2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500

Question 1: The Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) unit, which is a high-pressure "brake-by-wire" hydraulic system. Component A7/3. The component is currently installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection. Question 2: The vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of hydraulic brake pressure while in operation. This failure required extreme physical force on the pedal and significant increase in stopping distance. The vehicle is currently in my garage with chocked wheels until I figure out what's next. A couple days ago, I had the car at a dealer and requested a review of this system and they released the car back to me stating the system status was, "OK" despite me stating to the dealer that the safety-monitoring counter was found to be at 0 on a 63,000-mile car. In all of my research, I believe this "silenced" the vehicle's ability to provide a timely service warning (Code C249F) before total hydraulic failure occurred. Question 3: Mercedes-Benz of Denver performed a d

The 2003-2006 R230 series seem to have a problem with the BCM (Battery Control Module) as start an electrical fire in the trunk. Very common issue and a safety hazard - this is what happened with my car. Vehicle has dual battery, starter in front, convenience battery in trunk and fuses that operate at 130 Amps - the BCM capacitors and circuit board age and at some point can no longer handle the high current and catch fire.

On many 2003 and 2004 models. Broken fuel tank baffle inside fuel tank. This is well documented and could possibly cause explosion.

ON JULY 22, 2020 THE VEHICLE (2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 (R230)BEGAN MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN STOPPING AND TURNING. I DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A BROKEN BAFFLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT; THIS CANNOT BE CAUSED BY EXCESS WEAR ON THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE THERE IS NOW A LARGE SECTION OF THE FUEL TANK FREELY SWINGING INSIDE, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SPARK AND SUBSEQUENT EXPLOSION. I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS REPLACED AT A VERY LARGE COST. THIS MODEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS FIRST COMING TO LIGHT OVER 15 YEARS AGO.

Mileage: 118,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY AND IN PARK, EITHER THE RIGHT SIDE OR THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD RAISE UP THEN DESCEND TO GROUND OVER A THIRTY SECOND PERIOD INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HIS FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER :08V405000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

Mileage: 92,000

I EXPERIENCE A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WHEN ENTERING MY VEHICLE AND WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HEART A LOUD THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRUNK AREA. SOUNDS TO ME AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS FLOATING INSIDE GAS TANK. THIS ODOR HAS SICKENED ME AND HAS SEVERELY UPSET MY STOMACH TO THE POINT THAT I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. THE THUMPING SOUND IS CREATED WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING OR COMING TO A STOP BUT HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 88,620

THE VEHICLE HAS A BRACKET ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK THAT COMES DISENGADED AND CAUSES THIS DISTINCTIVE NOISE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING SWINGING AND TAPPING AGAINST THE GAS TANK AND I HAS TO HAPPEN A LOT DUE TO EVERY SERVICE I HAVE BEEN ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IT ALSO HAS TO BE SOMETHING WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES DUE TO ONLINE MERCEDES OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SOUND IS REALLY DISTURBING AND I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT TO DO. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

Mileage: 60,000

THE VEHICLE HAS A BRACKET ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK THAT COMES DISENGADED AND CAUSES THIS DISTINCTIVE NOISE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING SWINGING AND TAPPING AGAINST THE GAS TANK AND I HAS TO HAPPEN A LOT DUE TO EVERY SERVICE I HAVE BEEN ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IT ALSO HAS TO BE SOMETHING WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES DUE TO ONLINE MERCEDES OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SOUND IS REALLY DISTURBING AND I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT TO DO. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

Mileage: 60,000

THE VEHICLE HAS A BRACKET ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK THAT COMES DISENGADED AND CAUSES THIS DISTINCTIVE NOISE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING SWINGING AND TAPPING AGAINST THE GAS TANK AND I HAS TO HAPPEN A LOT DUE TO EVERY SERVICE I HAVE BEEN ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IT ALSO HAS TO BE SOMETHING WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES DUE TO ONLINE MERCEDES OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SOUND IS REALLY DISTURBING AND I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT TO DO. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

Mileage: 60,000

I SUBMITTED VIA FAX EARLIER THIS WEEK A FORMAL LETTER TO MR. EXLER THE PRESIDENT & CEO OF MBUSA AND, CC'D MR. KING OF THE NHTSA THAT INCLUDED INFORMATION ABOUT KNOWN CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUED THESE VEHICLES HAD PRIOR TO MBUSA IMPORTING THEM TO THE UNITED STATES. MBUSA FAILED TO DISCLOSE THESE KNOWN ISSUES AND, CHOSE TO IMPORTATION THESE VEHICLES VIOLATING VEHICLE IMPORTATION RULES. YESTERDAY-JANUARY 31, 2019 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVE OF MBUSA STATING HE WAS CALLING ON BEHALF OF MR. EXLERS OFFICE CONCERNING MY LETTER. I WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY MBUSA WHILE SEEKING THE TRUTH ON WHY MBUSA ALLOWED THESE VEHICLES TO ENTER THE USA KNOWING THESE CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUES EXISTED WHILE MISLEADING CONSUMERS AND, THE NHTSA. ON JANUARY 21, 2019 MY VEHICLE HAD WHAT IS DESCRIBED BY MBUSA AS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHEN THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE KILLED ME - AND, OTHER MOTORIST. MBUSA HAS REPLACED THE SBC UNIT AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND, STILL THE ISSUE AND, OT

Mileage: 61,000

I SUBMITTED VIA FAX EARLIER THIS WEEK A FORMAL LETTER TO MR. EXLER THE PRESIDENT & CEO OF MBUSA AND, CC'D MR. KING OF THE NHTSA THAT INCLUDED INFORMATION ABOUT KNOWN CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUED THESE VEHICLES HAD PRIOR TO MBUSA IMPORTING THEM TO THE UNITED STATES. MBUSA FAILED TO DISCLOSE THESE KNOWN ISSUES AND, CHOSE TO IMPORTATION THESE VEHICLES VIOLATING VEHICLE IMPORTATION RULES. YESTERDAY-JANUARY 31, 2019 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVE OF MBUSA STATING HE WAS CALLING ON BEHALF OF MR. EXLERS OFFICE CONCERNING MY LETTER. I WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY MBUSA WHILE SEEKING THE TRUTH ON WHY MBUSA ALLOWED THESE VEHICLES TO ENTER THE USA KNOWING THESE CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUES EXISTED WHILE MISLEADING CONSUMERS AND, THE NHTSA. ON JANUARY 21, 2019 MY VEHICLE HAD WHAT IS DESCRIBED BY MBUSA AS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHEN THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE KILLED ME - AND, OTHER MOTORIST. MBUSA HAS REPLACED THE SBC UNIT AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND, STILL THE ISSUE AND, OT

Mileage: 61,000

I SUBMITTED VIA FAX EARLIER THIS WEEK A FORMAL LETTER TO MR. EXLER THE PRESIDENT & CEO OF MBUSA AND, CC'D MR. KING OF THE NHTSA THAT INCLUDED INFORMATION ABOUT KNOWN CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUED THESE VEHICLES HAD PRIOR TO MBUSA IMPORTING THEM TO THE UNITED STATES. MBUSA FAILED TO DISCLOSE THESE KNOWN ISSUES AND, CHOSE TO IMPORTATION THESE VEHICLES VIOLATING VEHICLE IMPORTATION RULES. YESTERDAY-JANUARY 31, 2019 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVE OF MBUSA STATING HE WAS CALLING ON BEHALF OF MR. EXLERS OFFICE CONCERNING MY LETTER. I WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY MBUSA WHILE SEEKING THE TRUTH ON WHY MBUSA ALLOWED THESE VEHICLES TO ENTER THE USA KNOWING THESE CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUES EXISTED WHILE MISLEADING CONSUMERS AND, THE NHTSA. ON JANUARY 21, 2019 MY VEHICLE HAD WHAT IS DESCRIBED BY MBUSA AS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHEN THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE KILLED ME - AND, OTHER MOTORIST. MBUSA HAS REPLACED THE SBC UNIT AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND, STILL THE ISSUE AND, OT

Mileage: 61,000

I SUBMITTED VIA FAX EARLIER THIS WEEK A FORMAL LETTER TO MR. EXLER THE PRESIDENT & CEO OF MBUSA AND, CC'D MR. KING OF THE NHTSA THAT INCLUDED INFORMATION ABOUT KNOWN CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUED THESE VEHICLES HAD PRIOR TO MBUSA IMPORTING THEM TO THE UNITED STATES. MBUSA FAILED TO DISCLOSE THESE KNOWN ISSUES AND, CHOSE TO IMPORTATION THESE VEHICLES VIOLATING VEHICLE IMPORTATION RULES. YESTERDAY-JANUARY 31, 2019 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVE OF MBUSA STATING HE WAS CALLING ON BEHALF OF MR. EXLERS OFFICE CONCERNING MY LETTER. I WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY MBUSA WHILE SEEKING THE TRUTH ON WHY MBUSA ALLOWED THESE VEHICLES TO ENTER THE USA KNOWING THESE CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUES EXISTED WHILE MISLEADING CONSUMERS AND, THE NHTSA. ON JANUARY 21, 2019 MY VEHICLE HAD WHAT IS DESCRIBED BY MBUSA AS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHEN THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE KILLED ME - AND, OTHER MOTORIST. MBUSA HAS REPLACED THE SBC UNIT AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND, STILL THE ISSUE AND, OT

Mileage: 61,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE NEAR THE FUEL TANK. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A CONSTANT FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF VIRGINIA BEACH (LOCATED AT 4949 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23462, (757) 499-3771) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE BAFFLES IN THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED, SEPARATED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 144,000

NOV 14 EARLY MORNING A FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUCK OF MY CAR. COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE CAR. WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. TRUCK WAS EMPTY. HAD JUST USED CAR MORNING OF NOV 13 AND ALL WAS FINE. *****PLEASE SEE IMAGES IMG_1733, IMG_1734 AND IMG_1738 THANK YOU.

DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION OR FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY DEFAULT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP MODE. IN THE BACK-UP MODE, THE DRIVER HAS BRAKING POWER SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET AND REPLACEMENT GROUND WIRE TO THE SBC PUMP UNIT ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SSC PUMP UNIT IN CERTAIN SL MODELS. THE MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NUMBERS ARE 2005070007 AND 2005110001. RESEARCH SHOWS ONLY 59% OF THE 100% REQUIRED RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THIS ISSUE WAS NOT DISCLOSED WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND, THE REQUIRED WORK WAS NOT DONE AND, MERCEDES SAID THE 60 DAYS FROM RECALL HAD PASSED - YET THE REPORTS SENT TO NHTSA BY MERCEDES BENZ APPEARS TO BE FALSE DATA - THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION OR FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY DEFAULT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP MODE. IN THE BACK-UP MODE, THE DRIVER HAS BRAKING POWER SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET AND REPLACEMENT GROUND WIRE TO THE SBC PUMP UNIT ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SSC PUMP UNIT IN CERTAIN SL MODELS. THE MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NUMBERS ARE 2005070007 AND 2005110001. RESEARCH SHOWS ONLY 59% OF THE 100% REQUIRED RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THIS ISSUE WAS NOT DISCLOSED WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND, THE REQUIRED WORK WAS NOT DONE AND, MERCEDES SAID THE 60 DAYS FROM RECALL HAD PASSED - YET THE REPORTS SENT TO NHTSA BY MERCEDES BENZ APPEARS TO BE FALSE DATA - THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION OR FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY DEFAULT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP MODE. IN THE BACK-UP MODE, THE DRIVER HAS BRAKING POWER SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET AND REPLACEMENT GROUND WIRE TO THE SBC PUMP UNIT ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SSC PUMP UNIT IN CERTAIN SL MODELS. THE MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NUMBERS ARE 2005070007 AND 2005110001. RESEARCH SHOWS ONLY 59% OF THE 100% REQUIRED RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THIS ISSUE WAS NOT DISCLOSED WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND, THE REQUIRED WORK WAS NOT DONE AND, MERCEDES SAID THE 60 DAYS FROM RECALL HAD PASSED - YET THE REPORTS SENT TO NHTSA BY MERCEDES BENZ APPEARS TO BE FALSE DATA - THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2014. MY BRAKES COMPLETELY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING JANUARY 1 2018. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON BOTH SIDES COMING TOWARDS ME. I IMMEDIATELY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND SPED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT....ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER. BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED I WAS UNABLE TO SEEK SERVICE THAT DAY. I CALLED MERCEDES OF RICHMOND VA BEING THAT WAS THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS VISITING AT AT THE TIME. UNFORTUNATELY I COULD NOT GET AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL JANUARY 3RD. I HAD IT TOWED THAT MORNING AND THEY CAME BACK HOURS LATER NOTIFYING ME IT WAS IN FACE THE SBC SYSTEM WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2006. I WAS OUTRAGED LEARNING THAT MBUSA KNEW OF THIS ISSUE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V296000 IN JUNE 2004 BUT CLOSED IT OUT IN DECEMBER 2013. I DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE UNTIL 2014. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD D

Mileage: 131,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND CAUSED THE WHEELS TO DROP AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE FENDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE UNLESS LIFTED UP WITH SOME SORT OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT. THE CONTACT INFORMED MERCEDES-BENZ OF OKLAHOMA CITY WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DESIGN ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

Mileage: 81,000