Vehicle: 2002 SLK 32 AMG, bone stock. 1987 190E 2.3-16 valve (destroyed). 1991 300CE, a work in progress.
Location: Near Washington, DC
Posts: 10,574
Tail light recall info. via ByByeAmericanPie............
Thanks to the efforts of ByByeAmericanPie, AMPM, and E-Klasse we have some data.
Please don't respond to this thread, we'll add more when we get more. Current info: NHTSA Campaign number is 05V505000
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Vehicle: E320, SLK320, MKV Jetta TDI, Mini Cooper S
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,694
I posted this a while ago...
__________________________________________________ _____________
Recall Number: 05V505000
Dates Manufactured: NOV 1996 to APR 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
Defect Description:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FAILURE OF ONE OF THE SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CAN OCCUR IF THE BULB HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH CERTAIN WIDELY AVAILABLE LIGHT BULBS (BULB TRADE NO. 1073). THESE BULBS HAVE A HIGHER WATTAGE AND GENERATE MORE HEAT THAN THE BULBS USED IN PRODUCTION. THE BASE OF THE SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME.
Consequence of Defect:
THIS DEFORMATION CAN CAUSE MOVEMENT IN THE SOCKET-TO-BULB CONNECTION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE SOCKET, AND FAILURE OF THE BULB TO ILLUMINATE.
Corrective Action:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LAMP MODULES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
We need to flood the call center with questions about these. I dont like this statment:
THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.
CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372
This is the bad part:
THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.
__________________
I assume no liability for any incidental, consequential or other liability from the use of this information. All risks and damages, incidental or otherwise, arising from the use or misuse of the information contained herein are entirely the responsibility of the user. Although careful precaution has been taken in the preparation of this information, I assume no responsibility for omissions or errors.
Vehicle: E320, SLK320, MKV Jetta TDI, Mini Cooper S
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,694
I am not screaming for credit, I was just alarmed by the last line:
THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.
I hope we are all calling the dealerships and questioning this. It is a voluntary recall so it may take so long that they hope we all will forget. I asked one dealership and they said they were getting by cleaning the contacts and installing lower wattage bulbs and sockets instead of replacing the entire assembly. The other didn't even know about the problem or cliamed that they didn't.
FYI...I FAX'ed this information to Mercedes Benz of Orlando in Maitland, FL, and although they are not usually very good about comping stuff, they did replace both my burnt out taillights free of charge. I did also mention the safety risk in my FAX, but not sure if that had any effect. They made sure to tell me that it was just replacing them with the same defective part, and that I'd have to bring it in again when the recall actually happens, which is fine with me...they should last a little while, right? (Although this was my third time getting one replaced - other times under extended warranty that has since gone out of business). Anyway, thanks guys!
might be to contact the government over your concern as to the timing of the recall. Also restate the safety issue involved and your concern as to your well being. It could be like chug holes/dangerous highway defects. After a defect is logged by the responsible govt. entity on a road, any later damage to an auto can be subject to payment from the government. If this is correct (I am not a lawyer) then the fed. govt. plus Mercedes could be held liable for your injury from the defective tail light situation that caused your injury. Here again, it is money that talks. "Golly gee, we have XXXXX cases of SLK owners getting in on a joint lawsuit. We better fix those darn tail lights".
I did contact NHTSA, they said to contact MB. MB does not know of any recall.
The CS Agents on the phone lines will not know of any recall until MB releases it for public notification. Until that time, the only evidence is the NHTSA website and the documents posted there.
Just be patient. The recall was to start owner notification "no sooner than sometime in the second quarter" so it will probably be 3rd or 4th quarter this year before you hear anything. Keep in mind they have to be prepared to replace some 60k+ sets of lights so they have to retool and manufacture these units.
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Tail light recall info. via ByByeAmericanPie............ 
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