2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Complaint Log

2007 AND OTHER MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL LEVER [STALK] IS INSTALLED JUST ABOVE TURN SIGNAL LEVER. THERE IS NO "ON/OFF" CONTROL FOR THE M-B CRUISE CONTROL. THE 'STALK' TYPE LEVER IS 'ALWAYS ACTIVE' AND READY TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT IS ALL TOO EASY TO CONFUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER DUE TO THEIR PROXIMITY. INTENDING TO SIGNAL RIGHT TURN, IF A DRIVER MISTAKENLY ENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER IN THE "UP" POSITION, THE DRIVER HAS MISTAKENLY ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL "ACCELERATION" MODE WHICH OBVIOUS RESULT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT,WITH INJURIES AND DEATHS. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE [2007 M-B CLK 350] ON 2/8/10, I HAVE ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER MANY TIMES INTENDING TO SIGNAL 'RIGHT TURN'. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND I WAS COMPELLED TO HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. I REALIZED WHAT I HAS DONE AND I DO BLAME M-BENZ FOR PLACING THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER JUST ABOVE THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAUSING EASY CONFUSION WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD AND NOT LOOKING FOR WHICH 'LEVER' TO ENGAGE. *TR

MERCEDES CLK 350 IS A COUPE MODEL. WHEN THE SEAT IS MOVED FORWARD TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR SEAT, THE FRONT SEAT HEADREST AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTS INTO THE SEAT. THE HEADREST GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN SO THAT THERE IS NO SPACE BETWEEN THE HEADREST AND THE TOP OF THE SEAT BACK. IF ONES HAND IS THERE AS SUPPORT WHILE GETTING IN, THE HAND IS CAUGHT AND HELD UNTIL THE SEAT BACK IS BROUGHT BACK INTO THE PROPER POSITION. THE FORCE IS SO STRONG AND THE MATERIAL ON THE HEADREST AND SEAT BACK SO FIRM THAT THEY CAN BREAK A FINGER OR A CHILDS HAND. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ CLK550. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE STEERING LOCKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, POWERTRAIN, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN.