-
Fuel/propulsion System
09/06/2011
I PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION TO FILL MY TANK. AFTER ADDING FUEL TO CAPACITY I BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I ATTRIBUTED THE SMELL TO POSSIBLY SPILLING FUEL ON MYSELF. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND THEN HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I CONTINUED TO SMELL FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE TANK THAT WAS SPLASHING / VENTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SHARED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CLS. *TR
-
Wheels
09/28/2013
A CAST ALUMINUM WHEEL ON MY 2008 MERCEDES BENZ CLS63 AMG CRACKED DUE TO A CASTING DEFECT. IN THE INSIDE LIP OF THE RIM OF THE WHEEL AT THE OUTER DIAMETER IS A VOID, OR HOLE, THAT WAS CREATED BY A AN AIR BUBBLE THAT WAS ENTRAINED IN THE MOLTEN METAL BUT COULD NOT ESCAPE THE MOLD BEFORE THE METAL SOLIDIFIED. THIS VOID MAKES THE RADIUS OF THE WHEEL AT THAT POINT WEAK AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. I AM ENTERING THIS COMPLAINT REGARDING THE CASTING DEFECT IN ORDER TO PRESENT INFORMATION THAT PROVES MERCEDES-BENZ MUST REPLACE ONE WHEEL ON MY VEHICLE. THE USA CONSUMER ACTION HANDBOOK CONTACTING NHTSA IS SUGGESTED. THE HANDBOOK MADE ONE THING CLEAR, NHTSA LAW STATES, IF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS, THE MAKER MUST FIX IT AT NO COST TO YOU, EVEN IF YOUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. TO BE FAIR, I AM ONLY ASKING MERCEDES-BENZ REIMBURSE ME FOR THE UNSAFE WHEEL WITH A REFURBISHED ONE COSTING $450, RATHER THAN A NEW ONE COSTING $1200. HAVE FURTHER SUBSTANTIATION THAT...
-
Wheels
09/28/2013
A MERCEDES-BENZ 2008 CLS63 AMG HAS FOUR OEM CAST ALUMINUM WHEELS WITH LARGE CASTING DEFECTS IN THE FORM OF DEBRIS COLLECTED AT A KNIT LINE AROUND ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. THE OTHER THREE PICTURES SHOW THE KNIT LINE AS WELL AS MOLD DEBRIS. THE DEFORMITY, OR KNIT LINE, IS THE LOCATION WHERE THE TWO MOLD FRONTS MEET WHEN THE MOLD IS FILLED. ONE OF THESE DEFECTS LOOKS LIKE IT GOES ALL OF THE WAY THROUGH THE WHEEL. THIS ONE SHOULD LEAK AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ON A LEAK TEST. WHEELS ARE SCRAP. THEY HAVE ANOTHER CASTING DEFECT FROM MOISTURE IN MOLTEN AL. WHEN CAST THE WATER BOILS AND OUTGASSES FORMING PITS ON THE SURFACE OF THE PART. THIS CAUSES WEAKNESS. IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. THE VEHICLES NOW HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT. THESE DEFECTS CREATE A WEAK SPOT ON THE WHEEL. WITH THE CONSTANT LOADING AND UNLOADING OF FORCE ON THE DEFECT A CRACK HAS DEVELOPED AND ENLARGED BY WAY OF FATIGUE. THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN DEF...
-
Fuel/propulsion System
03/10/2012
ON MARCH 10, 2012 MY WIFE STARTED THE AFOREMENTIONED VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AS SHE EXITED THE PARKING GARAGE, THE TOXIC FUEL SMELL BECAME UNBEARABLE AND SHE IMMEDIATELY TURNED- AROUND, RE-ENTERED THE GARAGE, QUICKLY SHUT OFF THE CAR AND EXITED THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF FAINTING AND / OR AN EXPLOSION. THE MB REP EXPLAINED TO US THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM; WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE UNDER THE BACKSEAT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT; AND THE LEAKAGE CAUSED FUEL TO BE PUMPED INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN AND ACCUMULATE UNDER THE REAR SEAT; THEREBY SATURATING THE INSULATION, CARPET AND REAR SEAT CUSHIONS. THE MECHANICS REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM; AND REITERATED THAT THE GASOLINE LEAKED UP INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT (FROM THE FAULTY FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE), SATURATED THE CARPET, THE FLOOR INSULATION AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL SEAT CUSHIONS. IN OUR OPINION, A CRITICAL VEHICLE DESI...
-
Fuel/propulsion System
02/01/2013
MY CAR HAS A FUEL TANK LEAK AND DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS. A FEW DAYS AGO I NOTICED A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING UP MY CAR AT THE GAS STATION. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AND BOTH FUEL SENDING UNITS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT MBUSA NEEDS TO CORRECT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM AND ISSUE A FORMAL SAFETY RECALL. *TR