Wiper woes: Mercedes-Benz recalls 130,000 vehicles in Germany
After a rough few years full of significant recalls, Mercedes-Benz appeared (or appears, depending on your perspective) to be getting its act together by successfully addressing its quality issues. The automaker just announced a major recall in Germany involving 130,000 vehicles windshield wiper motors that could be defective. While one recall a return to quality does not ruin, neither does it help. The recall in question only affects A- and B-Class vehicles, as well as C-Class wagons built between May 2005 and May 2006. Some may consider defective wiper motors a minor issue, but a recall by definition is significant, and in this case one could imagine a dark and stormy night where being without wipers could be deadly. [Source: Automotive News - Europe]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John P. 4:24PM (1/02/2007)
At least the chrysler division is still around to prop up their quality ratings.
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D Man 4:01PM (1/02/2007)
I used to think Mercedes was the car to own, but now that I know more about cars I would rather get an Infiniti or Lexus.
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che culattone 4:04PM (1/02/2007)
^ you're out of your mind if that's true. no japanese car will ever achieve the class and nobility of a full-size luxury german sedan....
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Howard Kerr 4:14PM (1/02/2007)
I didn't register, so I didn't read the story, but I got to wondering. What do the A, B, and C class (wagon), ALL have in common? A REAR window wiper. IF, the defective wiper IS the rear wiper, it wouldn't be such a big deal...it certainly WOULDN'T BE DEADY. Of course, a defective rear wiper...if that's what it is, wouldn't be a headline grabber, either.
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Mark 4:49PM (1/02/2007)
surely doing a recall for something as small as a wiper motor is a good thing, most companies would've just ignored it
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John P. 4:48PM (1/02/2007)
I think some Volkswagens had a similar recall for wiper blade motors failing. They are probably made by the same company. No big deal if you ask me, I still like Mercedes.
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aaron 5:23PM (1/02/2007)
ahahah john p, I was coming in to say something snide like that..
With all the ballswingers saying they should sell chrysler, it is hilarious to see them get spanked here, as well as their recent smackdown for EPA violations..
lol.. at least chryler can continue funneling phantom consulting fees to mercedes to help pay for their debacles..
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Jim G 5:13PM (1/02/2007)
>>surely doing a recall for something as small as a wiper motor is a good thing, most companies would've just ignored it>>
Yeah, as DC chose to ignore the design defect in the pre-2003 2.7L that caused the motors to sludge up and fail in 30,000 miles.
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Richard Warren 5:25PM (1/02/2007)
It's a recall. Get over it.
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aaron 5:38PM (1/02/2007)
hey jim g... heard about the class action lawsuit against the holy toyota for sludgemobiles??
:tard:
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Jim G 6:56PM (1/02/2007)
Now that you mention it Aaron, I do recall it. People forget about this kind of stuff when they hold cars in such high esteem just because it's foreign.
If it's good, it's good. If it's crap, it's crap.
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Zo 12:40PM (1/03/2007)
#1 D Man -- perhaps you should go to the Infiniti forums and see the kind of problems the 2003 G35 had including rust at the door sills after just 1 yr. Or head over to the Lexus forums and find out about the current ES nightmares that have been found with owners being without a car for weeks.
Don't be fooled, anything large and mechanical has problems -- the auto companies even know exactly how many will have problems before they leave the plant. As with all makes and models, YMMV and sometimes you get a good car and sometimes a lemon. Just because it is Japanese does not mean it will be problem free.
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Daniel (CIQ) 3:07AM (1/14/2007)
I just had handed back my 2 BMW 7 series and it was not a recall as they say the cars fine after being into them for over 15 times in 6 months, I would never by a BMW ever again.
At least Mercedes care about their Brand name.
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charreed 3:35AM (2/21/2007)
That's pretty awful. Imagine, a luxury car with broken windshield wipers? That is something consumers will really be mad about. It doesn't justify the car's hefty cost.
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