2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 VAN RWD

TAKATA RECALL: HAVE BEEN RECEIVING RECALL NOTICES ABOUT YEARS (FIRST RECALL APRIL 2016). MADE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS TO REPLACE, BUT THEY WERE OUT WHEN I ARRIVED. CURRENTLY I'VE HAD AN AIR BAG ON ORDER TO BE HELD IN MY NAME SINCE JUNE 2018. STILL NO SUCCESS.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF MASSAPEQUA, 101 EAST SUNRISE HIGHWAY, AMITYVILLE, NY 11701 (631) 213-2023) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE SRS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF BROOKLYN, LOCATED AT 1800 SHORE PKWY BROOKLYN, NY 11214) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ETHER ELEMENT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,097.

IT IS HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND WE BELIEVE THAT WAITING FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR IS TOO LONG.

ROOF MOUNTED A/C LEAKS WATER INSIDE THE VAN EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THIS IS MY SECOND SPRINTER WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND IT AFFECTS MY BUSINESS TREMENDOUSLY AS I OWN AN EXECUTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, NOT THE TYPE OF PROBLEM EXPECTED ON A MERCEDES

MY SPRINTER IS A VERY LOW MILEAGE SPRINTER, I JUST RECENTLY PASSED THE 6,000 MILES ( IT IS A 2011 MODEL) THE CAR HAS BEEN INCORPORATED IN MY COMPANY'S FLEET. I OWN AN EXECUTIVE GROUND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, RECENTLY ON A LOCAL TRIP TRANSPORTING SOME EXECUTIVE PASSENGERS, IT STARTED TO RAIN HEAVILY AND WATER STARTED TO POUR INSIDE THE REAR SECTION OF THE VAN JUST WHERE THE PASSENGERS WERE SEATING! THE WATER WAS COMING DOWN THRU THE A/C VENTS!! THIS IS TERRIBLE. I LOOKED EVERYWHERE ONLY AND IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE SPRINTERS, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IS NOT A RECALL, ALSO THERE IS A MAJOR LAWSUIT GOING ON IN CALIFORNIA.

AS A HIGH USE BUSINESS VEHICLE, MY MERCEDES SPRINTER 2500 WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (36K MILES) WITHIN A YEAR OF PURCHASE. JUST ABOUT A MONTH BEYOND 36K, THE ROOF MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN LEAKING (MORE LIKE TORRENTING) WATER UPON THE MIDDLE BENCH SEATS AFTER EVERY RAIN. THIS WATER HAS ALSO LEAKED DOWN INTO THE FRONT ROOF MOUNTED ELECTRONICS, SUCH AS THE DOME LIGHTS, AND MADE THEM MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS ESSENTIALLY USELESS FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS TRANSPORT DURING ANY RAIN STORM. WHEN CONTACTED, AFTER MUCH RUN AROUND AND BROKEN PROMISE, THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT BECAUSE WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY, THE REPAIR WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $1800. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE MUCH MORE THAN AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AFFECTING OTHERS, BOTH IN AND OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS AND DEBILITATING MANUFACTURER DEFECT. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY FOR THIS ISSUE IN CALIFORNIA, BUT SEEING THAT I AM IN ILLINOIS, I HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE BUT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL INVESTIGATE AND HELP TO RECTIFY THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION FOR ALL AFFECTED CUSTOMERS.

WE MOVED TO HIGH ALTITUDE (6750 FT ELEVATION). FROM A STOP IT TAKES OVER THREE SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO HAVE PROPER POWER TO ACCELERATE. IT WILL START TO ROLL, BUT NO REAL POWER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ (WALTER'S MERCEDES OF RIVERSIDE, CA) DEALER THREE TIMES. THEY REFUSE TO TEST IT AT ALTITUDE AND SAY THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT SEA LEVEL (OF COURSE NOT). IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN'T PULL OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY BY MYSELF WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING HIT BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATION PEDAL FULLY AND YET, THERE WAS NO POWER. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM A DEALER AND SPENT A LOT OF MONEY. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND EVEN MORE JUST TO FIX UNNECESSARY PROBLEMS. *TR

I HAVE AN RV BUILT ON A MERCEDES DIESEL CHASSIS. ON JULY 3 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES OF TAMPA FL. THEY SAID THAT IN WAS THE OXYGEN SENSOR, BUT DID NOT HAVE IT IN STOCK NOR WAS THERE ONE AVAILABLE AT ANY OF MERCEDES WAREHOUSES IN THE US. IT WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM GERMANY AND IT MIGHT TAKE MONTHS. THEY RESET THE LIGHT AND TOLD BE I COULD TAKE IT BACK TO MD WERE I LIVE AND HAVE THE LOCAL MERCEDES FIX IT. THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD NOT HARM THE ENGINE AND I COULD DRIVE IT BACK. ABOUT 200 MILES INTO MY RETURN TRIP ON JULY 5TH (EXIT 29 IN GA), I STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND COULD ONLY GO BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH ON I 95. I FINALLY CAME TO AN EXIT AND PULL TO A TA TRUCK STOP. THE MECHANIC ON DUTY SAID THAT HE DID NOT HAVE THE COMPUTER SETTINGS TO TEST IT, BUT THERE WAS A DIESEL MECHANIC WHO MAY BE ABLE TO TEST IT. THIS BEING SATURDAY NIGHT I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY MORNING. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED ON I 95 HAS I COULD NOT MAINTAIN EVEN THE MINIMUM SPEED. IF THERE IS A BACKLOG, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A RECURRING PROBLEM AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE VEHICLE STARTED POURING WATER TO THE INTERIOR CABIN TROUGH THE ROOFTOP AIR-CONDITIONING VENT, THIS DISTRACTED MY ATTENTION AND IMPAIRED MY ABILITY TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND AFTER INSTALLING THE SPARE TIRE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LUG NUT FOR THE REGULAR TIRE COULD NOT BE USE TO INSTALL THE SPARE TIRE SINCE IT WOULD CAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO ENGAGE. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE FAILURE AND INSTALL THE NEW TIRE, THE BOLTS HAD TO BE CUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

PREVIOUSLY (DAYS AFTER PURCHASE) MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 2500 LO-TOP WITH REAR ROOF-MOUNTED HIGH POWERED A/C STARTED DRIPPING FROM THE GRILL IN THE HEADLINER DURING DRY WEATHER. ALSO, THE HEADLINER HAD A WATER SPOT. THIS WAS REPAIRED WITH A RELAY TO FIX A KNOWN VACUUM PRESSURE ISSUE WITH THE A/C. THIS TIME, WATER POURED (NOT DRIPPED) IN FROM THE GRILL AGAIN, AFTER PARKING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB DURING A RAIN. *TR

ON FEBRUARY 20, 2013, I REPORT TO ALEX RODRIGUEZ SAID: "WHEN MY 2011 MERCEDES SPRINTER RUNNING ON HIGHWAY 59, THE ENGINE AUTOMATIC STOP WORKING ABOUT 1 MINUTES."[XXX] SENT A TOW TRUCK, OUR CAR PULLED TO THE REPAIR SITE. IN MARCH 1, 2013, [XXX] CALLED "THE CAR IS NO PROBLEM, WE HAVE TO RIDE 40 MILES."ON THE SAME DAY THE CAR BACK TO MY HOME.MY WIFE CALL THEM SAID: "THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY APPEAR THIS KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCE IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING, YOU JUST RIDE OUR CAR 40 MILES AND CONCLUDE THAT OUR CAR IS NO PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE."THEY SAID: "IF YOU HAD CAR TROUBLE, WE WILLING TO TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITY."ON MARCH 3, 2013, OUR CAR IN SAN ANTONIO ON HIGHWAY 410, THE SAME SITUATION COME AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHTS IS ON .ON MARCH 3, 2013, I REGISTERED VEHICLE REPAIR ON [XXX] WEBSITE WANT MAKE RESERVATION.ON MARCH 4, 2013, I CALLED [XXX]TWO TIMES AND LEAVED MESSAGE BOOKING VEHICLE REPAIR. AT 1022AM, [XXX] CALLED ME AND SAID: "WE CAN'T FIX YOUR CAR, YOU GO TO OTHER PLACES TO REPAIR YOU ARE CAR."I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN 2 TIMES:" ARE YOU SAYING YOU REFUSE TO PROVIDE REPAIR SERVICE FOR US?"THE ANSWER IS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.WE HAVE TWO 2011 VEHICLES OF THE SAME MERCEDES SPRINTER,.ANOTHER CAR ALSO HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM, BUT NOT SO SERIOUS, AND ANOTHER ONE OFTEN RADIO NOT WORKING.WE TOOK THE CAR TO [XXX] MANY TIMES, BUT THEY SAID THAT YOUR CAR IS NO PROBLEM.NOW WHAT SHOULD WE DO? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

[XXX] IS CAR WASH STORE? IN MARCH 21, 2013, VEHICLE WARNING LAMP CAME ON AGAIN, THE INFORMATION IS :"ENGINE OIL LEVEL NOT WHEN ENG RUNNING", ON THIS DAY I ONCE PUT MY CAR TO THE [XXX], IN MARCH 26, 2013, [XXX] SEND THE CAR BACK, THEY TELL US, THE VEHICLE IS NO PROBLEM. I CHECK THE VEHICLE FOUND, "ENGINE OIL LEVEL NOT WHEN ENG RUNNING"WARNING LAMP STILL ON . I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S PROBLEM ON THIS CAR? I DON'T KNOW IF I USE THIS CAR IS BE SAFE? I WANT THIS CAR TO THE GOVERNMENT SAFETY SUPERVISION DEPARTMENT TO DO THE IDENTIFICATION, TO CONFIRM THAT THE CAR IS IT RIGHT? SAFETY? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR