What 16 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Mercedes-benz S-class Phev

The adjustment up and down of the vehicle's steering column regularly sticks in the full "up" position and then cannot be easily re-adjusted. I have taken the vehicle in three times for servicing of this problem and the dealer solution was to only re-lubricate bearings and gears. Finally after problem has become more acute has the Mercedes dealer agreed to replace steering column in total.

NHTSA ODI 11449490

THE STEERING SHIFTER WOULD NOT CHANGE THE CAR INTO PARK NOR NEW RAM, FROM DRIVE. AFF'L, THE SHIFTER INSTEAD BEGAN OPERATING THE NAVIGATION MAP CURSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY EACH OF THE 3 TIMES IT HAPPENED IN ONE DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11405136

FROM DAY ONE DELIVERY, CAR TECHNOLOGY DIDN'T WORK. A COUPLE OF MONTHS, MORE PROBLEMS BEGAN: ODD SECURITY WARNINGS - CAR WOULDN'T LET ME PUT INTO PARK, NOR NEUTRAL, NOR REVERSE. THIS OCCURRED 3 TIMES, SETTING STILL, IN 3 RURAL LOCATIONS. INSTEAD THE SHIFTER OPERATED THE CENTRAL NAVIGATION MAP DIRECTIONS! TWO DEALERS COULDN'T FIX. INVESTIGATION INTO HISTORY, THE CAR HAD UNDISCLOSED DAMAGE TO THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFTER. PARTS WERE REPLACED BEFORE BEING TITLED TO ME. MERCEDES REFUSED TO ASSIST. AT MY EXPENSE I HAD CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WORKED ON THE COLUMN SHIFTER REPLACEMENT. THEY DETERMINED THE CAR WAS NEVER SET UP PROPERLY BY THE DEALER, AND THEY ALSO REPLACED RELAYS FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. MERCEDES REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY OF THIS EVEN AFTER THE THIRD DEALER REMEDIED. THE FACT THEY DIDN'T SET UP SECURITY PROPERLY, CAUSING POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS UNABLE TO SHIFT CAR TRANSMISSION AND THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OF CAR NOT SET UP ON DEALER SIDE, IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THEY ALSO NEVER DISCLOSED THIS CAR FOR ADAQUATE OPERATION NEEDS TO INTERACT WITH OTHER MERCEDES CARS. I CAN SEE ADDITIONAL FEATURES RELYING I THIS, BUT A CAR SHOULD NEVER BE INACCESSIBLE TO THE OWNER WHO HAD KEYS IN HAND, AND OWNER DID SET UP HER PROFILE IN THE CAR AND WITH HER PHONE. I WAS TOLD THE FAILURES WERE FAULTY SOFTWARE, FAULTY RELAYS, AND THE ORIGINAL DEALER MUST SET UP CAR FOR PROPER SECURITY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE EXPERIENCED A DEALER WHO DIDN'T SET UP A CAR CORRECTLY. BUT THE FIRST TIME IT NEVER INTERFERED WITH THE CAR OPERATION. OVERALL THE CAR SPENT MORE TIME AT THE SHOP THAN IN MY POSSESSION THE 7 MONTHS I LEASED IT. MERCEDES ALSO WOULDN'T LET ME PUT OF THE LEASE AND I HAD TO PAY SUBSTANTIAL MONEY TO BUY OUT THE CAR. MERCEDES I'M CONVINCED THOUGHT I WAS SCAMMING THEM TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I'VE NEVER BEEN TREATED WITH SUCH DISRESPECT OVER A DANGEROUS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 11398700