| Issue ID | 955600 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10489054 |
| Manufacurer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
| Brand | MERCEDES BENZ |
| Model | GL450 |
| Model Year | 2008 |
| File date | 14/12/12 |
| Component | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | This vehicle, and all others mercedes-benz manufactures with an automatic transmission shift selector of this type need an added safety feature to disallow a shift from the neutral position to reverse or drive unless the brake pedal is depressed. After reaching over from the exterior of the drivers side window to turn the ignition to the on position to see which headlight was not functioning (as the display message stated), a slight apparent touch upward against the shift selector (located above the key and behind the steering wheel) engaged the vehicle in the reverse position causing the vehicle to reverse at approximately 5 mph for 15 feet and come to a crashing stop against an anchored metal post and fortunately not into any other vehicles, oncoming traffic, structures, and/or another individual. I sustained a minor injury to my left forearm as i unsuccessfully attempted to reach back over while the vehicle was in the reverse motion to turn the vehicle to the off position. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 72000 |
| Number of Occurences | 1 |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | VAN NUYS, CA |
| VIN pattern | XXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | Y |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | 1 |
| No. of fatalities | 0 |
| 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 | 5 |
| 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 |