AN ENGINE AIR FILTER HOUSING TO MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR SEAL TEAR CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SURGE AND THE CAR TO BUCK FORWARD INSTEAD OF BRAKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. FAILURE TO BREAK RESULTED IN THIS VEHICLE REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS LOW SO NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED. THE SENSORY SYSTEM FAILED TO DETECT THIS ISSUE UNTIL THE TEAR WORSENED AND THE PROBLEMS IT CAUSED WERE BAD ENOUGH AND CONTINUOUS ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (TOOK APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH). MERCEDES COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. DURING THAT 1 MONTH PERIOD THE FAILURE OF THE BREAKS TO ENGAGE/ENGINE SURGING/CAR BUCKING ISSUE OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES RESULTED FROM THESE EVENTS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MERCEDES US AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *JS