2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500 Interior Lighting Problems

I WAS HAVING AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEM AND I LOOKED IT UP TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. I FOUND OUT THERE WAS AND I WROTE DOWN THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER (06V028000) AND WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT MY VIN WAS IN THE RECALL BUT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THIS WAS JULY 2014. I ALSO CALLED MERCEDES (1-800-367-6372) AND THEY STATED THE SAME THING. HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING THIS RECALL FIXED? IN ADDITION TO THIS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF MY VIN EXPIRED OR DO I HAVE TIME TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

MY 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF IN MAY 2013. THEN, JANUARY 2014, THE CLUSTER WENT DARK FOREVER. YES, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY; THE CAR IS 14 YEARS OLD, IN PERFECT SHAPE, ALWAYS GARAGED, W/ ONLY 45,000 MILES, AND THE CLUSTER COMPLETELY FAILED! QUITE SHOCKING THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT DATA CENTER WOULD FAIL AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE ON THIS PRICEY $90K CAR. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTROLS THE INTERIOR DOOR AND FLOOR LIGHTS, STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS, LOCKS, TRUNK; THERE IS TOO MUCH TO LIST THAT NOW DOESN'T WORK. NOTE: THE TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN UNLESS YOU USE THE STICK KEY AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND AWKWARD. BEWARE: IF YOU'RE IN A DARK PARKING LOT AT NIGHT AND WANT TO PUT SOMETHING IN YOUR TRUNK, FORGET IT, AS YOU HAVE NO LIGHTS AND IT TAKES SO LONG TO OPEN THE TRUNK THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY GET MUGGED IN THE MEANTIME, PLUS, THERE'S PROBABLY A MUGGER IN YOUR CAR TOO AS YOU CAN'T LOCK THE CAR AND THE ALARM DOESN'T WORK; ONLY THE TRUNK LOCKS, PERMANENTLY. ALSO, SINCE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS COMPLETELY DARK, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE, HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING, ENGINE LIGHT TROUBLE, OVERHEATING, BRAKE PROBLEMS, MAINTENANCE ISSUES, ETC. MY VIN NUMBER IS EXCLUDED FROM BEING CORRECTED BY MBUSA. MY CAR WAS IN THE EARLY DATES OF MANUFACTURE FOR THE 2000 S500. THIS IS VERY EXCLUSIONARY GIVEN MY CAR IS THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR PLUS THE PART IS THE SAME AS THOSE S500'S INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; WHY? I AM IMPLORING NHTSA WIDEN THE RECALL RANGE TO BE FAIR TO ALL OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR WHERE SOME ARE BEING RECALLED AND SOME ARE NOT. THIS MERCEDES BENZ USA "VIN DISCRIMINATION" IS UNFAIR & UNETHICAL, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AND IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE RE-OPEN INVESTIGATION #PE05-062 AND WIDEN THE RECALL IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

PLEASE RE-OPEN INVESTIGATION #PE05-062. MY 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF IN MAY 2013. THEN, JANUARY 2014, THE CLUSTER WENT DARK FOREVER. YES, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY; THE CAR IS 14 YEARS OLD, IN PERFECT SHAPE, ALWAYS GARAGED, W/ ONLY 45,000 MILES, AND THE CLUSTER COMPLETELY FAILED! QUITE SHOCKING THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT DATA CENTER WOULD FAIL AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE ON THIS PRICEY $90K CAR. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTROLS THE INTERIOR DOOR AND FLOOR LIGHTS, STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS, LOCKS, TRUNK; THERE IS TOO MUCH TO LIST THAT NOW DOESN'T WORK. NOTE: THE TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN UNLESS YOU USE THE STICK KEY AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND AWKWARD. BEWARE: IF YOU'RE IN A DARK PARKING LOT AT NIGHT AND WANT TO PUT SOMETHING IN YOUR TRUNK, FORGET IT, AS YOU HAVE NO LIGHTS AND IT TAKES SO LONG TO OPEN THE TRUNK THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY GET MUGGED IN THE MEANTIME, PLUS, THERE'S PROBABLY A MUGGER IN YOUR CAR TOO AS YOU CAN'T LOCK THE CAR AND THE ALARM DOESN'T WORK; ONLY THE TRUNK LOCKS, PERMANENTLY. ALSO, SINCE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS COMPLETELY DARK, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE, HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING, ENGINE LIGHT TROUBLE, OVERHEATING, BRAKE PROBLEMS, MAINTENANCE ISSUES, ETC. MY VIN NUMBER IS EXCLUDED FROM BEING CORRECTED BY MBUSA. MY CAR WAS IN THE EARLY DATES OF MANUFACTURE FOR THE 2000 S500. THIS IS VERY EXCLUSIONARY GIVEN MY CAR IS THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR PLUS THE PART IS THE SAME AS THOSE S500'S INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; WHY? I AM IMPLORING NHTSA WIDEN THE RECALL RANGE TO BE FAIR TO ALL OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR WHERE SOME ARE BEING RECALLED AND SOME ARE NOT. THIS MERCEDES BENZ USA "VIN DISCRIMINATION" IS UNFAIR & UNETHICAL, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AND IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE RE-OPEN INVESTIGATION #PE05-062 AND WIDEN THE RECALL IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500 (N/A). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

Mileage: 83,000

REQUEST TO RE-OPEN "PE 05-062" INVESTIGATION & ORDER AN EXPANSION OF THE RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON ALL MODELS AFFECTED. ON OR ABOUT 8/17/2010, I FIRST NOTICED THE FLICKERING OF THE CLUSTER PANEL (CP) , WHICH WOULD COME AND OFF; I THEN CONTACTED A MB DEALER IN MY AREA AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM/DEFECT AND THE DEALER IN TURN CONTACTED MB TO REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CP. THE DEALER WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL BUT RATHER, SUBJECT TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY; I THEN CONTACTED MB AND DEMANDED PROOF AS TO THE RATIONALE FOR RECALLING VERY FEW VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AND DEMANDED DOCUMENTATION AS REGARDS THE MANUFACTURERS OF THIS PRODUCT(CP). THE COUNSEL FOR MB, MR. ZEPF RESPONDED ON 9/24/2010 WITH A CONVOLUTED EXPLANATION AND AT THE SAME REFUSING TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. ON 12/04/2011, I WAS TOLD THAT MY REAR LIGHTS(BRAKE, ETC) WERE NOT COMING ON, I HAVE SINCE STOPPED USING MY VEHICLE. MB HAS INTENTIONALLY LIMITED THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED AND DESPITE THE INABILITY OF MB TO EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIP OF THREE(3) ODI COMPLAINTS THAT WERE PRODUCED BEFORE THE DATES OF PRODUCTION OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE THREE FAILURE MODES IDENTIFIED BY MB.[A. MOTAMEMEDAMIN 2/8/06] ALSO, PLEASE VISIT BENZWORLD.ORG - MB DISCUSSION FORUM FOR ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. MB HAS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT OF TITLE 49 C.F.R. 573.6(C)(2) "IDENTIFICATION OF THE VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT POTENTIALLY CONTAINING THE DEFECT OR NONCOMPLIANCE, INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUFACTURER'S BASIS FOR ITS DETERMINATION OF THE RECALL POPULATION AND A DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT TO BE RECALLED DIFFER FROM SIMILAR VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL"; SAME CP, PROBLEM ON ALL VEHICLES. UPDATED 01/06/12 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 01/06/12 UPDATED IVOQ 01/10/12 *TR

Mileage: 69,565

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ 500S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, AND ENGAGED THE BRAKES FORCEFULLY. SUDDENLY, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND GAUGES WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE RECALL MANUFACTURER REPORT DATE WAS FEBRUARY 1, 2006. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED SEPTEMBER OF 2009, AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW OF THE EARLY EXPIRATION OF THE SAFETY RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 85,000

THE INSTRUMENTS PANEL LIGHTING FLASHES AND GOES DARK AND YOU CANNOT READ THE DIALS ON THE DASH BOARD. THERE IS A BULLETIN ISSUED BY YOU RECALL 06V028000 BUT MERCEDES BENZ HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM CLAIMING THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FALL IN THEIR RECALL WHATEVER THAT MEANS. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT OUT. THE DASHBOARD GAUGES AND INDICATORS DID NOT ILLUMINATE AND MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND WAS GIVEN A COPY OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 06V028000 BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 09/20/06. *JB

Mileage: 46,012

I OWN A YEAR 2000 MERCEDES S. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS DEVELOPED INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (NUMBER: 06V028000). THE DEALER REFUSES TO MAKE A REPLACEMENT UNDER THE RECALL AND MERCEDES USA DENIES THAT THERE IS A RECALL. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. THANK YOU. *JB

Mileage: 71,350

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BACKLIGHTING THE SPEEDOMETER BURNED OUT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A RECALL #06V028000 CONCERNING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE PART WAS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS REPLACED AT COST. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK UPDATED 7/21/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 55,710

THE MERCEDES S-CLASS HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND EVEN WHEN RECALLS ARE MADE, MERCEDES BENZ NORTH AMERICA UNDERSTATES THE NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED TO MINIMIZE THEIR LOSS DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING. MY MERCEDES DEALER (CROWN MERCEDES IN DUBLIN, OHIO - TEL 614-799-4666) HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHICH DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, NOR DO THE GAUGES WORK, EVEN THOUGH A RECALL WAS MANDATED AS PER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 06V028000. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF HONORING THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM UNLESS CASH PAYMENT IS MADE IN THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE COST. MY CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE GAUGES ARE ALL STUCK SO THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT SPEED I AM GOING AT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE LEFT, I DON'T KNOW THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR, OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE OF A KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFECT OF MERCEDES BENZ INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS, BUT THEY ARE REFUSING SERVICE. I AM FORCED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK UN-REPAIRED ALTHOUGH THEY REQUIRED A $210.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE, AND I AM VERY WORRIED THAT I MAY RUN INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH IT DUE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE AND LACK OF CONCERN WITH THE RECALL. PLEASE HELP. YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT CELL (614) 446-6180. YOUR HELP IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CONCERNS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITHOUT SEEING MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT SPEED I AM GOING AT, WITHOUT KNOWING HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE LEFT, WITHOUT KNOWING ANY OF THOSE THINGS. I AM IN DANGER AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMIT THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE CLUSTER, THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PARTS & LABOR. IS IT FAIR TO PUT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AT RISK BECAUSE OF THE CORPORATE WRONG DOINGS AND UNDER REPORTING AND ARROGANCE OF MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATION? DO I NEED TO ENDURE THE RISK OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BEFORE NHTSA TAKES SOME ACTION? PLEASE HELP. *JB

MERCEDES-BENZ UNDER REPORTING HAS BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT MY AC BLOWER MOTOR, WHICH TURNS ON ONLY SPORADICALLY, ON AVERAGE ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME. I WENT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD REFUSED TO FIX IT SAYING THAT MINE WAS NOT ONE OF THE CARS MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE ACCEPTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V141000. HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC'S DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR REGULATOR NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND THAT IT IS INDEED A DEFECT OF THE ENGINEERING AND THAT MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE REPLACED IT AS IT WAS EXACTLY THE EFFECT OF THE PROBLEM THEY UNDERREPORTED FROM THE RECALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR NHTSA TO PROVIDE SPECIAL TREATMENT TO MERCEDES BENZ - TO THIS DAY, I AM DRIVING IN THE HEAT A SPORADICALLY WORKING BLOWER MOTOR THAT I HAVE TO SUFFER WITH BECAUSE OF MERCEDES FLAW. IF A PURELY AMERICAN COMPANY LIKE FORD HAD DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, NHSTA WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED SUCH SERIOUS MANUFACTURER VIOLATIONS, BUT WHY THE LENIENT TREATMENT FOR MERCEDES-BENZ? RIGHT NOW, IN ADDITION TO THE FAULTY BLOWER MOTOR REGULATOR, I AM SUFFERING WITH A DEFECTIVE AND NON-WORKING AND NON-ILLUMINATING INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER ALSO WHICH WAS RIGHTLY ADDRESSED BY NHTSA IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 BUT BECAUSE MERCEDES BENZ MISREPORTS THE NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO FIX MANY OF THEIR DEFECTS, I AM STUCK IN SERIOUS DANGER. PLEASE HELP! *JB