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Mercedes-Benz Recalls 137,000 M-class SUVs in the US

Over 136,000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class Sport Utility Vehicles are being recalled in the US, over problems related to speed control.

Author: johnkenvin
Date: Apr 12, 2011 - 7:32:46 AM

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Over 136,000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class Sport Utility Vehicles are being recalled in the US, over problems related to speed control. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), several consumers complained to the agency that prompted the recall. These complaints were related to cruise control. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall covers MY 2000–02 M-Class and the 2000–04 M-Class AMG, a high-performance model built between August 1999 and June 2004.

A cruise control is also known as speed control or auto-cruise
A cruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle
The cruise control system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver
In some circumstances applying brakes in the affected vehicles allegedly did not automatically turn off the cruise control as expected
The cruise control in the affected vehicles would not immediately disengage when drivers used the brake pedal
It is alleged that if a driver needed to apply brakes in in the affected vehicles, the cruise control system would require an unusually high amount of pressure

The problem lies with the brake light switch

The automaker had informed the NHTSA that they had found the problem and it lies with the brake-lamp switch.

Applying brakes does not send the electronic signal needed to disengage the cruise control
If the driver applies brakes, the brake booster vacuum can be consumed
In that case, excessive pedal force may become necessary to achieve the rate of deceleration needed to disengage the cruise
There were other ways to disengage the system, one of which is to use the cruise-control stalk
The system is also designed to disengage below 25 mph
Harder braking will turn off the cruise-control system

Mercedes' version of 'harder braking' is the braking force used to decelerate the vehicle when approaching traffic lights. However, Mercedes has not purportedly indicated the speed of the 'approaching traffic lights' vehicle.

According to Mercedes:

In September, the auto maker began looking into the problems after some customer complaints, in Mercedes-Benz M-Class Sport Utility Vehicles
In December, the NHTSA began its own investigations after receiving reports from consumers about the problem with the cruise control in their Mercedes-Benz M-Class Sport Utility Vehicles
Mercedes has recently confirmed that the problem did exist in Mercedes-Benz M-Class Sport Utility Vehicles and it is cooperating with the NHTSA investigation

Under federal regulations, once an automaker becomes aware of a safety problem in his vehicles, he jolly well should announce a recall within five business days, though Mercedes preferred calling it a voluntary recall. According to Mercedes-Benz, there have not been reports of accident or injuries arising from this issue. The safety recall repairs will begin in September 2011. Mercedes will do the necessary repairs on the affected vehicles, free of cost to the consumer.

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