2006 MERCEDES BENZ CL55 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

BOUGHT A BRAND NEW MERCEDES 2006 CLK 350 OFF THE DEALER LOT. ENGINE FIRE GUTTED OUT THE WHOLE CAR BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SMOKE IN THE CAR, NOTICED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. PULLED THE CAR OVER OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE ENGINEERING REPORT FROM MERCEDES ENGINEER AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY ENGINEER CONCLUDED THE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOLES CAME OFF AND SHOT POWER STEERING FLUID INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH STARTED THE FIRE. MERCEDES HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE AS A MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT BUT THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY ACTION TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS LOSS. AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'VE SWEPT THIS FLAW UNDER THE TABLE, WITHOUT LOOKING MORE INTO THE MATTER WHICH ONE DAY COULD HAPPENED TO ANOTHER PERSON. LUCKILY I SUSTAIN NO PHYSICAL INJURY BUT NOT TO MENTION THE MENTAL DISTRESS AND HEADACHE DEALING WITH THESE PEOPLE AT MERCEDES. IF IT HAD BEEN SOMEBODY WITH A BABY IN THE BACK SEAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR QUICKLY AS I DID. *JB