Well folks, that didn't take long. After only a 600 mile honeymoon, the object of my blissful automotive affection has fallen from grace. I was about halfway to Houston for an appointment yesterday when the display told me I had a 48v battery failure, impaired power, and I better pull over and stop the engine for fear of overheating. Also, a small yellow turtle appeared and the ac ceased to function. I limped on to my appointment and after went and cranked her up. Started ok, ac worked, turtle gone, but now displaying a check engine light. Off to the dealer, where they took it in and ubered me 60 miles home. Lets just say now I'm not a big fan of the Nissan Rogue. Service called me late yesterday, said they tested all sorts of stuff and were going to change the 48v battery and test all the electrical systems again. I'm waiting on their call to see how all that went. Anyone else have a problem like this?

 

Sorry to hear and best wishes for a swift resolution.

Seems after 7 model years MB hasn't figured out their own 48V system. Strong avoid.

 

Update:
It's been a week, here's where I stand. 48v battery dead must be replaced. Must have some kind of insulating paste to put around the battery. Not available until ???
They gave me a GLC300 loaner which is a poor substitute for the G. Dealer says " This will take awhile". Lucky me sure am enjoying my new G LOL

 

Disappointing to hear about your troubles robwill. Did you ask the advisor if the 48volt battery is covered under the new car warranty or the emissions warranty. I have a CLE 53 and wondering if after the 4 year warranty expires if the 48volt battery will be covered under ELW or emissions or neither.
Hopefully, it will not be too long or if it is MB will $$ you

Dave

 

Sorry to hear. I know what it feels like to not enjoy your baby. My Cayenne is at an extended dealer visit for warranty work.

Likely nothing from MB coming your way to address either lease payments or voluminous depreciation ticking away.

 

"The Best or Nothing"-- no kidding.

 

I am so sorry to hear this robwill54! I would also be pretty frustrated just taking delivery and having this issue. I sure hope the insulating paste arrives soon so you can get your G wagon back and enjoy it. I would love to know why there is such a delay in getting this item? I love my G wagon, but potential reliability issues are always in the back of my mind. As you may have seen, I have a 2027 G63 on order, so I will get another extended warranty and hope for the best.

This is one reason why I am keeping my 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 series forever, as no other vehicle gives me that peace of mind, or old school charm.

 

Insulating paste? Or is it thermal conducting grease that helps to keep the battery temperature stable?

 

Update
Battery available July 20
Dealer promised to store the car inside
There was a hailstorm about 2 weeks ago
Just learned yesterday that the car was damaged by hail because they stored it outside
I am some kind of pissed

I'm heading towards pursuit of the lemon law process
Any body have experience with this type of thing?

 

I am so sorry to hear about these issues. I don't understand how the 48V battery is taking so long? That is just ridiculous! Plus, the damage from the hail storm after they promised to store the vehicle inside - man, that is just unacceptable. Have you called Mercedes-Benz corporate or escalated this issue? I am not sure how lemon laws work in Texas where you are, but perhaps you could contact an attorney or do some research. For me, the hail damage is much more of a deal breaker than the battery... I would hope they will fix everything, and I know you have magno paint, so that's always a worry. I am truly sorry for all of this, so disappointing and beyond frustrating. Please keep us posted.... I really feed bad for you.

 

They said insulating paste but I'm not to confident in what they say

 

Got it. Just so weird with most of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs made in Alabama, some using the 48V battery, that they have no "insulating paste" available until July 20th. Wow! I just feel so bad for you going through all this with a new car.

 

I called the MBUSA customer care line and the lady filed a "buy back" request for me. She said that by doing that it would be escalated and I would be contacted in 3 business days. We will see how fast this really moves along. Somehow after driving MB for over 50 years I have lost some faith here. Especially with Clear Lake Mercedes for lying about my car's storage and taking over 3 weeks to disclose the hail damage. I could have taken the battery failure, but the hail damage is a deal breaker for me. Having been a Cummins and Detroit Diesel dealer for 50 years, I know all about parts failures, warranty, and customer good will. Now I, and all who follow here will see how they do.

 

I am glad you got that process started, but man, I feel so bad you are potentially going to sell back your G wagon. This is probably a dumb question, but will you look at another one? I completely agree with you, the battery failure is annoying, but I get it, but the dealership behavior about hail damage is just absolutely unacceptable. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

No, had a 25 and 26 without problems. Why didn’t they give you a loaner?

 

They did. After a week.

 

that’s unacceptable! My dealer gives me a new car to drive.

 

Sorry to hear about these issues. Agree even without hail damage I would pursue a buyback based on days out of service. The hail damage was icing on the cake.

I do wonder if you wanted another G if you could request a goodwill allocation since yours was so new and now a buyback candidate. Not sure you’d want to use the same dealer though.

 

I must admit that I am squarely on the fence about whether or not to get another G. For one thing, the 27 G550 is not able to be ordered or built at this time, so it looks like I would have to push to get into a 63, if they would allow it. The only way I would entertain that would be if the dealer waives the $25,000 up charge on it. Seems like that would be the neighborly thing to do, all things considered.

I went to see the car on Saturday; the hail damage is extensive. The hood and roof especially are dimpled pretty much all over. Although the hail wasn't large, the damage has been done. The dealer said the paintless dent repair guys could fix it, and if he winds up with it, he will disclose the damage and sell it. He offered to pay me msrp on the car, but didn't go into taxes, extended warranty purchased, or any of that.

In order to effect the repairs, the headliner and under hood and fender insulating panels would all have to be removed. Including possibly wiring, air bags, or who knows. Also there are a couple of dimples on the pillars around the windshield. I don't know how confident I am to let this dealer or the paintless dent guys take all this off the car and put it back correctly.

The dealer wants my permission to send it out to the paintless dent shop. I told him if we go that way, it is all on his dollar and or insurance, not mine. I told him to wait and lets see what Mercedes comes back with before I jump into any repairs. So that's where this deal sits. Dead on the tracks; possibly for the 8 weeks Mercedes said it would take its team to make a determination on the buy back. I do appreciate all of your comments and opinions expressed here by everyone following this soap opera.

 

Contact a lemon law attorney before going any further.

 

I don’t have much confidence in the Paintless Dent Repair, especially for numerous dents close to each other. When metal dents, it stretches and is very difficult to make right.

 

Thanks for the update and so sorry all this is going on for you, it must be so frustrating! I would absolutely not accept the paintless dent repair or the G550 back with that extent of hail damage, unless you are OK with the end result and they give you something monetary in return or some form of setting your mind at ease. If you want another G wagon, I would definitely push for a G63 alllocation at MSRP, at the very least, to try to make things right if you want to go in that direction. For now, I think you are doing the right thing, wait until MB comes back before doing anything. Wishing you the best of luck and please keep us posted, we are cheering for you.

 

Probably can contact and get a free consultation from a lemon law attorney but I wouldn’t go waving that in their face. A lot of companies shut down when they hear counsel has been retained.

The lemon law criteria is usually pretty clear. If you will meet criteria waiting until July (almost certainly) then document things, and you have all the power because if you don’t get want you want then you can lemon it.

Mercedes will be motivated to do everything reasonable to avoid that and buy it back or give you enough money to convince you to keep it, so an attorney is probably not needed at all. They should pay you back everything you put into the car at point of sale including taxes and warranty. Anything aftermarket (tint etc), can ask but not sure they will do it.

If you are not taking this car back no matter what, I would not let them touch it while the buyback process is underway. Let them worry about the PDR when it’s not your problem any more.

If you have an inkling you may want it back, then you could let them do the repair on their dime. If it looks great then that may help you decide to keep it (after Mercedes gives you something as thanks for keeping the car and not forcing a buy back), but if it looks horrible then you know to break ties. If you keep it then you need to make sure the PDR doesn’t go on the Carfax and the dealer pays out of pocket and not through insurance.

Me personally I’d want another car whether it’s a G or something else. I’m not sure they will waive $25k but I’ve heard of them giving $10k rather easily.

 

That all sounds like good advice. I definitely want a different car. In Texas the lemon threshold is 30 days out of service in my case. It has been 21 days. My dealer is number 80 on the list to get supplied the magic paste.

 

I can’t believe it took them a week to give him a loaner. I also can’t believe they left his vehicle outside to be damaged by hail.