2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOESN'T ILLUMINATE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 (NA) MERCEDES BENZ CL55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CL55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC FLUID AND RESET THE LIGHT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM, WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE CORRODED AND CAUSED THE STEEL LINING OF THE HOSES TO CORRODE AND LEAK HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CL55 AMG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ABC SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,471. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN CAR SCRAPING ON THE GROUND. SYSTEM LEAKING. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES CL500 EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL EXTREME CONTACT TIRES. THE FRONT TIRES WERE SIZE 255/40/R18 AND THE REAR TIRES WERE SIZE 285/35/R18. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE COMPANY WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE FINE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS 1,000. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CL55 AMG. THE ABC OR ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING, THE FLUID STARTED TO LEAK , SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE AND I NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE THICK SMOKE AND POOR VISIBILITY. I HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE THE CL55 TOWED TO MY MECHANIC MY MECHANIC, WHO SPECIALIZES IN HIGH END MERCEDES BENZ TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MERCEDES CL 55,65,600 MODELS FROM 2003-2006. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND REDESIGNED THE LATER MODELS. THE ORIGINAL STICKER PRICE OF THE CL MODEL IS ABOUT $120,000. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE ABC SYSTEM ON THE AMG MODELS BUT DID NOT MAKE A FACTORY RECALL. I HAVE KNOW MET SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL CAR, 2003-6 CL55 AMG AND ALL OF THEM HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE ABC SYSTEM REPLACED WHICH IS WELL OVER $5500. ALSO , A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO MERCEDES BENZ, CALLED BENZWORLD.COM, HAVE NUMEROUS OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH THE ABC SYSTEM. THERE IS A CAMPAIGN OF CURRENT OWNERS WHO ARE PLANNING TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE BREAKDOWN OF THE ABC SYSTEM WHILE DRIVE COMES VERY SUDDENLY AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. I AM VERY LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME. THE REPAIR IS NOT ONLY VERY COSTLY ( $5500 ), BUT WILL CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED BY ORIGINAL MERCEDES PARTS BECAUSE OF THE FLAWED DESIGN. INSTEAD OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE MERCEDES HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL ON THE 2003-2006 CL AMG MODELS TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2003 MERCEDES CL55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON JUNE 11,2006, THEY WERE INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE( LIMOUSINE) AT 45 MPH. WHEN THE DRIVER DOWN SHIFTED, THE DRIVER DROVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE FRONT END OF THE MERCEDES WAS DESTROYED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST AFTER THE CRASH. THE FRONT OF THE LIMOUSINE WAS "SHEERED" OFF. THERE WERE THREE FATALITIES AND ONE INJURY. THE CONTACT WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND ADMITTED TO THE ICU. THE POLICE RESPONDED AND FILED A POLICE HOMICIDE CASE REPORT # 246/7/9-06. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. THE CONSUMER WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN THE MERCEDES BENZ, STATED THE SEAT BACK FAILED DURING THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE DRIVER OF THE MERCEDES BENZ WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER IN THE MERCEDES BENZ WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO EXPIRED. UPDATED EVOQ 08/26/10 UPDATED 11/05/10 INFO RECEIVED 01/19/11 UPDATED EVOQ 03/28/12 UPDATED 11/25/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN HIM. UPDATED 12/02/13

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CL55 LOW-SPEED (25-35MPH) HIGH-ACCELERATION HEAD-ON IMPACT WITH A LIMOUSINE (APPROX. 45MPH) WHERE THE CL55 DASH MOUNTED AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST, AND THE CL55'S INTEGRATED SEATBELT WORN BY THE PASSENGER AND SOLE SURVIVOR RESULTED IN THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT-BACK BY 45-DEGREES WITHOUT IMPOSING A NOTABLE INJURY TO THE PASSENGER'S RIGHT SHOULDER. DUE TO THE INSTANTANEOUS NATURE OF THIS INCIDENT THE DRIVER INSTINCTIVELY BRACED HIMSELF....ON THE ACCELERATOR BEFORE IMPACT. THE 516FTLBS OF TORQUE OF THE CL55 SPEARED THROUGH THE FRONT END OF THE LIMOUSINE SHEARING THE LIMO'S ENTIRE FRONT CLIP, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION OFF UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOLDING THE LIMO WHERE ITS DRIVER SAT. TO MY AMAZEMENT I WATCHED THIS OCCUR WITH VERY LITTLE RESISTANCE EVEN AS THE FRONT END OF THE CL55 ALSO CRUMPLED WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THUS SAFETY SYSTEMS DESIGNED FOR THE CL500 ARE BEING APPLIED IN THE AMG VERSIONS OF THE SAME VEHICLES WITH POWER INCREASES NOW OVER 100% ABOVE A 302HP '03 CL500. SUCH POWER IS ABLE TO CAUSE ADVERSE AFFECTS ON THE ABILITY OF AN ACCELEROMETER TO MEASURE DECELERATION DURING AN IMPACT UNDER A FULL THROTTLE CONDITION. A SIMPLE PUSH-BUTTON CRASH SENSOR WOULD HAVE SOLVED THIS MATTER. LIKEWISE, SUCH POWER INCREASES ARE OVERCOMING THE INTEGRATED SEATBELT'S ABILITY TO RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT. OTHER THAN A SKIRMISH ATTEMPT TO HIDE BEHIND FEDERAL STATUTES, NOTHING HAS SINCE BEEN DONE TO AMEND THE DESIGN FLAWS ASSOCIATED WITH APPLYING THE CL500 SAFETY SYSTEMS IN THE AMG VERSION VEHICLES. POWER OPTIONS AVAILABLE HOWEVER, KEEP INCREASING. CONSEQUENCES ARE REAR-HEAD INJURIES TO BOTH FRONT-SEAT OCCUPANTS AFTER SUSTAINING A SERIES OF FRONTAL INJURIES. RESTRAINED PASSENGER CHOSE TO SACRIFICE HIS LIMBS AGAINST THE DASH WHILE THE DRIVER BRACED OUTWARD. OLD PART WAS SALVAGED BY INSURANCE COMPANY WITHOUT NOTICE IN DEC. 2006. CASE REPORT WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEDICAL RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

1. EXITING A CURVE ON A WINDY ROAD AT APPROX. 30MPH, DRIVER APPLIED THROTTLE CAUSING AN AUTOMATIC DOWNSHIFT INTO A 516FTLB TORQUE LUNGE. WITH NO STEERING CONTROL IN 1-SECOND WE WERE IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. DRIVER FOUGHT TO REGAIN CONTROL DURING SECOND NO. 2. THEN A LIMO BLEW THROUGH A STOP SIGN ON A MERGE LANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. BOTH DRIVER'S BRACED ON THEIR GAS PEDALS. 2. THE MERCEDES CL & SL CLASSES HAVE THE SAME FRONT SEATS WITH AN INTEGRATED SEAT BELT SYSTEM. SINCE IT WAS ONLY CONNECTED TO THE SEAT, THE SEAT FAILED WITHOUT EVEN A BRUISE TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER (BY OVER 30-40 DEGREES). I WAS LEFT AGAINST THE DASH BOARD (WITH MY SEATBELT ON) THROWING LIMBS AT MY SURVIVAL. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, AFTER BREAKING MY LEFT FEMUR TWICE, SMASHING TWO KNEES, BREAKING MY FOREARM, HITTING MY HEAD ATOP MY LEFT HAND ON THE DASH AND LEAVING MY BODY WHEN I PUSHED BACK AND RETURNED I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO THINK THE AIR BAG HAS YET TO GO OFF. THEN IT DID, PICKING ME UP BY MY HEAD, SMASHING IT AGAINST THE MOONROOF BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO REST IN A MANGLED SEAT POSITION. 3. IN THE 2.75 YEARS IT TOOK TO GET TO WRITING THIS CORRESPONDENCE, MERCEDES HAS INCREASED THEIR CL POWER OPTIONS BY ANOTHER 150HP AND 250FTLBS OF TORQUE TO 650HP/750FTLBS OF TORQUE WITH THE SAME SEAT/BELT ARRANGEMENT. NHRA RULES REQUIRE 5-POINT HARNESSES ATTACHED TO FRAME/ROLLCAGE COMPONENTS FOR A CAR CAPABLE OF TRAVERSING THE 1/4MILE IN 12 SECONDS OR LESS. THE CL55-65'S RANGE FROM MID 12'S TO MID 11'S. AND FAIL TO CONNECT ANY PORTION OF THE BELT TO THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. IT MAKES NO SENSE ESPECIALLY IN A CAR THAT WEIGHS 4400LBS TO LEAVE THEIR OCCUPANTS FENDING FOR THEMSELVES IN MID FLIGHT WHILE "BUCKLED UP". *TR

BURNT HOLE FROM SEAT WARMER ON DRIVER'S SEAT LEFT SIDE. BURNT RIGHT THROUGH COAT AND JEANS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT 50 MPH, THE SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN 5 INCHES AND A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN OPERATED ROUGHLY AND WAS DRIVEN TO A RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND FLUID ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE, THE HYDRAULIC HOSE AND ACTIVE BODY CONTROL PUMP WERE REPLACED. A NHTSA RECALL, #04V228000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE SUSPENSION HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL.

DT: CONSUMER SMELLS A GAS ODOR IN THE CAR. SHE HAS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM SINCE SHE BOUGHT THE CAR.*AK

DT: THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN BAD FROM THE TIME SHE PURCHASED THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 17,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME WAS @3,4000 MILES, BUT SHE HAS TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH A KEYLESS GO DEVICE. WHEN THIS DEVICE IS USED TO START THE VEHICLE IT IS NOT MOBILE. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, PUT IT INTO GEAR OR ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO TURN THE MOTOR OFF, AND FLAT BED THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE MODULE THAT OPERATES THIS DEVICE. THERE'S TSB ON THIS ISSUE. *AK *NM

WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED TO THE RIGHT AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE'S ESP(TILT SAFETY) SYSTEM ACTIVATED. DEALER FIRST DIAGNOSED THAT OPERATION WAS IMPROPER, BUT THEN STATED IT WAS NORMAL. *JB

WHEN CONSUMER EXITED FROM HIGHWAY, AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE'S ESP(ANTI-TILT ) SYSTEM ENGAGED. DEALER AT FIRST ADVISED THAT OPERATION WAS IRREGULAR. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT, THE DEALER STATED THE OPERATION WAS NORMAL. VEHICLE IS A 2003 MERCEDES G500. *JB

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A "ROARING" NOISE AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION NOTICE THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. DEALER CAME TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSED "THE INBOARD SIDEWALL WAS SPLIT FROM THE WHEEL TO THE TREAD". TIRES WERE ORIGINAL. VEHICLE IS A 2003 MERCEDES E500. TIRE INFO: CONTINENTAL CONTITOURING CONTACT ECO PLUS 245/45R17 DOT NO. LMUXPXBU4402 **TS**TT