Car is not even 4 months old!!! Ran a scan today and they need to order a part. Will take 4 hours to install. They said it happens and is one of the 50 or 60 computers in the car. I can't believe, my 3rd Mercedes and yet again, another transmission problem, only at least this time, it's the computer and not the actual transmission!!!

The reason I went to dealer was the car would not move when you gave it gas all of a sudden and acts as if it's in neutral when in fact it's in drive! Must stop car in middle of the highway, put in park, and shut engine off, then turn back on and it rides fine.

Crazy....

 

No kidding.
I had the same thing happen to me as well! I was driving in heavy traffic when all over sudden the car when revving as it was in neutral.
Switching between M,E,S or using the shift pedals wouldn't matter.
Stop and the engine and restart and everything is back to normal.

At first they were planning to switch the same part out, but then found that a software update was available for that issue.

Did the update and so far so good. This is a dangerous issue though.

 

OMG I got the car back in the same day and it works great! I think it was messed up from the start! Smoother shifting now and much faster 0-60! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I was not aware of it , good to see they fixed it , that is really serious and dangerous issue

 

For the record: I had the same problem where there was no acceleration. It seemed as though the car was in seventh gear when stopped at a traffic light. ESP Software update solved my problem. The problem creates a potentially dangerous situation for anyone needing that software upgrade. Let's hope MB publishes a technical bullitan addressing the problem and related vin nos.

 

Hi The Don, you should read my experiences with my SL350 (R230).had the sme problem as you.They ie.MB tried to convince me that I was accidentally touching the transmission shift into neutral-what sort of clons that they we customers are!evntually I sued and won. I had 3 other car owners to prove they had identical problems. My engineering consultant was able to show that here I an inherent defect in the MB transmissions where the car can go into what s known as ' false neutral' when the car is accelerated quickly with the result that the transmission jams between two gears nod hence goes into the false neutral bein unble to engage te appropriate gear. MB knows all about this problem since 1996 nod are doing nothing about it for the following reasons:

1 it would cost too much to recall all the cars
2 it would lead to adverse publicity
3 it could lead to criminal prosecutions world wide as they have been concealing what is in affect a potential fatal flaw, if not already fatal for some poor msfirtunate MB owner

We really need to stand up as a group and tke these people on or their concealment of such a serious problem. In my case they even tried to interfere with one of my witnesses but failed badly. They will stop at nothing for their endless greed

I' m trying to get a Group together to highlight these very serious problems and give it tg full publicity that it deserves. I propose giving the result of my case a full splash in the media as soon as I have got my costs off MB for the case .
If you are interested in joining up let me know

Keep safe

 

It hit me too. I take it in to the MB Dealership tomorrow. Does anyone knows if the issue throws a code? And what it was?

 

Not for me. No parts were replaced, just a software update and all is good.

 

So indeed a code was thrown and the fix was a software update. Service manager said it used to be a hardware fix but was now a software update - just simple flashing the software.

 

Just had car in for 1 year service. 2013 SL550 with 2200 miles on it. After reading the posts regarding transmission malfunction I asked the service advisor if he was aware of any problems. He stated he was not. I told him to make sure they checked for software updates. Got back car and this was on paperwork under the heading of automatic transmission:

Customer states check for software updates
Newer software available for transmission control unit 33376
Connect and disconnect battery charger, performed software update of transmission control unit. Cleared codes, Checked for proper operation.

I would like to think this would have been done had I not asked for it. Interested to find out if others have had this update without requesting it when car is in for routine service.

 

Unless the dealer sells a lot of SL's, the service department is usually clueless; even worse with AMG-specific issues...

But 2200 miles in a year? Seriously? Why did you get the car if you don't drive it?

 

Interesting comment Mr Wolfman about that R231. Are you sure it is not an R230!!! After all R231 have no transmission problems like the R230. So you say.

See also Centexhokie at the second thread on this section where again, lo and behold, we do have the same problems again as the R230. Have you got the picture now!!

 

Not the same issue. Not same transmission. There is a service bulletin and this is fixed by MB.

I have mentioned that many times, even pointed this issue out to you in my prior response to you so am not sure what the surprise is.

I also respond to you only because you plaster the same story on MB forums disregarding the models pointing in order to scare, not inform.

Just post in the relevant forum and don't call it a 722.6 transmission. You know that nobody knows what that is. If you say it's a 5G (5 speed) transmission used 10-15 years ago then it would more informative.
Also it does matter which country you live in. If I recall a new MB only had a 2 year warranty at the time in the UK (same as Germany). In the US, we are spoiled with better warranties and better consumer protection laws.

I originally thought your posts were informative and helpful until you ended up the same story in different forums with the dire warning that MB doesn't care about their drivers lives...

 

I completely agree with your sentiment... This is when you want to have ignore lists in forums, to filter out the broken records.

 

Why are you attempting to cover up this problem? What is your interests in doing this? I have gone through the due process with MB and I knw what they are capable of. I can only presume that in the stance you are taking in this matter that you have a vested interest. Lets forget 722.6 and all different spec transmissions the fact of the matter is

1. since 1996 one in every 3 of these transmissions have been giving difficulty ( a fact of which I have factual evidence of)
2. This problem has been denied by MB and have been blaming their customers in the manner in which they use their transmission while (a) they know if the existence if this inherent ðefect , and (b) notwithstanding that within their system they have been issuing TSBS about this very problem among their dealers.when I accessed one if these documents in my case and presented it in evidence MB were shocked as they sad I shouldn't have had it - how interesting and why shouldn't I have it. These documents , as became evident as my case proceeded, were being concealed by Your Friends
3. Now lets deal with the R231 - you seem not to be reading the other people in this forum who still have problems with the New Transmission. I really can't believe that you are maintaining that the new transmissions have no problems- this fact is being reported on this forum and you choose to ignore it , which begs the question WHY and also WHY you seem to be attempting to ridicule the FACTS I have been stating when clearly they are for the benefit of our friends on this forum. It might surprise you to know that I have been providing useful information nd assistance to other members in this area as well as documents which have lead to their interests being protected and hence saving them a lot of expense. In my case I was offered such assistance which helped me win my case and hence I will continue to be of assistance to whoever I can who is suffering at the hands of MB. You are attempting to defend the indefensible - I have proved in the High Court that documents that ought to have released to me under an Order for Discovery of the High Court were not and when i applied for the committal to prison of the individuals they apologised to the Court-in case you missed the point this constituted a criminal offence. This is the organisation that you are representing here as being capable of dealing with customers fairly. My friend, get real and stop trying to mislead people whatever your interests are in this matter. It certainly isn't our members interests rather you appear to try and cut off acces to the information which I am offering to fellow members who have this very problem. We live in a democratic society and I am entitled to say what I have to say to fellow members who need my help and you similarly have the right not to read it BUT you have no right to stop or trivialise what I have to say to other fellow members who continue to appreciate my help to them.
To finish off this email you might please read the other entries on the R231 and you will see, as I have already drawn to your attention, that transmission problems continue to the present day.

 

This is a site for Mercedes enthusiasts. We are here to discuss the pros/cons about our cars and learn from the experience of others.

When you initially posted you situation, it was informative and I am glad you won a lawsuit since MB in the UK appeared to mislead their customers.

82 same story posts later on anything related to any transmission, including SL63 MCT (Multi Clutch Transmission aka not a slush box), you carbon copy the same info, I can only gather that you are not out inform but to spread fear about their cars. I get that you hate MB.
But many visit these forums for information and feedback and IMO your posts are simply negative and misleading.

Your posts read like a conspiracy theory with some idiotic content. Seriously, if 1 in 3 transmissions since 1996 have issues like you stated, that translates into millions of affected cars; Mercedes would either be out of business or you would find thousands of posts from disgruntled owners here.

If you bother to check the thousands of the R230 SL posts, you'll find that transmission issues are not even on the horizon. It's ABC, electronic gremlins, ignition coils, motor mounts and the like...

Post what you want and stop accusing others that don't care to read your single, repetitive non-relevant post...

 

The transmission and computer electronics on the R231 plain suck. I have had more problems with this $120,000 PLUS car than I had with a $30K Nissan Maxima as a kid. It's not just this car either, my previous SL had tons of problems also, my 2003 CLK had issues with the tranny also, radiator leaked into the tranny and rotted it out. I kept telling myself that I must have got a lemon each time, but now I'm beginning to think that MB doesn't make good cars. I think I will reconsider my next car.

I know some people will say, with the German cars comes maintenance etc, blah blah blah, LOL but the fact of the matter is, if one is paying for a $100K PLUS car and have to drive a sub par low end C Class (If you're lucky if they have a loaner car in stock) 5-7 times out of the year for 3 days on average, I think I will take my money somewhere else as it's just too much to deal with.

Oh let's not mention the only spare tires and rims stocked at any dealer are usually for the loaner cars, yes, the loaner cars that are always out of stock unless you make an appointment.

Fill out the survey when you get it after your service technician calls you and tries to blow you to get a good review. It's the only time they call!

 

Hi Don

I agree that it is unacceptable that people should be required to put up with thee defective cars and at such an exhibit an price.

It is simply unacceptable that these problems with the transmission should continue right through from the R129, through the R230 and now even the R231 , despite the entrenched views taken by Wolfman & Co. accepting this mediocrity and condoning these defects as being normal, especially having regard to the price being charged for them is criminal.
I believe the only way that MB will do anything to address this problem if enough people sand up and be counted and give as much publicity to this problem. Public pressure and letting others know that this problem is there, so as to enable them to voice their displeasure, is the only way to treat this Compsny. The Co knows the problem exists and as been there for the last 20 years and attempt passing it off rather than face the considerable expense that it would take to recall all these cars. The US case involving the Ford Pinto should act as a reminder as to what can go wrong for MB the minute someone gets badly injured.
Mr Wolfman raised an intersting point that not a lot of people have taken onMB legally and he is of course correct because the cost of asking on MB is a major undertaking financially. Without wishing to appear to sound like a ' broken record' as I am accused of here by the above people( whose concern as to what I have been saying perplexes me) the clear obstacle to taking MB on is the considerable expense. Only that I am a lawyer it would not have been possible for a normal lay litigant to take MB on as it would have been prohibitively expensive and being used to taking on these type of crooks and their underhand tactics, which they tried in my case , could not have been dealt with appropriately ( to include an application to committ their director to prison) without incurring serious expense. The message has to get back to MB that their game is up and that people are aware of their game. Anyone out there interested in buying an MB be aware and be wise, buy something different, even a Nissan!!

 

@Philip317 Agreed!