On March 15, I purchased a C230 Mercedes from Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach, California which I found on an Internet ad. I thought I was purchasing my dream car; unfortunately it has turned into a nightmare.
My sales rep, Stephen Ivers, lied to me. First he assured me that not only was this car safe and reliable, but that I would never have to worry about taking it into the shop. Second he also guaranteed me that other than oil changes and brakes, I would be fully covered bumper-to-bumper with my Starmark warranty for the first year as well as the extra second year I purchased for an additional $895.00. Neither of these statements has turned out to be true and this sales rep was not in their employ one month later.
Why This Automotive is Unsafe to Drive
1.in May, I was making a left-hand turn, and when I stepped on the accelerator, the car did not move forward. The engine was spinning, and I drifted off to the right-hand shoulder and turned the car off. This was an extremely unsafe situation for both my son, the passenger who was with me at the time and myself (serviced 5/14).
2.in September, I backed out onto a road and put the car in drive. When I stepped on the gas pedal, the car did not move. After a few seconds, it dropped into gear and lurched forward. Once again, I was placed in a highly unsafe situation because of a faulty transmission (serviced 9/16)
Why This Automotive is Unreliable
1. Antilock Braking System fails to operate 4 times:
May 14 Airmass sensor replaced
October 1 Right rear wheel axle sensor replaced
October 7 Removed metallic debris from magnet
October 23 Control Panel replaced
2. July 23 - temperature sensor for the air conditioning had to be replaced after two days of sweating during the hottest summer period.in addition, the locks on this car would intermittently open and close while driving. The service department said it was something they can't duplicate and therefore can't fix. Also, three different times, the key sensor has failed to open the locks, and I've had to manually open the car, which disables the alarm.
3. September 16 Reassembled and reinstalled transmission. Also replaced Belt Tensioner Shock and tensioner. Automax discovered both an oil leakage from the hydraulic engine mounts and a noisy tensioner shock during a routine oil change. Fletcher Jones had already serviced this car several times and both of these problems were not diagnosed. This is when I discovered I do not really have bumper-to-bumper coverage, as I was charged $88.10 for a part. On the advice of Automax, I had asked for a different service rep, Chris Grogan. When I told him my sales rep said I had full coverage for 2 years, he replied, I can't be responsible for what your sales rep told you. I asked him at this point if Mercedes service reps worked on commission. He replied, No, which turned out to be another lie.
4. October 1 Cup holder broken, replaced at N/C per Larry Crecelius
October 23 Rear view mirror broken, replaced at N/C per Larry Crecelius. My Starmark Warranty did not cover both items.
For the short period of time that I have owned this car, the inconvenience is unjustifiable and it is affecting my sales business. I have spent over 24 hours traveling to and from their service center. Unfortunately because the car was purchased new, it is not eligible under the California Lemon Law; Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty act, found in California Civil Code sections 1790 et seq.including the senate bill 1718, which reduces the number of failed repair attempts from four to two on defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The problems outlined here certainly qualify.
I requested that Fletcher Jones purchase this automotive back from me, but my request was denied and no reason was given. It must be said that my regular Fletcher Jones Service Rep, Larry Crecelius, is one of the most professional, honest and decent human beings I've ever worked with.
Cathy
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
U.S.A.
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