What 251 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Mercedes-benz C-class Hybrid

While driving on the freeway car pool lane with my wife, a sudden vibration in the front tires was observed, the car felt like it was pushed to the right then to the left even though it was in the center of the lane. Told my wife, "something is wrong with the car!" Thinking that I may have had a flat tire, I slowed down, the car went into a violent flat spin until the right rear end of the car hit the center lane divider. Airbags deployed. 911 was called, we were assisted by Highway patrol to the other side of the freeway. As the car was put on a flatbed tow truck, the tow truck driver commented that one of the front wheel was not turning. We found out that the right rack and pinion broke. The car was declared a Total Loss.

NHTSA ODI 11570166

I was driving on a straight away doing the speed limit which is reported seconds before the car crash. The steering wheel turned to the left really hard out of no where and wouldn’t let me gain control over the car again. I was sober it was 9am and I was aware of my driving. I ended up spinning out and landed in the ditch feet away from the light pole. I made it know to everyone what happened, but they looked at me crazy. I stopped driving that car and sent it back to Mercedes to get a detailed inspection. Which lasted about 30 days for them to get back to me about what happened. When I received the call to get my car they didn’t provide any information about the incident. Instead they just sent it to corporate and left me in the dark. I was in pain during this whole time. I was couldn’t find a lawyer that was willing to help. It’s been three years since the incident and I will have to live with pain for the rest of my life. It’s not fair that we need thousands of dollars to be heard. I have all communication and documentation that was given during the time of incident.

NHTSA ODI 11438296

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 MERCEDES BENZ C43 AMG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 63 MPH IN THE RAIN, LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT SLED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE INCIDENT OF MARCH 12TH DID NOT FEEL LIKE I HAD HYDRO-PLANNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED SUCH AS AIR BAGS FAILURE, SHOCK FAILURE, SUSPENSION FAILURE AND TRACK FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE WAS DAMAGED UNDER THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED AND A FAILURE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ON-LINE AND BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE AND MAY BE A CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL STEERING. DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY PENSKE AUTO COLLISION CENTER, THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT TELL IF THE STEERING DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED DURING THE COLLISION OR AS A RESULT OF A DEFECT. THEY ALSO FOUND DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVE UNIT ALTHOUGH, AS VERY VISIBLE IN THE PHOTOS, THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE BARRIER WITH THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) PORTION OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THE REAR OF THE CAR NEVER SLAMMED INTO THE BARRIER BUT DID SCRAPE ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOMENTARILY BUT THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE COLLISION CENTER COULD NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVE UNIT. IN RESEARCH, I FOUND A FEW MENTIONS AND COMPLAINTS OF THE REAR AXLE DISENGAGING WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11319155