SCAN FOR REMAINING LIFE. PUMP FAILURE RENDERS THE CAR NON-DRIVABLE, WITH TOWING REQUIRED, AND REPLACEMENT OF PUMP IS TYPICALLY BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,500.

Mileage: 130,000

WITH LESS THAN 90K MILES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP WENT OUT. MBUSA KNEW ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE PART AND EXTENDED ITS WARRANT UNTIL 12/24/2014 BUT DID NOT NOTIFY AFFECTED VEHICLE OWNERS.

OUR CAR'S BRAKES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED BECAUSE STOPPING IS AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION. E.G. PADS AND ROTORS AS NEEDED PLUS FLUID FLUSH PERIODICALLY. NOW WE'VE LEARNED WE MAY BE AT RISK OF CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL WITH NO BRAKES - PERHAPS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR PEDESTRIANS - JUST BECAUSE THE MERCEDES' SBC (SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL) SOFTWARE PREDETERMINES WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE REACHED END OF SERVICE AND DISABLES THEM. WORSE, IT MAY DO THIS WITHOUT WARNING! SINCE THE WARRANTY ON THE SBC WAS EXTENDED FROM 4-YR/50K MILES TO 10 YEARS/UNLIMITED, AND CONSIDERING THE LIFE OF THESE CARS IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN 10 YEARS, SHOULDN'T THE REPLACEMENT WARRANTY BE EXTENDED FURTHER, TO PERHAPS 15 OR 20 YEARS? OR BETTER STILL, SHOULDN'T THEY BE RETROFITTED WITH NON-ELETROHYDRAULIC BRAKES . . . LIKE MODELS PRIOR TO AND SUBSEQUENT TO MERCEDES' SBC EXPERIMENT? MOREOVER, WHEN THESE CARS ARE SOLD, IS THE PUBLIC ON THE HOOK FOR THE LIABILITY OF A CAR SOLD WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES? E.G. ONE, WHICH HAS BRAKES CAPABLE OF BEING DISABLED BY MERCEDES' SOFTWARE? PLEASE HELP!

Mileage: 105,350

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED SEVERAL WARNINGS OF PROBLEMS WITH SBC, ABS, ESP. THE BRAKES THEN REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE TO EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME MUCH HARDER TO STEER.AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF PARK.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE SBC,AND ESP MODULES. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES WITH THIS BRAKING SYSTEM, SO MUCH SO THAT THE DISCONTINUED USING IT. THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND MERCEDES SHOULD EITHER REPAIR ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES OR REMOVE THEM FROM THE ROAD.

Mileage: 82,000

I RECEIVED THE RED DASH WARNING AT THE SAME TIME AS THE COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE (NOT BEFORE) AND THERE WAS MAYBE 2% BRAKING CAPABILITY REMAINING (USELESS HYDRAULIC FAIL SAFE). THAT'S WITH THE PEDAL ON THE FIREWALL AT 5 MPH. EVEN WITH FORCE ENOUGH TO PUSH THE PEDAL INTO THE FIREWALL IT WAS STILL A GRADUAL SLOW DOWN. THIS WAS AT AROUND 5 MPH! NOW IMAGINE COMING OFF A STEEP OFF RAMP FROM 70MPH THAT ENDS ABRUPTLY AND PERPENDICULAR TO A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS... NOT GOOD. AFTER SITTING IN THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES I DECIDED TO START THE CAR UP AGAIN, THE MESSAGE WAS GONE AND FULL BRAKING PRESSURE RESTORED. TALK ABOUT A GAME OF RUSSIAN ROULETTE, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS TIME BOMB IS SET TO GO OFF AGAIN. THIS IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY ACCEPTABLE AND IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. MERCEDES KNEW THIS AND MOVED BACK TO A STANDARD BRAKING SYSTEM IN 2006 LEAVING VERY LITTLE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WITH THE SBC MODULES INSTALLED. THESE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY DEALERS AT THEIR EXPENSE INDEFINITELY. IT WAS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE AND THEY ADMIT IT, NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE WITH MALFUNCTIONING UNITS AND SAVE SOME LIVES. CHECK MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A FOR MORE INFORMATION. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED, THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES ALONG WITH MUCH LONGER TIME INTERVAL FOR VEHICLE SPEED REDUCTION DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS. MERCEDES (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS MBUSA FOR MERCEDES BENZ USA) SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES DISCONTINUED INSTALLING THIS TYPE BRAKE SYSTEM ON NEW PRODUCTION VEHICLES AT THE END OF MY 06. SUGGESTED CURE - MBUSA SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD (I.E. BRAKE FAILURE) THE SBC UNIT IS. IF MBUSA IS UNABLE TO ASSURE THE VEHICLE OWNER THAT (DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM) THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES WILL NOT DEFAULT TO BASIC HYDRAULIC MODE FOR FRONT WHEELS ONLY WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OF IMMINENT FAILURE, MBUSA SHOULD RETROFIT & REPLACE THE NECESSARY BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS TO INSURE VEHICLE SAFETY AT THE EXPENSE OF MBUSA. THIS IS A MAJOR LIFE-SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED. A MAJOR REDUCTION OF EFFICIENCY IN A VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM OCCURRING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE PROPERTY LOSS, PERSONAL INJURY AND DEATH, ESPECIALLY AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 55,900

THERE WAS A MESSAGE THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED ATTENTION. I COULD FEEL SOMETHING INSIDE THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT AND THEY REPLACED MY BRAKES, BUT THE ISSUE KEPT HAPPENING. THEN ONE DAY, WHILE GOING 55 MILES AN HOUR, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FULLY OPERATE. THE WHOLE DASH WENT RED AND IT CAME TO A SLOW STOP. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAD A 10 YEAR RECALL OF THE SBC UNIT BUT I DON'T SEE THE RECALL ANYWHERE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! *TR

Mileage: 100,000

THE WELL KNOWN BRAKE SAFETY ISSUE OF NUMEROUS MB CARS, ALSO CALLED THE SBC SYSTEM, IS CYCLING WAY TO OFTEN AND FEAR ITS PAST IS PREDETERMINED "LIFE CYCLES". FOR SOME REASON MB PUTS A # OF ACTUATIONS ON THE SYSTEM BEFORE IS QUITS OR MUST BE REPLACED. MB HAS INSTRUCTED DEALERS TO NOT REPLACE THE SYSTEM UNLESS A PARTICULAR CODE SHOWS UP UNDER A DIAGNOSTIC READ. PROBLEM IS THAT FROM THE DEALER OWN SERVICE TECHS.....'FAILING PUMPS DON'T ALWAYS THROW A CODE THAT WILL BE STORED IN THE COMPUTER, OR THERE IS A RESET FACILITY BUILT INTO THE COMPUTER SELF DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM THAT IS TO RESET A CODE FOR ISSUES WITH THE SBC SYSTEM WHEN CAR IS CYCLED OFF THEN RESTARTED.' MB REFUSES TO FIX SUCH SAFETY ISSUE IF REPAIR IS NEEDED BEYOND THEIR 10 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. FOR SECONDARY OWNERS THE REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE SAFETY OF OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR AND ALL THOSE AROUND THEM PRESENTS AN ISSUE. THIS IS SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MB QUICKLY STOPPED PRODUCING VEHICLES WITH THE NEW BRAKING SYSTEM EVEN AFTER THEY HAD TOUTED THIS AS BEING THE NEXT BREAK THROUGH IN BRAKING FOR ALL THEIR VEHICLE LINE. THEY KNOW IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH IS WHY THEY MOVED AWAY FROM PRODUCING IT FURTHER. THE PROBLEM IS THEY ARE NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING ALL 'SBC' BRAKING SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE AN INHERENT DEFECT FOR FAILURES. A NON SAFETY ISSUE I CAN UNDERSTAND A WARRANTY RECALL EXPIRATION, BUT NOT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STATING 'REDUCED BRAKING POWER'. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE SPC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,070.

Mileage: 25,070

A LITTLE LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO, VEHICLE'S SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED BY MERCEDES DEALER WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED UNIT UNDER THE TEN YEAR WARRANTY FOR THAT BRAKE SYSTEM. THAT SYSTEM IS VERY WELL KNOWN TO BREAK DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHICH RENDERS CAR A MOVING HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. ON MB FORUMS, IT IS STATED BY COMMENTATORS/OWNERS THAT UNIT HAS A LIFE SPAN OF 300,000 ACTUATIONS; BRAKE PUSHES. THIS IS NOT ANYWHERE IN THE MB LITERATURE OR OWNER'S MANUAL. CAR ELECTRONICS HAVE NO METER TO MEASURE OR GAUGE THOSE ACTUATIONS, SO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ME THE DRIVER BEING PREPARED FOR IT. MERCEDES BENZ NEEDS TO WARRANTY THIS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 113,107

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, I FELT NO PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL BRAKES. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKES AND STILL THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW UNTIL I GOT TO A SLIGHT INCLINE AT THE END OF THE RAMP. THEN A RED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD APPEARED READING "REDUCED BRAKE POWER". I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES. I MANAGED TO GET HOME SAFELY. I CALLED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME TO CALL THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE RECALL. AS PER THE MECHANIC, THIS ARE THE FAULTING CODES: C2131 - PRESSURE RESERVOIR FAULTY C249F - OPERATING TIME OF COMPONENT A7/3 (SBC LEFT HYDRAULIC UNIT) IS EXCEEDED C25D5 - HYDRAULIC FAULT MALFUNCTION IN PRESSURE SUPPLY AS OF THIS WRITING, MY BRAKES HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 99,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

Mileage: 81,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE PRESS PEDAL WARNING LIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE SWITCH LAMP LIGHT AND THE HYDRAULICS SPC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

Mileage: 166,000