Mercedes Benz is aware of problems which have plagued their entire line of cars over the past several years.in fact, the entire auto industry is aware. Mercedes has repurchased hundreds of vehicles in states which have tough lemon laws.
Mercedes is aware of the serious electrical problems caused by (in their own words) 'not checking the quality of the components we were buying from our vendors'.
In my case, I was driving at night when the entire dashboard went dark. Then...
On four seperate occasions, the ABS braking system went out, and according to the owners manual, "it could cause the automatic transmission to malfunction leading to ACCIDENT." (page 291 in the owner's manual). I pointed all this out to Mercedes Dealer in Tucson, but they can't fix the problems.
There are other problems with this vehicle, but here is the slimy little coverup they are engaged in based on my own observation with my car and my wife's car:
In an attempt to overcome these problems, they have a Certified Pre-Owned program. They supposedly inspect the entire vehicle and make sure it meets Mercedes "exacting standards". There are 155 items they inspect and bring up to standard, and this inspection covers just about everything there is on the vehicle.
It's all written in a report which they fill out, sign and date and give you when you buy the car.
I bought a 2003 Certified Pre Owned Mercedes S430 November 22. BUT, I quickly found out that no inspection had been done at all.
It's the little things that can trip up A CRIMINAL ACT.
First thing I noticed was the wiper blades were crumbling from dry rot. Items 72 and 149 (which cover the wipers and wiper blades on the Certification document were checked off as OK, which means it meets Mercedes Benz 'exacting standards'.
At first, the service manager refused to replace them, because they are a 'consumable' item. I pointed out to him they were rotted and falling apart, and the car had just been inspected and certified. He reluctantly replaced them.
The DC outlets in the rear did not work. This is item 53 on the checklist. I pointed that out to Evan, our service advisor. Evan, along with another service person and myself tried to make them work to no avail. I didn't have time to wait for a complete repair at that time, so we agreed to have them repaired the next time I came in which was taking place about every 2 weeks.
Next time I brought it in because the brakes didn't work, they told me the DC outlets were never broken and didn't need any repair. (what actually happens is that they repair the problem, but they don't fill out a repair report. That's because it would show up in the vehicle's history report, and they don't want that to happen.
The point is that the car turned out to be dangerous to drive, was never inspected, and I was 'forced' to have a dozen repairs done AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE because they never did them in the first place!
My wife also bought a Certified Mercedes a week after I did from the same dealer in Tucson. Her's had a few scratches on the door, which they told her they would re-paint. A month later, they called her and told her to drop off the car for the touch up paint job.
Instead, they gave her a tube of touch up paint and told her to apply it, let it dry and apply it again! (SEE THE PHOTO OF THE PAINT TUBE, WITH MY WIFE'S NAME WRITTEN ON THE MERCEDES ENVELOPE)
That's item number 141 and it was checked off as OK.
Then, there was the issue that her car didn't have any certifcation paperwork, and it would have to go through the certification process again?
I asked how long that would take.
Before I tell the service advisor's response, please understand that they allegedly inspect 155 items including everything under the hood, the undercarriage, the body, the electrical systems, the interior, the exterior, the trunk, wheels, engine, upholstery, carpeting, air condition charge system, fluid levels, road test, and more.
So, I anticipated they would need at least half a day or more.
Even if you allow just 3 minutes for each item, that would be 7.75 hours to inspect and repair.
Evan told me to come back in 90 minutes and it would be done.
Hmmmmm, how'd he know it would pass in the first place? And, how could they possibly do all that work in 90 minutes?
It's because all Mercedes Benzes pass, but the don't ever get inspected. They simply need 90 minutes to fill out all the 155 little boxes, sign and date the report.
Then, although it is covered for 12 months bumper to bumper, we found out that it can be dangerous and is very misleading of them. We also are burdened with the responsibility of bringing it in for repairs each time something goes wrong.
First rain we got, my wife's wipers did not work. She has also had her gas tank electronics replaced, passenger window motor replaced, and WE ARE CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY, based on the serious problems mine has.
I talked to the General Manager, John Hornbeck, one month after purchase and after numerous service calls. I wanted a refund. He said no. He also stated this brand requires more maintenence than others. I told him of the danger of driving these vehicles. He laughed it off.
I did what the Mercedes Benz Warranty manual says to do: First: discuss with the service manager, then the general manager.
Then: contact Mercedes Benz USA, LLC in Montvale New Jersey.
I did all the above with a written report, and sent it certified mail.
I got a curt reply: "We have rec'd your letter.in order to expedite the handling of this, we are referring it to the dealer for local attention."
Bottom line is that with the brakes not working, the fuel gauge not working, the dash lights going out, etc, I felt I was putting myself in harms way, along with my wife.
I decided to get rid of these cars. The most I could get from any dealer, including all the Mercedes dealers in Arizona was $33,000 (I just paid $51,000 4 months earlier). But, my life is more important, so I had no choice.
My wife's car was also 4 months old. She just paid $33,000 for it. The most she was offered by any dealer in the state was $24,000.
The prices we paid were actual wholesale, so we got a good deal. But, the dealers simply check the VIN and can tell the history of each car.
When my wife traded for a Toyota, the Toyota dealer told her it had a history of electrical problems (which we already knew by then).
So, we are out $23,000 because we were LIED TO BY MERCEDES, who knowingly tried to hide the fact that NO INSPECTION took place, and who also put two extremely unsafe vehicles on the road.
Larry
TUCSON, Arizona
U.S.A.
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