# 2003 MERCEDES BENZ 230 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
> NHTSA complaint `549791` · 2005-08-16 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCEDES BENZ
- **Model:** 230
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- **Component:** FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
- **Miles at failure:** 19,139
## Narrative
GAS CAP COVER CENTRAL SYSTEM DID NOT RELEASE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS . THE MANUAL PROVIDES EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE BUT NONE EXISTS NOTWITHSTANDING GOUGING OF ARM ON EXPOSED SHARP INTERNAL FENDER-TRUNK SCREWS . MERCEDES COMPLAINT OFFICE INSISTS TRUNK RELEASE EXISTS.  FINALLY NEW COUNTRY MB DEALER, HARTFORD, CT  SERVICE MGR AND CHIEF MECHANIC ADMIT TO ERRONEOUS INFO IN MANUAL AS DID ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PREVIOUSLY - EVEN AFTER CONTACTING MB ENGINEERING I WAS ABLE TO PROVE THIS DEFECT EXISTS.  CAUSING LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO ANYONE FOLLOWING MANUAL INSTRUCTION RE REACHING INTO TRUNK PANEL COVERING WHERE EXPOSED 1 INCH SCREWS EXIST IN PRECISE AREA OF INSTRUCTION INFO - WHICH CAUSED MY INJURY. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY RELEASE PROVIDED  NOR DID ONE EXIST ON A REPLACED ACTUATOR - WHICH I RETAINED .  EVEN IF ONE EXISTED - THE OPERATOR MUST REACH IN ABOUT 2-3 FEET ENTIRE LENGTH OF ARM BEFORE REACHING ACTUATOR - INHERENT DANGEROUS MANUFACTURE DEFECT.   *NM
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*