| Issue ID | 1109067 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10632278 |
| Manufacurer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
| Brand | MERCEDES BENZ |
| Model | S500 |
| Model Year | 2001 |
| File date | 13/06/14 |
| Component | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | While operating the vehicle on a two lane divided highway, the vehicle would not up-shift gears and got stuck in third gear while i was attempting to pass a tractor trailer with other vehicles behind me attempting to do the same. Subsequently, i managed to maneuver the vehicle to a parking lot to examine the issue. I could not find anything externally wrong with the vehicle that would stand out in a visual inspection. Next, i turned the ignition off and turned it back on, forcefully put the car in gear, and found that it would not shift out of first gear. Vehicle had to be towed over 150 miles to a shop. The problem stems from the design and materials used for the transmission wiring harness that enables transmission fluid to wick up the wiring harness from the bottom of the vehicle up into the transmission control unit that is encased in plastic and located under the hood. As impossible as it sounds, transmission fluid travels up this bundle of wires and pools in the encasement disrupting the electronic circuit board that controls the transmission. Equally confusing, the electric current from the wires pulls the transmission fluid up the wiring harness. I can't imagine why this design or materials would be utilized on this or any other car knowing what the ultimate outcome would be for consumers, $$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 113000 |
| Number of Occurences | 1 |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | RICHMOND HILL, GA |
| VIN pattern | WDBNG75J61AXXXXXX |
| 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 | 0 |
| No. of fatalities | 0 |
| Date of purchase | 07/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
| Number of cylinders | 8 |
| Drive train type | RWD |
| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | 60 |
| 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 |