NHTSA complaint #11382743

Owner complaint summary

THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DELIVER POWER IN RESPONSE TO THROTTLE APPLICATION, IT IS ALSO INCONSISTENT IN IT'S RESPONSE FROM ONE TIME TO THE NEXT. THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE FOR UP TO 4-5 SECONDS BEFORE RESPONDING TO THROTTLE COMMANDS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE ROLLING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH AND APPLYING POWER ALSO WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN. THE POWERTRAIN ALSO IS EXTREMELY INCONSISTENT IN IT'S RESPONSE WHICH MAKES PULLING INTO TRAFFIC EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM SENSORS IN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (MB ESP), THE TRANSMISSION MODULE AND THE FLY BY WIRE THROTTLE AND ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. PROGRAMING OF SHIFTS OF THE TRANSMISSION SEEM TO FIGHTING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. ALL OF THIS ADDS UP TO AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SELLING DEALER (MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH PALM BEACH FLORIDA) TWICE ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I FILED A REQUEST WITH MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA TO BUY THE CAR BACK WITHOUT SUCCESS.