| Issue ID | 1365457 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10967915 |
| Manufacurer | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
| Brand | MERCEDES BENZ |
| Model | METRIS |
| Model Year | 2016 |
| File date | 18/03/17 |
| Component | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | The cruise control lacks a separate on/off switch. When the cruise control stem is pull backward, the system is turned on/engaged, which is non standard for switches. When initially turned on, it activates at the speed of the vehicle. When the cruise control is turned off, then back on (without having turned off the engine) the vehicle will either accelerate or decelerate abruptly to the previously set speed. The cruise control stem is also located near the headlight dimmer switch on the left side of the steering column, which are both similar in size and feel. At night i exited an interstate highway in mt and had the cruise control set to 75 mph. I turned off/disengaged the cruise control as i exited the freeway. On a lighted street with a 30 mph speed limit, i realized my headlights were on bright so i used my left hand to dim the headlights, which dim by pulling the appropriate stem rearward. I mistakenly pulled the cruise control stem rearward, which immediately turn on/engaged to the cruise control and began to accelerate the van to 75 mph. I quickly turned the cruise control off, then dimmed the headlights. The incident was danger and distracting. Rapid deceleration occurs, with no brake lights, when the cruise control is set at 40 mph, turned off, then turned on/engaged at 70 mph. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 17000 |
| Number of Occurences | |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | ANCHORAGE, AK |
| VIN pattern | WD3PG2EA8G3XXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | N |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | |
| No. of fatalities | |
| Date of purchase | 07/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
| Number of cylinders | |
| Drive train type | |
| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | 30 |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |