Mike T.

The biggest recall in Mercedes' history!

From Auto-Bild, rough translation by me:

RECALL in E Class and SL Class

Problems with "Wonder Brakes"

12.05.2004 - Stuttgart: Mercedes Benz has reacted to the investigations of AUTO-BILD - and is recalling world-wide approximately 680,000 models of the E and SL Class into the workshop.

In Germany 225,000 vehicles must be examined - the electrohydraulic brake system SBC can suffer failures "at high running pressures" and "frequent brake operation". According to Mercedes Benz, the system - in more than 1300 cases - has switched into emergency operation. Failures occur in ABS, ESP as well as the brake booster, so that the stopping distance extends substantially, even with a firm stomp on the brake pedal.

Research by AUTO-BILD uncovered this safety issue. The manufacturer has known of these brake defects in its vehicles at least since November 2003. In relation to AUTO-BILD Mercedes now admits that there have already been several accidents due to SBC failure.

The recall concerns the E-Class starting from March 2002, the T-model of the T-Class starting from March 2003 and the SL starting from year of construction October 2001.

The original:
Rückruf E- und SL-Klasse

Probleme mit der Wunder-Bremse

DaimlerChrysler ordert weltweit 680.000 Fahrzeuge in die Werkstatt. Alle Hintergründe dazu in der neuen AUTO BILD!

12.05.2004 - Stuttgart Mercedes-Benz reagiert auf die Recherchen von AUTO BILD – und ruft weltweit rund 680.000 Modelle der E- und SL-Klasse in die Werkstatt. Allein in Deutschland müssen 225.000 Fahrzeuge überprüft werden – das elektrohydraulische Bremssystem SBC kann "bei hoher Laufleistung und häufiger Betätigung" Probleme bereiten. Laut Mercedes-Benz hatte das System in mehr als 1300 Fällen in den Notbetrieb umgeschaltet. Dabei fallen ABS, ESP sowie die Bremskraftunterstützung aus, so dass sich der Anhalteweg selbst beim festen Tritt aufs Bremspedal erheblich verlängert.

Recherchen der AUTO BILD hatten den Sicherheitsmangel aufgedeckt. Dem Unternehmen sind die Bremsdefekte an seinen Fahrzeugen mindestens seit November 2003 bekannt. Gegenüber AUTO BILD hat Mercedes eingeräumt, dass es bereits zu mehreren Unfällen infolge SBC-Ausfalls gekommen ist. Der Rückruf betrifft die E-Klasse ab März 2002, das T-Modell der E-Klasse ab März 2003 und den SL ab Baujahr Oktober 2001. Nach Schätzungen eines Unternehmenssprechers seien zwei von tausend Modellen tatsächlich fehlerhaft, insgesamt also etwa 1360 Fahrzeuge.

saziz

This is a known failure but in Canada, Mercedes refuses to warranty the SBC unit and despite almost getting into a major accident after the SBC failed, mercedes will not replace the unit in my car. Don't buy this car!

TheGreatOne45

in the us, u get 10 years unlim milage on the sbc, that doesnt hold true in canada as well?

saziz

No mine went last week and I called Mercedes to have them replace it but they refuse. I called the dealership and Mercedes Canada. They both refused to do anything about it.

andy_meng1024

Didn't know this. Where can I find this info?

saziz

Call mercedes canada 1-800-387-0100. They'll tell you.

charliele729

Is this only for sbc brakes?

lkchris

If it isn't SBC brakes, the units being discussed aren't on the car. So yes.

murman

I was hopeful when the story said world-wide recall, and then noted that it was written in 2004. Now hopeless.

saziz

So it seems that Mercedes will cover the cost of replacing the SBC unit. It seems the transmission control unit needs to be replaced as well which is going to cost me 1800 so they're doing both. Seems pretty convenient that both went out at the same time but I'm at the mercy of the dealership for now.