2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class SUV 4WD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS450. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD HOWEVER, MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT SOUGHT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO BODY SHOP. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY WINDSHIELD EXPLODED.

MERCEDES BENZ HAS GROSSLY MIS-REPRESENTED THE ACTIVE BRAKE SYSTEM FEATURE. THE OWNERS MANUAL LEAVES OUT A KEY ELEMENT, WHICH IS THAT THE DRIVERS FOOT NEEDS TO BE OFF THE PEDAL FOR THE FEATURE TO ACTIVATE. I.E. THE FEATURE WILL ONLY WORK WHEN THE DRIVER IS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS IS A CRITICAL FEATURE AND ONE THEY SHOULDN'T OMIT. I EXPECT THE THE AUTO BRAKE TO COME INTO EFFECT WHEN I'M APPROACHING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A A PACE THAT WILL LEAD TO A COLLISION. BUT IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. FOLLOWING IS WHAT THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS (NOTE THAT IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATION). "ACTIVE BRAKE ASSIST CAN HELP YOU TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE TRAVELING IN FRONT OR REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF SUCH A COLLISION. IF ACTIVE BRAKE ASSIST DETECTS THAT THERE IS A RISK OF COLLISION, YOU WILL BE WARNED VISUALLY AND ACOUSTICALLY. IF YOU DO NOT REACT TO THE VISUAL AND AUDIBLE COLLISION WARNING, AUTONOMOUS BRAKING CAN BE INITIATED IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS. IF YOU APPLY THE BRAKE YOURSELF IN A CRITICAL SITUATION, ADAPTIVE BRAKE ASSIST SUPPORTS YOU WITH SITUATION DEPENDENT BRAKING ASSISTANCE"

DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT ̃75MPH TOWARD 202 W ARIZONA FREEWAY, DASHBOARD SHOWED A "ENGINE MALFUNCTION + 48 V BATTERY SEE OPERATOR'S MANUAL:. 1 MINUTE LATER ANOTHER ERROR ON SCREEN SAYING, COOLANT OFF TURN ENGINE OFF. THEN THE CAR LOST THE POWER IN THE MIDDLE LANE OFF FREEWAY. LUCKILY NO CARS BEHIND US. CAR IN SERVICE AT MERCEDES DEALER IN CHANDLER AZ

BACKUP SAFETY ALERT SYSTEM DESIGN IS INADEQUATE. EXTERIOR SENSORS ARE INSENSITIVE OR ERRATIC, WARNING BUZZER IS FAINT-TO-INAUDIBLE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS OTHER AMBIENT NOISE SUCH AS RADIO PLAYING, AND WARNING BUZZER SOUND LEVEL IS NOT ADJUSTABLE. WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE COUPLED TO THE AUDIBLE ALERT ARE REMOTE FROM THE DRIVER, NOT VISIBLE WITHOUT TURNING DRIVER'S BODY AROUND 180 DEGREES, WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR MANY DRIVERS. SYSTEM SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO THAT WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE GEAR AND IN MOTION ANY ENCROACHING PEDESTRIANS OR TRAFFIC OR OBSTACLES RESULT IN AN AUDIBLE WARNING COUPLED WITH WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE VISIBLE IN THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY THE INTENT OF THE DESIGNER. HOWEVER, THIS DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FALLS SHORT OF BEING EFFECTIVE, AS THE SENSORS AREN'T RELIABLE, THE BUZZER IS NOT LOUD ENOUGH, AND THE LIGHTS ARE NOT VISIBLE TO PEOPLE UNABLE TO TWIST THEIR BODIES AROUND TO LOOK DIRECTLY BACKWARD.