2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C320 AND THE CAR'S BATTERY KEEP DYING AND I HAVE TO JUMP START MY CAR EVERY DAY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS TO MANY MANY MANY PEOPLE - SEE ATTACHED LINK HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/W203-C-CLASS/1196568-MERCEDES-C320-BATTERY-DRAIN-4.HTML I HAVE PAID THE DEALER $375 JUST FOR THE DIAGNOSES WITH NOTHING FIXED AND ACCORDING TO THESE COMPLAINTS, EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE ALL THESE CARS RECALLED AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED WHEN IT'S THEIR PRODUCTION/COMPONENT PROBLEM.

THE POWER SEAT MODULES CONTINUOUSLY DRAIN THE BATTERY CAUSING DEAD BATTERY WITHIN 24-48 HOURS. THE SEATS MUST BE UNPLUGGED TO STOP THE PROBLEM. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WANTS $100 TO DIAGNOSE AND $1,500 PER SEAT MODULE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM MAKING THIS A DEFECT. *TR

MY 2002 MERCEDES C230 KOMPRESSOR KEEPS DRAINING THE BATTERY. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED. NO ONE, INCLUDING THE DEALER CAN DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE DRAIN. ONLINE FORUMS FROM MERCEDES OUTLINE THAT THIS IS A REGULAR ISSUE THAT MERCEDES IS AWARE OF, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S55. WHILE DRIVING 95 MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUDDENLY DROPPED AND RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,575.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230. ON 4/10/07 WITH THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF 38,525 THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT #206-820-64-85 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING PREMATURELY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,525. *AK UPDATE 05/04/07*TR

THE SUN ROOF WILL NOT OPERATE. CAR HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT, AND I ONLY USED IT OCCASIONALLY. BEING TOLD THAT IT WASS OVER $2000 TO REPAIR. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM ,AND FOUND OVER 1000 ENTRIES OF MERCEDES OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS AN INHERRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS C230. COULD YOU DO ANYTHING TO HELP?*AK

MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR IN THE MORNING, NO PROBLEM. EARLY AFTERNOON, SHE LEFT TO PICK UP OUR CHILD, WHILE LEAVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE VEHICLE STARTING SENDING WARNING SIGNS CAME ON THE DASH THAT HAD NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. THEN THICK SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. MY WIFE HAD TO OPEN HER WINDOW. SHE THEN TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK HOME PRIOR TO LEAVING THE COMMUNITY. ON THE WAY BACK THE CAR SLAMMED ON BRAKES BY ITSELF AND CUT ITSELF OFF AND SAID THE VEHICLE HAD 7 FAULTS. RAN UP TO A NEIGHBORS HOME, UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND BECAME A TOTAL LOSS. POLICE AND FIRE MARSHAL CAME TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD TO TRACK DOWN MERECEDES BENZ AND BASICALLY HAVE HAD NO CUSTOMER SUPPORT WHATSOEVER. WE LOCATED THE VEHICLE FOR MERCEDES AS THEY TOOK THEIR SWEET TIME. THEY DID GET AN INSPECTOR THERE TO VIEW THE VEHICLE BUT HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM THEM REGARDING THIS MATTER. WE HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY TO PROTECT US AND WANT MERCEDES TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

ON FEBRUARY 6, 2007, I TOOK MY MB TO SOVEREIGN MOTOR CARS LTD IN BROOKLYN, BECAUSE OF THE SRS LIGHT. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2005 AND THE ABOVE COMPANY TOLD ME THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. IN THE MIST OF REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR VIA DRILLING, THE CAP (BOTTOM PART THAT HOLDS THE BOLT) BROKE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS COMMON BECAUSE OF THE MIXTURE OF ALUMINUM ENGINE AND STEEL CASING. I WAS TOLD MORE THAN 2% OF MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLE THAT ENTER THIS SHOP THE CAP BREAKS AS A RESULT OF OXIDATION AS TOLD BY MR. YELTKIN, SHOP STEWART. SOVEREIGN WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS INCIDENT MORE THAN $2000 FOR A FAULTY CAPPING. OR $800 TO HAVE IT WELDED TOGETHER BUT THEN WAS TOLD IT MAY BREAK AGAIN. BOTH BOLTS WERE DAMAGED BUT SOVEREIGN REPLACED THEM WITH TEMPORARY BOLTS TO SHOO ME ON MY WAY. *NM

BOTH INTERNAL SEAT CONTROL MODULES HAVE ELECTRICAL FAULT. TEST CODE 8E3L-K8NNQ. FOUND 1.66 AMP OF DRAW (OUT OF SPEC. RANGE) AMP DROP WHEN DISCONNECTED: PASSENGER SIDE TO: .1114 AND DRIVER SIDE: 0.59 MILLIAMPS. 1/13 ALARM SOUNDS AND BATTERY DIES. TECHNICIAN REPLACES BATTERY, BUT WARNS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN-MANY CASES. 1/16 SAME PROBLEM. CAR TAKEN TO OTHER M-B DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AS ABOVE. REPLACED BOTH MODULES 1/25. DEALERSHIP HAD TROUBLE GETTING PART DUE TO UNUSUALLY HIGH VOLUME FOR THIS REPAIR. 18 MODULES GONE OR ON RESERVE IN ONE WEEK IN SANTA MONICA ALONE. MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICE UNRESPONSIVE. CARMAX DENIES KNOWN FAULT, BUT REPORTS CUSTOMER WITH SAME COMPLAINT PREVIOUS WEEK. *NM

2002 C320 MERCEDES BENZ WAGON CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING IN CENTER LANE ON BUSY STREET -- AND WOULD NOT RESTART LEAVING CAR AND OCCUPANT VULNERABLE TO CRASH-- DUE TO FAILURE OF CRANK POSITION SENSOR. *JB

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN MY 2002 CLK55 AMG STARTED NOT DISPLAYING RANDOM LEDS IN THE TEMPERATURE, TIME AND DRIVE/REVERSE/1/2/3 GEAR. THE RANDOM LOSS OF LEDS IS CONSTANT. I CAN NO LONGER SEE THE TIME, TEMPERATURE OR WHICH GEAR THE CAR IS IN BASED ON THE LED. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER 1,000 MILES AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. THE CAR HAD 47,000 MILES. THE ENGINE WAS NOT PERFORMING AS WELL AS IT HAD BEEN. THE DEALER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH REVEALED SIX SENSORS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACING. UPON SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION THE DEALER FOUND THAT OIL HAD LEAKED INTO THE SENSORS WIRING HARNESS AND CONTAMINATED THE SENSORS.*AK

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

OUR CAR, A 2002 C230K MANUFACTURED BY MERCEDES BENZ, HAS A KNOWN DEFECT WHERE THE TURN SIGNALS FAIL. BOTH OF THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS FAILED ON OUR CAR RECENTLY, REQUIRING REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND A SAFETY ISSUE, BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT IT HAS ISSUED AT LEAST ONE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS (P-82-10-19SC-JULY 03). RATHER THAN ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS TO HAVE ITS DEALERS REPAIR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE MANUFACTURER HAS CHOSEN TO PLAY "ROULETTE" AND SEE IF THIS SAFETY ISSUE OCCURS WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THESE CARS SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. *JB

MERCEDES-BENZ C240 OF 2002 YEAR. WATER LEAKAGE WAS DETECTED NEAR THE ENGINE AND THE FUSE BOX. THE FUSE BOX AND THE EXTERNAL LIGHT SWITCH WERE DAMAGED AND REQUIRED TO REPLACE. THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE EXTERNAL SUCH AS RAIN.

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED ONTO THE FRONT TIRE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SUSPENSION THE BOLT CONNECTING THE WHEEL HUB TO THE UPPER PART OF THE MCPHERSON STRUT WAS MISSING. THIS ALLOWED THE STRUT TO FLEX SIDEWAYS WHICH CAUSED THE BOTTOM BRACKET OF THE STRUT CRACK AND FAIL. THIS ALLOWED THE ENTIRE CAR TO FALL ONTO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS ALSO INSPECTED AND THE SAME BOLT WAS FOUND TO BE APPROXIMATELY 2/3 LOOSENED. BOTH FRONT STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER SHE WAS ONLY DOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AS SHE HAD JUST MADE A TURN. *NM

THE LIGHT BULBS IN MY 2002 MERCEDES C320 ARE REPEATEDLY GOING OUT. IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE REPLACED (OR HAD THE DEALER REPLACE) THE TRUNK LIGHT TWICE, THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT TWICE, BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE BACK AT LEAST ONCE. IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS, WE'VE REPLACED THE FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT 3 TIMES. THE DEALER CLEANED THE CONNECTORS LAST WEEK - SAYS THAT MERCEDES KNOWS OF A FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PROBLEM AND AN EXEC AT MERCEDES WAS FIRED OVER THE BAD CONTRACTOR THEY USED. CURRENTLY THE FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL WORKS SPORADICALLY. WE'LL BRING IT IN TO GET REPLACED AND IT WILL WORK, SO I DRIVE IT HOME AND IT STOPS WORKING AGAIN. NOW THE DEALER SAYS I MAY NEED TO REPLACE THE WARNING SOFTWARE (BIG $). HE SUGGESTED I WRITE TO YOU. *JB

I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ C-230 KOMPRESSOR EARLY THIS MONTH IT STARTED TO LURCH AFTER STOPPING THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE THOUGHT A VEHICLE HAD RUN INTO US BUT COULD FIND NO MARKS, THEN IT STARTED DOING IT AFTER ALMOST EVERY STOP, THE DEALER, CHANDLER MERCEDES BENZ HAS THE CAR NOW BUT CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, AND YES IT HAS DONE IT WHILE THEY DROVE IT. *JB

2002 MERCEDES-BENZ C230K ENGINE STOPPED, CAUSING EVERYTHING TO STOP FUNCTIONING. *KB THE MECHANIC FOUND WATER IN THE CONNECTOR. THE BLOCKAGE WAS CAUSING THE DRAIN TO BACK UP, WHICH WAS CAUSING WATER TO ENTER THROUGH THE ROOF. THE DRIVER SIDE DRAIN LINE WAS CLOGGED WITH LEAVES AND DEBRIS, WHICH DAMAGED SOME ELECTRICAL COMPONETS. *JB

ERROR MESSAGE APPEARING ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY STATING THAT "UNDER VOLTAGE CONSUMER DEFECTIVE!" ALONG WITH A "BATTERY/ALTERNATOR VISIT WORKSHOP" ERROR. TAKING THE CAR TO A SERVICE STATION INDICATES THAT THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR IS FAULTY. CURRENTLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR ALL MERCEDES MODELS EXCEPT MINE IN THE USA. EVENTUALLY THE BATTERY BECAME DISCHARGED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DOOR LATCHES ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MALFUNCTIONED TRAPPING THE OCCUPANTS INSIDE. THE CONTACT ESCAPED THE VEHICLE BY USING A CROWBAR TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THEY ADJUSTED THE LOCKS AND REPLACED THE REGULATOR HOWEVER THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION HAS REPEATEDLY LOCKED IN 2ND GEAR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHOWS CONSTANT LIGHT, COOLANT AND AIR BAG FAILURES. THE MEMORY FOR SEATS, MIRRORS AND THE STEERING WHEEL DEFAULTS ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME. I BOUGHT THIS CAR THROUGH M-B DIPLOMATIC SALES PROGRAM WHILE SERVING IN CANADA AND BROUGHT IT TO THE USA ON RETIREMENT. M-B CANADA WON'T HELP BECAUSE THE CAR IS IN THE US. M-B USA WON'T HELP BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN CANADA. M-B CORPORATE IN GERMANY SIMPLY REFERRED MY CASE BACK TO M-B USA. I AM NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I WANT M-B TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ANOTHER 4 YEARS OR 50K MILES. THE CAR IS A DISASTER. *JB

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AS WELL THE POWER SEAT MODULE DRAINING THE BATTERY WITH NUMEROUS JUMP STARTS. THIS OCCURRED JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER GLADLY PURCHASING MY "FIVE POINT CERTIFIED" 2002 C320 WAGON. MERCEDES BENZ OF GREENSBORO ALSO WOULD NOT FIX CHIPPING ON THE FRONT BUMPER. STATES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS LOW PROFILE THE BUMPER SUSTAINED THIS EXTENSIVE PEELING AS A RESULT. PEELING IS LOCATED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TOP TO BOTTOM. SERVICE DEPT MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT DEALERSHIP DID A POOR JOB AT REPAIRING THE PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE PRIOR TO SELLING. AFTER ONE CARWASH THE CHIPPING WAS VERY NOTICEABLE AND INCREASED WITH EACH WASH. THE SALEMANS WOULD NOT AGREE. PAINT STILL PEELING AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. I HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FOR A PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM, BUT WILL PROBABLY INCUR THIS EXPENSE JUST TO TRADE THE CAR. THE TRUNK MAKES A HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISE WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEED. NUMEROUS LIGHTS REPLACED OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. REAR VIEW MIRROR WILL NOT LOCK INTO POSITION WHEN INTERIOR OF CAR EXCEED 60-70 DEGREES BECAUSE RUBBER SEAL BECOMES TOO HOT. ALSO AT STATED TEMPERATURE THE DIGITAL MESSAGE BOARD BECOMES OBSCURE AND UNREADABLE. TIRES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED OFTEN. EMISSIONS PROBLEMS, TRULY THE LIST GOES ON. IN FACT, THE REASON I'M POSTING THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I HAVE THE TIME TO. MY CAR IS SITTING OUTSIDE AND WILL NOT START. POSSIBLY FUEL PUMP/SENSOR- A $700 REPAIR. I'M TIRED AND HAVE REACHED MY LIMIT WITH THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, TRULY. PERSONALLY FEEL INJURED AFTER SUSTAINING SUCH UNFAIR TREATMENT AND INCONVENIENCE AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE REPAIRS. PRAYERFULLY EXPECTING RECALLS AND FULL RESTITUTION FOR THE MONEY TIED UP IN THIS VEHICLE, BE IT FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALERSHIP. ALL DOCUMENTATION OF SERVICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE INTEGRITY OF MB ALONG WITH ITS REPUTATION HAS PROVEN NOT TO BE ONE OF IT LONG STATED HISTORY. SADLY, I AM DISAPPOINTED. *TR

2002 MERCEDES C320 AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE. *TS *** NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED NEITHER HE NOR HIS WIFE WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE GOING TO SEND A FACTORY INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *NM *NM

I PURCHASED GOODYEAR AMERICAN EAGLE TIRES FROM WALMART IN BIG RAPIDS, MICHIGAN ON 11-18-04. THE TIRES WERE SIZE P20555R16BW AND INSTALLED ON MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C240 SEDAN. ON 10/2/05 I NOTICED A FLAT TIRE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT BECAME APPARENT THERE WAS A CRACK AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE ABOUT AN INCH AWAY FROM THE RIM ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL. THE DEPTH OF THE CRACK WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE STEEL BELTS. AFTER INSPECTING THE REMAINING THREE TIRES I DISCOVERED THEY WERE ALL CRACKED IN THIS MANNER. TWO WERE AS BAD AS THE FIRST TIRE AND A FOURTH WAS BEGINNING TO CRACK. I TOOK THE TIRES TO WALMART IN GARNER, MA WHERE I NOW RESIDE. THE MANAGER WAS VERY HELPFUL AND REPLACED THE TIRES WITHOUT QUESTION. HOWEVER, AFTER CALLING THE COMPLAINT IN TO GOODYEAR, IT BECAME APPARENT THEY REALLY DON'T CARE. I'M CONCERNED THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WILL BE KILLED OR INJURED DUE TO THESE TIRES. IT'S APPARENT THERE IS A DEFECT BECAUSE MY TIRES EXPERIENCED 100% FAILURE RATE AND WERE PRODUCED IN TWO SEPARATE LOTS. THE DOT NUMBERS ARE DOT PJT2 4AHR 1604 (3 TIRES) AND DOT PJT2 4AHR 3704 (1 TIRE). GOODYEAR CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND THAT LESS THAN 1% OF TIRES ARE BAD. THIS IS NOT A STATISTIC WORTH BRAGGING ABOUT SINCE MILLIONS OF TIRES ARE PRODUCED. THE TIRES I PURCHASED CRACKED DUE TO DRY ROT AND THEY WERE LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. GOODYEAR IS UNCONCERNED ABOUT HIGHWAY SAFETY. THEIR ATTITUDE AT THE COMPLAINT CENTER WAS PATHETIC. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE NEW TIRES WILL ALSO BE DEFECTIVE AND I NEED ASSURANCE FROM SOMEONE THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ONGOING QUALITY ISSUE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES AND THE WALMART MANAGER IN GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS IS HOLDING THE DEFECTIVES UNTIL GOODYEAR VISITS HIM AGAIN. *NM

I LEASED A MERCEDES BENZ C230 COMPRESSOR FOR MY DAUGHTER IN 2001. THE SUN ROOF DIDN'T SLIDE BACK ON THE EXTERIOR OR THE INTERIOR. THE DEALER DISMANTLED THE SUN ROOF. MERCEDES REFUNDED THE FIRST MONTH'S LEASE PAYMENT SINCE SHE DID NOT HAVE USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST MONTH. AFTER ONE YEAR THE SUN ROOF NEEDED ADDITIONAL REPAIR. AT 31,000 MILES - THE POWER STEERING FAILED THE BRAKES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL BROKE THE SUN ROOF ONCE AGAIN WASN'T WORKING... THE INTERIOR SLIDING MECHANISM FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 2 AND 1/2 YEARS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THE COOLANT SENSOR FAILED, THE CAR OVERHEATED BUT THE SENSOR REGISTERED COOL. CURRENTLY AT 37,000 MILES - THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TAKEN APART BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHIFTING GEARS. THE MOTOR ON THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT TURN HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE FLASHER BROKE. WHILE THEY WERE FIXING THE TRANSMISSION THEY SOMEHOW DAMAGED THE REAR WINDOW AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD IS NOW BEING REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON OCCASIONALLY. MERCEDES CEASED TO MANUFACTURE THIS VEHICLE IN 2005. MY DAUGHTER SPOKE TO THE REGIONAL REP., HE WAS UNRESPONSIVE, RUDE AND HUNG UP ON HER. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN AND JEOPARDIZE MY DAUGHTER'S SAFETY. THE ENGINE COULD BREAK DOWN BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE SENSOR THAT THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIX. THE INCIDENT DATE THAT FOLLOWS IS THE DATE OF THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM .. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REAR WINDOW. *NM

I OWN A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320 WITH LESS THAN 55,000 MILES. ON SAT. AUG. 20, 2005 WHILE OPENING MY TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND COMING FROM THE TRUNK ASSEMBLY. THE VERY NEXT DAY I WENT SHOPPING AND WENT TO PLACE MY ITEMS IN THE TRUNK AND HEARD THE SAME SOUND AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN I GO TO CLOSE THE TRUNK IT WOULD NOT LATCH. I CALL MB 1-800 SERVICE, HOWEVER, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COME BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SURE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REPAIR IT AND STILL HAVE TO CHARGE ME FOR COMING. SO I THEN HAD TO TRY TO HOLD THE TRUNK DOWN WITH WHAT I HAD IN THE TRUNK WHICH WASN'T MUCH. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY THE TRUNK LID SPRUNG OPEN WHICH TO ME WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAD TO TRY TO MANEUVER MY WAY ACROSS LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH A TRUNK LID UP BLOCKING MY VIEW. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE GUY HIMSELF SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHY THE ASSEMBLY BROKE. THE TRUNK IS NOT SOMETHING ONE USES EVERYDAY SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT BROKE ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD. THIS SIMPLY SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. ALSO, I CHECKED THE DIFFERENT MB FORUMS AND IT APPEARS THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD SOME FORM OF PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRUNKS ALONG WITH A LAUNDRY LIST OF OTHER MALFUNCTIONS. I NOW HAVE TO PAY $ 350.00 PARTS AND LABOR FOR SOMETHING I BELIEVE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

BOUGHT A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ 320 NEW FROM A DEALER. THE PAINT IS PEELING AND RUST IS SETTING IN. SO FAR THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE HOOD AND THE ROOF. NOW THERE IS MORE PAINT PEELING ON THE RIGHT REAR PANEL AND THE GAS TANK FLAP. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT TRADING THE CAR IN, THE DEALER GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $16,500 -- BECAUSE THE APPRAISER SAW NEW PAINT ON THE CAR, HE PRESUMED IT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAD HIDDEN DAMAGED. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN HIT. I PAID ABOUT $50,000 FOR IT, WITH ALL THE UPS AND EXTRAS INCLUDING AN ONBOARD NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE CAR ONLY HAS 14,475 MILES ON IT AND IS JUST NOW QUALIFYING FOR SERVICE B. MY FRIENDS TELL ME MERCEDES ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE. IT IS NOW DEFINITELY DAIMLER CHRYSLER. INCLUDING THIS CAR,I HAVE PURCHASED SIX NEW MERCEDES SINCE 1985. I WILL NOT EVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. *NM

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR WELL OVER 40+ DAYS REGARDING A VIBRATION THAT CAUSES ME TO BELIEVE IT COULD BE SAFETY RELATED. I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DEALER CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 MERCEDES C240. AT THE PRESENT TIME I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE GOING ON 6 WEEKS, THIS IS THE 6TH OR 7TH TIME IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES C240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AFTER FINDING NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000. *TR

MERCEDES BENZ C320 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, ACCELERATOR, AND A FLUID LEAK.*MR ANSWERING 10118894 AAE 4-27-05 THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A VALVE NOISE, A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVESHAFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEAK CAUSED SOME WIRES TO BECOME LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVESHAFT TO NOISY. THE CONSUMER HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN HE ACCELERATED, BUT THE NOISE DECREASED WHEN HE DECELERATED, SECONDS LATER THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT RESPOND AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, LOST POWER THAT CONTROLLED THE , BRAKES , STEERING, ETC. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WENT INTO TRAFFIC AND STRUCK OTHER VEHICLES AT 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320.*MR *BF *NM *JB

1. FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK. 2. FAILURE OF DEALERSHIP TO PERMANENTLY FIX PROBLEM. IT GETS FIXED BUT IT BREAKS DOWN AGAIN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR MAY WORK; THEN IT MAY NOT WORK; THEN IT MAY WORK. 2. FAILURE OF DEALERSHIP TO PERMANENTLY FIX PROBLEM. IT IS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED WHEN I LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP - BUT IT FAILS AGAIN. IT HAS NOW FAILED AGAIN FOR THE DOOR TO BE UNLOCKED. 3. THE DEALERSHIP CORRECTS THE PROBLEM BUT IT AGAIN FAILS; NOW IT HAS FAILED TO GET DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AGAIN AND I HAVE TO PHYSICALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR FOR IT TO OPEN. AND SOMETIME WHEN I AUTOMATICALLY LOCK THE DOOR BY THE TRANSMITTER; ALL THE DOORS EXCEPT MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK. THIS IS DANGEROUS SINCE IF I ENTER THE VEHICLE WITH THE ONE DOOR LEFT UNLACHED - SOMEONE CAN HIDE IN THE BACK OR ALSO IN A CRASH MY DOOR MAY OPEN UP SINCE I CANNOT LOCK THE DOOR. *JB

I LEASED A 2002 MERCEDES C32 IN DECEMBER OF 2002. ITS A DOCUMENTED FACT MERCEDES HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A HIGH NUMBER OF DEFECT COMPLAINTS WITH THIS MODEL CAR. RECENTLY FOR ME WAS THE MOST SERIOUS.. ON DECEMBER 26TH 2004, WHILE MERGING ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY(I95) MY CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IN THE DRIVE POSITION. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY PUT THE CAR INTO PARK THEN BACK TO DRIVE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I NOTIFIED MERCEDES ON 12/27, AT AN APPOINTMENT I HAD PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED FOR OTHER PROBLEMS. MERCEDES AFTER HOLDING THE CAR FOR A WEEK DIAGNOSED IT AS A TRANSMISSION CONTROL ISSUE. I HAD TO WAIT FOUR WEEKS FOR A REPLACEMENT TO ARRIVE FROM GERMANY. IN JANUARY 2005, WHILE WAITING FOR THIS PART TO ARRIVE THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE MERGING ONTO THE SAME HIGHWAY THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I AGAIN FOUND MYSELF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD RESOLVING THE PROBLEM.AT THE END OF JANUARY MY CAR WAS FINALLY FIXED BY MERCEDES, I RECEIVED THE CAR ON A TUESDAY. ON THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. MY CAR JUMPED A 10 INCH HIGH CURB AND WHEN I TRIED TO GET THE IGNITION IT DID NOT RESPOND. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES WHO DIAGNOSED A BROKEN TRANSMISSION PIN. I DROVE THE CAR FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHICH THE FEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM RECURRING. I EVENTUALLY STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AND CONTACTED MERCEDES. I ASKED THEM TO CONSIDER TAKING THE CAR BACK, ITS HAS 8 MONTHS REMAINING ON A 3 YEAR LEASE. THEY IN TURN TOOK THE CAR FOR A WEEK DROVE IT FOR 60 MILES THEN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. IN MY RIGHT MIND I CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF KILLING MYSELF AND OTHERS. MERCEDES HAS WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THIS SITUATION. *JB

THE C ONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE . THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE CONSUMER STARTED UP THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UP. THE CONSUMEER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

(1) NORMAL DRIVING IN SLOW TRAFFIC; (2) NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING; FEELING OF COLLAPSE OF RIGHT FRONT LIKE FLAT TIRE;CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLOWLY; COMPUTER MESSAGE-ELECTRIC DE-STABILIZER NOT LOCATED; PARKED AND CALLED TOW COMPANY; TOW TRUCK DRIVER PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO ENABLE TOWING; RIGHT WHEEL COLLAPSED WITH TIE ROD PROJECTING OUT; (3) A. STEERING ANGLE SENSOR,R&R; B. FSSB SERVICE; C. TIE ROD ENDS LEFT AND RIGHT REPLACED; D. FRONT STABILIZER BAR RUBBER BUSCHING AND LINKS AND THREAD HOLD FOR STABILIZER BAR BOLTS REPLACED. *JB

INTERMITTENTLY THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILED TO FUNCTION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION WAS REDUCED. SOMETIMES THERE WAS A WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD THAT INDICATED THE LIGHT WAS OUT, EVEN IF THE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES HEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTION, AND ALTERED THE LIGHT BULB. TBUT FAILURE RECURRED.*AK

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR 90 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY, I WAS IN LOCAL TRAFFIC ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE CAR STALLED. I NEEDED TO RESTART THE CAR BEFORE IT WOULD RUN BRIEFLY AND THEN STALL AGAIN. IT KEPT STALLING IN TRAFFIC BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER AND HAVE IT TOWED IN FOR SERVICE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON ONE OCCASION, BUT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE SECOND TIME. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THEN, VEHICLE RESTARTED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN DRIVING 15 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. 15 SECONDS LATER, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DUE TO SEVERE FIRE DAMAGE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

HAVE 2002 MERCEDES C 230 COUPE, 18000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER. HAD FLAT TIRE, RIGHT REAR, NO PUNCTURE NOTED BY TIRE REPAIR SHOP. SHOP STATED TIRES ALMOST TOTALLY WORN, WITH 2/32 TREAD ON RIGHT REAR AND 4/32 ON LEFT REAR, BOTH CENTER TREAD MEASUREMENT. FRONT TIRES A LITTLE BETTER. MICHELIN TIRES. BUT FOR INCIDENTAL FLAT TIRE WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 18000 MILES OR PROBABLY MUCH SOONER THAN THAT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, DEALERSHIP STATES NO WARRANTY ON TIRES. HAD ROUTINE SERVICE AND NOTED VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS PULLED TO RIGHT AND HAS HAD HARD POUNDING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER SLIGHTEST BUMP. DEALER STATED NO PROBLEMS NOTED IN PULLING TO RIGHT OR IN THE POUNDING NOISE. SINCE FLAT TIRE, VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP AND HAS HAD STABILIZER BAR CONNECTING LINKS, TORSION ROD REPLACED. PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED LONG AGO. QUESTION WHETHER DEFECTIVE STABILIZER BARS CAUSED TIRES TO WEAR MUCH FASTER. NO INDICATION FROM DEALERSHIP. BELIEVE MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD BE PLACED ON NOTICE OF CONDITION. CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. MERCEDES BENZ AND/OR MICHELIN SHOULD ADVISE OF POTENTIAL LOW LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THEIR TIRES. TIRE SIZE, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT 225/45 ZR 17 91Y. *AK

IN OCTOBER OF 2001, I PURCHASED A NEW (2002) MERCEDES BENZ C-240. IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH GERMAN MADE CONTINENTAL CONTOURING TIRES. IT IS WITH THESE TIRES THAT I AM EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM. I HAVE 19,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND ALREADY HAVE HAD TWO SLOW LEAKS IN TWO DIFFERENT TIRES (PASSENGER SIDE FRONT/REAR). THE FIRST TIRE LEAKED (AT ABOUT 17,000 MILES) BUT ABLE TO BE PATCHED. WHEN I BROUGHT THE SECOND TIRE INTO AN STS TIRE DEALER, I NOTICED THAT THEY SOLD CONTINENTAL TIRES. SINCE I HAD THE TWO PROBLEMS, I ASKED THE MANAGER IF THEY SOLD MANY CONTINENTAL TIRES AND EXPLAINED MY EXPERIENCES (IN BOTH CASES THE TIRES HAD NAILS, OR SIMILAR METAL, EMBEDDED IN THEIR TREAD). AGAIN, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, THE TIRE WAS REPAIRED. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE DAMAGE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE TIRE AND COULD NOT BE PROPERLY PATCHED. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. HERE IS MY CONCERN. THE STS MANAGER, ASKED ME IF MY TIRES WERE FACTORY TIRES. I INDICATED THAT THEY WERE THE ONES THAT CAME WITH THE (NEW) CAR. HE INDICATED THAT FACTORY TIRES ARE TYPICALLY MADE TO THE SPECIFICATION OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURER, NOT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. HE EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE THE AUTO MAKER ORDERS TIRES IN SUCH QUANTITY, THEY CAN SET THEIR PRICE. IN MOST CASES, FOR THE TIRE MANUFACTURER TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT PRICE, THEY NEED TO ADJUST THE COMPOSITE FORMULA OF THE TIRE -- ESSENTIALLY MANUFACTURING INFERIOR TIRES. THIS WAS HIS EXPLANATION OF WHY I MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY FACTORY TIRES. HE FURTHER INDICATED THAT TIRES SOLD TO TIRE RETAILERS ARE MANUFACTURED TO THE TIRE MAKERS' STANDARDS AND WILL PROVIDE A MUCH LONGER USEFUL LIFE (HE INDICATED 60,000 + THOUSAND MILES FOR THE CONTINENTAL CONTOURING TIRE I JUST PURCHASED TO REPLACE MY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE). THE KICKER IS THAT CONTINENTAL DOES NOT WARRANTY THEIR TIRES AGAINST ROAD HAZARDS! IF HIS EXPLANATION ABOUT FACTORY TIRES IS TRUE, THIS IS VERY DISTURBING AND I BELIEVE THAT CONSUMERS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.

THE 1ST INCIDENT; MY MERCEDES C240 WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS NEW. 2ND INCIDENT AT 10.5 MOS, 3RD: EXACLTY 1 YEAR, 4TH: 1 YR/3 WKS, 5TH: 13 MOS. ALL 5 TIMES THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT DYING OUT OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, & BRAKES. 3 OF THE 5 INCIDENTS THE CAR WOULD NOT START & REQUIRED A TOW TO THE DEALER, HAVING THE DEALERS WORK ON THE CAR ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR DIE OUT AGAIN. BIGGEST COMPLAINT BESIDES MINE, MY CHILDREN, & OTHER FELLOW FREEWAY TRAVELERS LIVES BEING IN DANGER IS THE LACK AND DISRESPCTFUL ATTITUDE OF THAT FROM MERCEDES BENZ'S CUSTOMER SERVICE.

THE PROBLEM: WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL, NO RESPONSE IS EXPERIENCED IN THE CAR INITIALLY. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO GET THE CAR TO RESPOND. WHEN IT DOES RESPOND, IT ACCELERATES EXTREMELY FAST. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION. AS A DRIVER, YOU MUST THROTTLE THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY TO FEEL CONFIDENT THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE TO GET MOVING. THE STATED PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR NEW IN JULY 2002. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER (PARK PLACE MOTOR CARS) AND ASKED THAT IT BE CORRECTED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I'VE HAD NO POSITIVE RESPONSE AND CONSEQUENTLY THE CONDITION EXISTS TODAY. *LA

ENGINE FAILS IN TRAFFIC AND STOPS, STARTS BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. I HADN'T REPORTED EARLIER CASES BECAUSE I ASSUMED IT WAS ME GETTING USE TO A NEW CAR. THIS IS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WITH SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT GEARING THAN I AM USE TO. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ABS LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IGNITED AND CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO CONTENTS NEXT TO VEHICLE IGNITING. *MR THE DEALER, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUGGESTED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO "FIX A FLAT." THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED DUE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH WAS DIRECTLY UNDER THE AREA THAT BURNED. *SCC *JB

DEPLOYED AIRBAGS INJURE 2 PA. FIREFIGHTERS DAVE SOMMERS, STAFF WRITER APRIL 24, 2003 EDGELY, PA. FIREFIGHTERS FACE A LOT OF HAZARDS EVERY TIME THEY SUIT UP. BUT THEY DON'T EXPECT TO BE STRUCK BY AUTOMOBILE AIRBAGS SUCH AS WHAT OCCURRED ON TUESDAY WHEN EDGELY FIRE COMPANY FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO A CAR FIRE IN THE 3M INDUSTRIAL PARK IN BRISTOL TOWNSHIP. IN FACT, OFFICIALS SAID ANDY TAGGART, 25, WAS KNOCKED OUT WHEN THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG ON A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ INEXPLICABLY DEPLOYED AS THE VETERAN FIREFIGHTER WAS CHECKING THE DASH FOR DAMAGE. A SECOND FIREFIGHTER, RYAN FLANAGAN, 18, WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD BY A PARTIALLY DEPLOYING AIRBAG AS HE WAS CHECKING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT DASH, OFFICIALS SAID. BOTH WERE RUSHED TO ST. MARY MEDICAL CENTER IN LANGHORNE WHERE THEY WERE KEPT FOR OBSERVATION AND THEN RELEASED EARLY YESTERDAY. FLANAGAN SAID EDGELY RESPONDED TO THE FIRE SCENE AROUND 9:38 P.M. AFTER LEARNING THAT A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ WAS ON FIRE IN FRONT OF A&Z AUTOMOTIVE ON MANNING BOULEVARD. WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED, THEY SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND BEGAN TO GET THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG BLEW WITH SUCH FORCE IT KNOCKED TAGGART UNCONSCIOUS WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE BAG, WHICH ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED, STRUCK A GLANCING BLOW OFF THE SIDE OF RYAN FLANAGAN'S HEAD. BOTH FIREFIGHTERS WERE WEARING HELMETS, WHICH LIKELY SAVED THEM FROM FURTHER INJURY. AEROSTAR, THE SECURITY COMPANY WHICH ELECTRONICALLY MONITORS LUXURY CARS SUCH AS THE MERCEDES, HAD AUTOMATICALLY CALLED 911 WHEN IT DETECTED A FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE AEROSTAR SYSTEM ALSO AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED THE CARS DOORS AND CONTACTED THE OWNER, WHO WAS NOT WITH THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE FIRE INSIDE THE MERCEDES WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE IT COULD CAUSE MUCH DAMAGE. *NLM