Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS | ||||||
| PE05051 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. | 09/22/2005 | 12/02/2005 | BRAKE LAMP FAILURE | 05V505000 | |
| In its letter dated october 28, 2005, mercedes-benz usa stated that it would conduct a safety recall to remedy defective brake lamp assemblies in model year 1998 through 2004 mercedes benz slk vehicles.the base of the brake lamp socket can be subject to thermal deformation over time.this deformation can cause movement in the socket-to-bulb connection, which may lead to a loosening of the electrical contacts in the socket, and failure of the bulb to illuminate.all rear lamp modules (which contain brake, turn signal, tail and backup lamps) will be replaced with redesigned rear lamp modules with a more heat resistant material and enhanced socket holder design to withstand the heat inside the rear lamp module.see nhtsa recall no. 05v505 for more information. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS | |||
| 08/06/2006 | 1 | ||
| 1999 mercedes slk 230 with a safety recall customer wants to be reimbursed for repairs**cc the dealer denied there was a recall, however the consumer received a recall letter in the mail after being told there was no recall. the consumer took the vehicle to his mechanic to have the repairs done. recall # 05v505000. *jb | |||
| 01/31/2007 | 77000 | 2 | 04/15/2004 |
| Tl* - the contact owns a 1999 mercedes benz slk230. the contact received a recall notice for the exterior lighting:brake lights. the mercedes mechanic replaced the lights at the contacts home. prior to replacing the lights per the recall, the lights were working. however, the lights no longer worked, and the vehicle did not start. the dealer did not want to address the failures and make the necessary repairs. the contact talked to the manager of mercedes and he was unsuccessful at gaining assistance. *ak | |||
| 08/29/2006 | 72116 | 1 | 08/01/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated after being alerted the brake light was inoperable the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop. the repair shop determined there was a nhtsa recall, # 05v505000, regarding the brake lights. the manufacturer was contact who reflected no knowledge of this recall. updated 9/13/2006 - *nm | |||
| 08/29/2006 | 60000 | 1 | 12/02/1998 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle's rear passenger side brake light was inoperable, and was taken to the dealership. the bulb was replaced, but immediately burned out. there was a nhtsa recall, # 05v505000, regarding the brake lights. the manufacturer had no knowledge of this recall. | |||
| 07/14/2006 | 15000 | 1 | 11/22/2003 |
| Re: nhtsa campaign # 05v-505. the manufacturer indicated in a letter to nhtsa that it would start owner notification no sooner than second quarter of 2006. it is now third quarter 2006 and when asked, the manufacturer still says there are no active recalls on this vehicle. i feel that the manufacturer needs to provide an updated schedule for compliance with this recall campaign. *jb | |||
| 03/24/2006 | 90000 | 1 | 03/01/2005 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the passenger side brake light was inoperable. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop that attempted to replace the bulb. the repair shop determined the socket burned out and while placing the bulb in the socket, the driver side socket burned out as well. both brake light sockets are being replaced. updated 04/11/06. *jb | |||
| 07/21/2004 | 30000 | 6 | 09/05/2003 |
| Brake lights burn out frequently on my 1999 mercedes slk 230. light sockets burn with discoloration and plastic melts at the socket and circuit board on the rear of the taillight. it is very difficult to remove the burned socket from the fixture. the intent of the design is to use finger pressure to twist the socket out. due to the melting it requires the use of a wrench that then damages the socket sometimes to an unusable condition requiring replacement at owner cost. dash bulb out warning light is too dim to notice and hidden from view behind the steering wheel. bulb out warning light illuminates sometimes when there are no lights burned out so this makes it useless to determine what bulb is actually out if any. my car was in the mercedes shop for 30 days and returned to me with the comment ⿿condition could not be duplicated in regards to the taillight. all they had to do is remove it to see the burnt condition but they chose to ignore the problem. i have had to purchase a handful of sockets to keep on hand as they need replacing every month or so. i even purchased a new set of taillights, the entire housing and new sockets thinking this would solve the problem but they burned out a month later. i have turned the taillight over to nhtsa. *jb | |||
| 09/13/2005 | 2 | ||
| Nhtsa action number : pe05051 rear brake light sockets melt/fail. *jb | |||
| 05/05/2003 | 3 | 03/25/1999 | |
| I have a mercedes-benz 1999 slk 230. the bulb socket for the brake light lamps in the rear light assembly keeps failing as the contacts do not make proper contact during vibrations leading to electric arcing at the contacts. the arcing builds up deposits that break the connectivity leading to inoperative rear brake lights (a safety issue) and heats up the area melting the plastic and fusing the socket to the assembly. there is a potential fire hazard here because of the open electric arcing. related to open case pe05051. the bulb itself does not fail as currently described in that open investigation but the contact does. mb's solution is to just replace the whole assembly with the same defect which fails again after a while. *jb | |||
| 12/18/2004 | 1 | 10/22/1998 | |
| I own a 1999 mercedes benz slk230. on december 18, 2004 i took the car into the dealership (friendly mercedes benz in wappingers falls, ny) due to a brake light problem. dealer informed me of a known problem with the light overheating causing the assembly to melt and short out the light. mercedes would not cover the replacement cost of $269.50. regardless of cost, the potential for a fire evidently exists. i read yesterday that an investigation has been opened in this very matter so i thought i'd provide yet another example of this type of occurrence. *nm | |||
| 05/10/2005 | 8900 | 11/20/2003 | |
| There is a defect in 1998 - 2001 mercedes benz slk model cars tail lights and brake lights. the socket which houses the bulbs does not provide sufficient pressure to maintain electrical contact. the result of this is burned conctats, melted bulb housings and burned out tail and brake lights. this can lead to a fire or an accident in the event of failure. this defect has been reported by hundreds/thousands of slk owners to the manufacturer. the maufacturer refuses to acknowledge this defect and will do nothing to correct it if the vehicle is out of warrenty. the defect, if discovered by the owner prior to warranty expiration is corrected, but if the defect is not discovered in warranty the manufacturer will do nothing to correct it. subsequent (post 2001) models have had this defect corrected but the pre 2001 vehicles still have this defect. | |||
| 10/02/2002 | 19000 | 4 | 08/09/1998 |
| Rearview mirror has fog inside the glass,making it impossible to see out of it. brake lights and headlights continue to fail. also, dash lights failed. *ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | |||
| 10/02/2002 | 19000 | 4 | 08/09/1998 |
| Rearview mirror has fog inside the glass,making it impossible to see out of it. brake lights and headlights continue to fail. also, dash lights failed. *ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TAIL LIGHTS | |||
| 01/01/2007 | 1 | ||
| Safety recall slk-class replace brake lamp bulb sockets**nar**cc the recall described the need to replace the brake lamp bulb sockets to ensure the tail lights continue to function properly. the consumer local mb dealer informed him that mercedes benz central supplier was unable to provide the parts needed. *nm | |||
| 11/15/2006 | 08/04/2000 | ||
| Tl* - the contact fixed the tail lights on her car, and then received a safety recall on her tail lights. contact paid almost $500.00 to have her tail lights repaired, and was only reimbursed half of that. the contact wants to know if she can get entire money back. safety recall number is 2006-080005. | |||
| 09/27/2005 | 6 | ||
| My left tail light keeps going out, a few times before, don't really notice it until someone tells me. i had it happen today, all i could do is replace the bulb but according to other people, eventually the socket melts. *jb | |||
| 05/10/2005 | 8900 | 11/20/2003 | |
| There is a defect in 1998 - 2001 mercedes benz slk model cars tail lights and brake lights. the socket which houses the bulbs does not provide sufficient pressure to maintain electrical contact. the result of this is burned conctats, melted bulb housings and burned out tail and brake lights. this can lead to a fire or an accident in the event of failure. this defect has been reported by hundreds/thousands of slk owners to the manufacturer. the maufacturer refuses to acknowledge this defect and will do nothing to correct it if the vehicle is out of warrenty. the defect, if discovered by the owner prior to warranty expiration is corrected, but if the defect is not discovered in warranty the manufacturer will do nothing to correct it. subsequent (post 2001) models have had this defect corrected but the pre 2001 vehicles still have this defect. | |||