What 185 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-benz E-class Cabrio

AT A DEAD STOP ON A RED LIGHT THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF FORCING ME TO STEP ON THE BRAKES WITH A GREAT AMOUNT OF FORCE, IT HAPPEN SO UNEXPECTEDLY THAT I DIN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE CAR ACCELERATED ITSELF THREE OR FOUR TIMES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT ON NEUTRAL VERY UNEASY AND SCARY SITUATION TO FIND YOUR SELF IN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (MOTOR WERKS, 1000 W GOLF RD, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60169) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

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"TAKATA RECALL" THE REPAIR PARTS ARE NOT AVALIABLE TO CORRECT OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, WHAT AM I TO DO.

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1- NEW COMPLETE BRAKE JOBS DONE BY MERCEDES DEALER BUT THE SHUDDER ALWAYS THERE. TOOK THEM TO MERCEDES DEALER AGAIN FOR INSPECTION AND PAID $90.00 PLUS. NOTHING WRONG BUT THE SHUDDER IS STILL THERE. 2- REAR SUSPENSION KEEP DROPPING OVERNIGHT PARK IN A GARAGE.

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PRE-SAFE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SEE OPERATORS MANUEL INSTRUCTED TO TAKE TO DEALER.REPAIR INVOLVES DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.

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FUEL LEAKING FROM RIGHT REAR AREA - WHEN CAR IS FILLED UP - I STOPPED WHEN PUMP CLICKED OFF - DID NOT OVERFILL - YOU HAD A EXTENSION OF WARRANTY ON MERCEDES UP TO 2009 BUT THIS 2013 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ITS UNDER THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER SIDE - RIGHT WHERE A CAR SEAT WOULD BE FOR A KID - SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BY THIS. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL !! 2013 SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EXTENTION BIG PROBLEM WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND 1ST TIME WE FILLED IT UP

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THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL UP AND/OR DOWN HAS BECOME INOPERABLE. HOWEVER THE IN & OUT ADJUSTMENT STILL WORKS. THIS MAKES PROPER STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG LOCATION IMPOSSIBLE. IT WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT IN THE PROPER/COMFORTABLE POSITION. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND THIS APPARENTLY IS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM IN MERCEDES BENZ AUTOMOBILES. SAFE ADJUSTMENT IS IMPOSSIBLE. VEHICLE STATIONARY.

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AD BLU HEATER FAILURE WITH CHECK ENG LIGHT MULTIPLE FAILURES AND CODES.

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FROM THE FIRST DAY THE CAR WAS DELIVERED, THE ENGINE HAD SEVERAL SERIOUS ENGINE MISS-FIRES WHERE IT WOULD NOT RUN ON ALL OF ITS CYLINDERS. DISABLING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WOULD RE-FLASH THE COMPUTER. FROM THE FIRST DAY THE CAR WAS DELIVERED, THE BODY FELL APART, REQUIRING A SPECIALIST FROM GERMANY TO RE-WELD AND REINFORCE THE BODY AROUND THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT. I HAVE THE WORK ORDERS, BUT THEY HAVE PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THEM, PREVENTING ME FROM UPLOADING THEM.

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CAR: 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E-350 4-DOOR V6 SEDAN WITH SPORTS PACKAGE, 28,000 MILES. INCIDENT: VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING FROM 25 MPH ON RAMP TO ENTER FREEWAY. BEFORE REACHING FREEWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD NOISES FROM THE FRONT AND VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. ACCELERATING MADE IT WORSE. AT 35-40 MPH, DRIVER DECIDED TO EASE BACK TO 25-30, TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS, AND TAKE NEXT EXIT. CAR WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND SERVICING. DIAGNOSIS FROM DEALERSHIP: "CAR HAS A BAD CYLINDER HEAD THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CYLINDER HEAD #3 IS THE BAD ONE. THIS IS ALSO CAUSING THE MISFIRING OF CYLINDER #1 AND #2." SERVICE REQUEST: "R/S CYLINDER HEAD COMPLETE COOLANT GASKETS EST HOLE JOB PARTS". OVER $11,000 PARTS AND LABOR. COMMENTS: CAR HAD VERY RECENTLY BEEN SERVICED AS PER RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE BY SAME DEALERSHIP. EVEN THOUGH I AM SECOND OWNER AND BOUGHT CAR FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, MBUSA CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED AS PER SCHEDULE FROM THE BEGINNING, AND THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIRD-PARTY MECHANICS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A 2013 MB E-CLASS WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES SUFFERING FROM THIS KIND OF ENGINE PROBLEM UNLESS IT MISSED SERVICING ALONG THE WAY.

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"TAKATA RECALL" ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN I TRAVEL BACK HOME FROM WORK (DRIVING 85+MILES), I HEAR THIS BUBBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED AND THEN PARK THE CAR AND TURN OFF AND YOU SHOULD HEAR THE SOUND. IT SOUNDS AS THO SOMETHING IS BOILING. DEALER CLAIM THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT I'M AFRAID THAT ONE DAY SOMETHING WILL BURST AND I GET SCULLED.

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WHILE PARALLEL PARKING IN FRONT OF A SMALL RESTAURANT IN A LARGE NORTH TEXAS CITY THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A HIGH SPEED BACKWARDS, CLIMBING OVER A SIDEWALK CURB AN THEN CLIMBED OVER A NEARLY 3 FOOT HIGH RETAINING WALL. THE REAR END OF THE CAR RESTED ON TOP OF THE RETAINING WALL. IF THE RETAINING WALL BETWEEN THE SIDE WALK AND THE RESTAURANT HAD NOT STOPPED THE VEHICLE IT WOULD HAVE LIKELY CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED AND GONE THROUGH THE RESTAURANT. MAY HAVE BEEN THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM OR RELATED ACCELERATION SYSTEM.

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MY CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE WHICH IS LEVEL. MY SON AND I GOT INTO THE CAR, AND I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO LEAVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. WITH THE CAR STILL PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND WITH THE ENGINE OFF, MY SON AND I EXITED THE CAR, AND I WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE TO GET THE KEYS TO ANOTHER CAR. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER WHEN MY SON AND I WERE IN THE OTHER CAR (PARKED ON THE STREET) GETTING READY TO LEAVE, WE SAW MY CAR, WITH NO ONE IN THE CAR, EXIT THE GARAGE AND GO DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE PLANTS AND ROCKS IN MY FRONT YARD.

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I FIRST HAD A TIRE BLOW-UP IN A MINOR POTHOLE. GOT IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, RECENTLY I HIT ANOTHER MINOR POTHOLE IN NEW JERSEY, AND THIS TIME, THE RIM OF THE WHEEL CRACKED! THIS TIME I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR SEAT, AND COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I DO NOT THINK THE SO CALLED "HIGH PERFORMANCE" WHEELS ARE MEANT FOR THE US ROADS. THE MATERIAL SEEMS SUB-STANDARD. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MERCEDES, BUT THE REP DID NOT SEEM TO CARE OR SHOW ANY CONCERN. I HAVE KEPT THE DAMAGED RIM WITH ME IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE. SENDING PICTURES ALSO. THANKS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE BACK AND NECK, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,700.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND FOOT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR BRUISES TO ARM, CHEST, AND NECK. ALSO, SUFFERED SEVERE PAIN TO CHEST WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,043. ...UPDATED 04/19/16 *BF *TR

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THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL UP AND/OR DOWN BECOMES INOPERABLE. HOWEVER THE IN & OUT ADJUSTMENT STILL WORKS. THIS MAKES PROPER STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG LOCATION IMPOSSIBLE. IT WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT IN THE PROPER/COMFORTABLE POSITION. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND THIS APPARENTLY IS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM. A PLASTIC PART CALLED THE COUPLING COLLAR, PART #A203 462 06 78 BREAKS AND RENDERS THE UP AND DOWN ADJUSTMENT IMPOSSIBLE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS COVERS MULTIPLE MODELS AND MODEL YEARS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, ALL THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THERE WAS 20 LBS OF PRESSURE INTERMITTENTLY DROPPING TO 0. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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AS I DROVE ONTO A FREEWAY ONRAMP, MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE HIT A POTHOLE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT AND LOSE ALL AIR RESULTING IN THE CAR BEING UNCONTROLLABLE AND NOT DRIVEABLE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WHEREBY THIS CAR HAS HIT A POTHOLE AND TIRE DAMAGE RESULTED. THE FIRST INCIDENT IN FEBRUARY 2014 WITH ONLY ABOUT 5,500 MILES ON IT, RESULTED IN 2 TIRES BEING BLOWN OUT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AGAIN RESULTING IN THE CAR BEING UNCONTROLLABLE AND NOT DRIVEABLE. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MPH. THERE IS EITHER A DEFECT IN THE TIRES AND/OR THEY ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN OVER 45 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RIMS WOULD COME OUT OF SHAPE AND DEFORM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RIMS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

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I HAVE HAD A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E550 FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS NOW AND LIKE IT IN MANY RESPECTS EXCEPT ONE. IT BOTHERS ME EVERY TIME I DRIVE SO MUCH SO THAT I FEEL COMPELLED TO GET IT OFF MY CHEST. WHEN I SLOW THE VEHICLE TO AN IMPERCEPTIBLE CRAWL, THE AUTOMATIC ADAPTIVE BRAKE ASSIST KICKS IN, BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A SUDDEN, ABRUPT AND JERKY STOP UNLESS THE GEAR IS IN NEUTRAL. IT IS ANNOYING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE GUEST PASSENGERS. IT REFLECTS POORLY ON THE DRIVER AND THE EMBARRASSMENT IS REGRETFUL. I HAVE OWNED AND OPERATED LUXURY CARS INCLUDING MERCEDES-BENZ FOR YEARS BUT HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS NUISANCE LIKE THIS. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE JUSTIFICATION ON ACCOUNT OF SAFETY, CONVENIENCE OR COMFORT FOR MERCEDES-BENZ ENGINEER TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A MEASURE. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF BRAKE ASSIST IN A PANIC SITUATION, BUT THIS IS IN NO WAY CLOSE TO ANY SIMULATION OF A PANIC STOP. I COMPLAINED TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER AS WELL AS MERCEDES-BENZ USA HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THIS ANOMALY AND THOUGHT THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND COULD TWEAK THE COMPUTER FIRMWARE TO BYPASS ADAPTIVE BRAKE ASSIST AT NEAR ZERO SPEED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING WHEN THE DESIGNER INTENDED THE VEHICLE TO ACT THAT WAY. IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF OVER-ENGINEERING OR OVERSIGHT?

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TIRE BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. *TR

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I PURCHASED THE CAR (CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED) ON DECEMBER 18, 2014. ON FEBRUARY 13, 2015 I WAS PARKING IN A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT THE CRASH. AT FIRST I THOUGHT A VEHICLE HAD RUN INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. HOWEVER, IT TURNED OUT MY VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER CAR. I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPOT (WHICH WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE) AND WAS ABOUT TO PUT IT IN PARK WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND THE OTHER CAR INVOLVED AND FILED WITH MY INSURANCE. ONCE I HAD MY VEHICLE BACK, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IT FELT AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS MOVING BACKWARDS. I THEN TESTED THE CAR ON A SLIGHT INCLINE (5-10 DEGREES) AND WHILE IN DRIVE. IT ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CONTINUED TO ROLL UNTIL I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. THIS CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF AN AUTOMATIC ROLLING BACKWARDS WHILE IN THE DRIVE POSITION - ESPECIALLY ON A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL". *TR

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THE TIRES SPECIFIED FOR MY 2013 MERCEDES E350 ARE CONTINENTAL 245 40 R 18S. THESE LOW PROFILE TIRES MAY BE FINE ON THE AUTOBAHN - BUT THEY ARE DANGEROUS ON U.S ROADS WITH POTHOLES. IN FEWER THAN 2 YEARS, THE CAR VIOLENTLY BLEW OUT 5 NEW TIRES AS A RESULT OF POTHOLES (WHICH WERE NOT THAT BIG/DEEP). MERCEDES IS CLEARLY AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS TIRE ISSUE - ITS REACTION TO THE PROBLEM IS TO IGNORE THE DANGER AND CAPITALIZE ON IT BY OFFERING TIRE REPLACEMENT INSURANCE (ABOUT $800). FOR ME, THE BLOWOUTS FORTUNATELY DID NOT RESULT IN CRASHES OR INJURIES - BUT, THEY CERTAINLY COULD HAVE. *TR

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