NHTSA complaint: 2003 MERCEDES BENZ 240 — POWER TRAIN
PIN CHEN, MY FATHER, WAS MAKING A SLOW U-TURN ON A SMALL STREET ABOUT 11 FEET WIDE (VICKIE STREET IN CERRITOS) ON JULY 29, 2003. WHILE HE WAS SLOWLY MARKING A U-TURN, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO THE CURB. I CONTACTED THE MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANT AND A MECHANIC, CHRIS FROM HOUSE OF IMPORT BUNEA PARK, CAME TO SCENE AND CHANGED THE FLAT TIRE. PIN CHEN DESCRIBED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED TO CHRIS. CHRIS RECOMMENDED HIM TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER CHECKUP. PIN DROVE THE CAR BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES BENZ OF LONG BEACH, THAT AFTERNOON FOR A CHECK UP. I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE ON JULY 30, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN EDWARDS STATED THAT THERE IS NO FAULT FOUND IN THEIR DIAGNOSTIC CODE. THE TEST ($95) WAS PERFORMED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MERCEDES COOPERATE REPRESENTATIVE. HE ALSO GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $2300. HE STATED THAT SINCE THERE IS NO FAULT FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, , MERCEDES BENZ OF LONG BEACH STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. DUE TO ITS MALFUNCTION, WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. WE WOULD LIKE FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation