While driving to work, I was going about 35 MPH when the dash lights up red saying "service brakes, stop vehicle, etc". My mechanic looked over everything to do with brakes and could not fix it. He called mercedes of tallahassee and was told it was an electrical issue that was a common problem with this vehicle. It did have a recall on it, but it expired in july last year, just my luck. So I googled it and have now found tons of people with the same experience! How can the vehicle safety administration legally allow mercedes benz to continue letting this happen to people? How many accidents must take place, or god forbid deaths before something is done? I have no option but to pay out of pocket to have this piece of $100k junk fixed and pray it never happens again! Mercedes benz and the vehicle safety administration better pray this doesn't cause an accident or I will sue the [xxx] out of both! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
2003 Mercedes Benz SL500 brakes complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 14 of 14, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercedes sl500. The contact stated that the ABS warning light illuminated on the warning panel. The dealer repaired the ABS switch seal and added synthetic hydraulic fluid to the vehicle to correct the failure. One month later, the ABS warning light illuminated. On the following day, while driving to the dealer at approximately 20 MPH and depressing the brakes, the brakes would not engage. The brake pedal fell much farther into the floorboard than usual. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle and slightly crashed into a curb. She then coasted into a parking lot until she was able to engage the emergency brakes and come to a stop. The dealer advised that the vehicle was included in the federal safety agency recall campaign id number:04v296000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was left with the dealer where she was awaiting a replacement of the hydraulic pump under the recall. The failure and current mileage was 57,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercedes benz sl500. The contact was driving approximately 20 MPH when the brake was depressed, it abnormally went to the floor without resistance to the brake pedal pressure. There was five percent braking ability. The vehicle would not slow down. When the emergency brake was engaged the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where they stated that the failure was contributed to the sensotronic brake control pump. The technician advised the contact that the failure was a common issue. The vehicle was not repaired; and the contact planned to sell the vehicle due to the safety hazard. The mileage was approximately 42,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 01/13/11*lj updated 01/27/11
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercedes benz sl500. While driving 60 MPH, the brakes failed when the brake pedal was depressed. When the brakes finally began to operate, the ABS, coolant, and esp lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but no repairs were made. The current and failure mileages were 17,889.
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