What 233 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-benz E-class

FAN FIRE. OIL SMELLING SMOKE WHICH TURNED TO FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11185541

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS BEFORE STOPPING INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT WHEN REVERSING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT MADE THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: THE COVER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD, REMOVED/INSTALLED A SEAL, NON-RETURN VALVE, CHAIN TENSIONER, SEALANT MB, FLANGE GASKET, HEXALOBULAR BOLT, THE COVER ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD, REMOVED/INSTALLED A SEAL, LEFT AND RIGHT SECONDARY DRIVE CHAIN TENSIONERS, FRONT COVER CYLINDER, AND THE CHECK VALVE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE BRUISED THE CONTACT AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,597.

NHTSA ODI 10641320

WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESS WAY IN DALLAS, TEXAS MY GPS MADE AN ERROR CONCERNING AN EXIT AND I WAS REQUIRED TO DIVERT QUICKLY TO THE LEFT TO MAKE EXIT LANE .TIME WAS 6:00 PM ,HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT AND DRY. MY MERCEDES PRE ACTIVATED A SKID MODE AND THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY A 70% CUT BACK IN ENGINE POWER .A YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SKID MODE CAME ON OPERATOR SCREEN BUT THERE WAS NO SKIDDING TAKING PLACE. I WAS HELPLESS WITH NO POWER TO KEEP UP WITH THE 50-60 MPH TRAFFIC WHILE TRYING TO GET INTO LANE .CONSEQUENTLY A SEMI TRACTOR STRUCK MY LEFT REAR FENDER /BUMPER CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY MERCEDES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TRACTOR. ACCORDING TO MERCEDES THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THIS AS A SAFETY FEATURE. IF THIS IS TRUE THEN THEY ACTUALLY IN MY OPINION WHILE DEVELOPING SAFETY FEATURES CREATED ANOTHER UN SAFE CONDITION WHERE AS THE SEMI COULD HAVE RUN OVER MY WIFE AND I KILLING US BOTH. THIS WAS TRULY A NEAR MISS AND WE ARE VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN TO US OR SOME ONE ELSE, RESULTING IN A FATAL ACCIDENT, NOT JUST A FENDER BENDER. MERCEDES IS IN DENIAL CONCERNING ANY UN SAFE CONDITION AND REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT THIS CAR CAUSED. PLEASE REVIEW THIS VEHICLE FOR POSSIBLE CALL BACK BEFORE SOME ONE DOES GET SERIOUSLY INJURED. PERHAPS SKID MODE OR TRACTION CONTROL MAY BE HELPFUL BUT ENGINE CUT BACK AND POWER LOSS NEEDS TO BE LEFT TO THE OPERATOR NOT THE VEHICLE CONTROLLING IT'S SELF. YOUR HELP WOULD BE GRACIOUSLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10585027