2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Complaint Log

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO UPSHIFT BEYOND THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. COULD ONLY GO 30MPH AS REVS HIGH. HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION. ONLY 39,000 MILES ON CAR. NOT ABUSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE UP A HILL IN ORDER TO STOP AND THEN PULLED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,200.

RECALL CAMPAIGN: RECALL 2004 050014 NOTICE RECEIVED FOR DEFECTIVE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE. *BF THE SERVICE DEALER COMPUTERS DISENGAGED THE CONSUMERS BRAKING SYSTEM, THEREFORE THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SL500 ROADSTER. *SC *JB

DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION OR FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY DEFAULT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP MODE. IN THE BACK-UP MODE, THE DRIVER HAS BRAKING POWER SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET AND REPLACEMENT GROUND WIRE TO THE SBC PUMP UNIT ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SSC PUMP UNIT IN CERTAIN SL MODELS. THE MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NUMBERS ARE 2005070007 AND 2005110001. RESEARCH SHOWS ONLY 59% OF THE 100% REQUIRED RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THIS ISSUE WAS NOT DISCLOSED WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND, THE REQUIRED WORK WAS NOT DONE AND, MERCEDES SAID THE 60 DAYS FROM RECALL HAD PASSED - YET THE REPORTS SENT TO NHTSA BY MERCEDES BENZ APPEARS TO BE FALSE DATA - THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE ACCESSORY THE HEADLIGHTS DIM OR THEY FLASH ON AND OFF AS IF GOING FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM, ETC. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 040842001A. *AK