2002 Mercedes-Benz G-ClassRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“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”

“CONSUMER STATED HE PURCHASED A LEMON. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 4-5 TIMES AND EACH TIME AT LEAST A MONTH. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND DID NOT COME BACK ON, THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS PROBLEMATIC, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTERS IN THE REAR DOORS WERE INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION, THE LEFT FRONT LOW BEAM LIGHT WOULD COME ON THE DISPLAY, THE VOICE OPERATION WAS HARD TO HEAR ON BOTH RECEIVING AND ANSWERING, THE BRAKES FELT SOFT, THE TRUNK SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY, THE CELL PHONE WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. (MODEL/S500) *SC *JB”

“DEPLOYED AIRBAGS INJURE 2 PA. FIREFIGHTERS DAVE SOMMERS, STAFF WRITER APRIL 24, 2003 EDGELY, PA. FIREFIGHTERS FACE A LOT OF HAZARDS EVERY TIME THEY SUIT UP. BUT THEY DON'T EXPECT TO BE STRUCK BY AUTOMOBILE AIRBAGS SUCH AS WHAT OCCURRED ON TUESDAY WHEN EDGELY FIRE COMPANY FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO A CAR FIRE IN THE 3M INDUSTRIAL PARK IN BRISTOL TOWNSHIP. IN FACT, OFFICIALS SAID ANDY TAGGART, 25, WAS KNOCKED OUT WHEN THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG ON A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ INEXPLICABLY DEPLOYED AS THE VETERAN FIREFIGHTER WAS CHECKING THE DASH FOR DAMAGE. A SECOND FIREFIGHTER, RYAN FLANAGAN, 18, WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD BY A PARTIALLY DEPLOYING AIRBAG AS HE WAS CHECKING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT DASH, OFFICIALS SAID. BOTH WERE RUSHED TO ST. MARY MEDICAL CENTER IN LANGHORNE WHERE THEY WERE KEPT FOR OBSERVATION AND THEN RELEASED EARLY YESTERDAY. FLANAGAN SAID EDGELY RESPONDED TO THE FIRE SCENE AROUND 9:38 P.M. AFTER LEARNING THAT A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ WAS ON FIRE IN FRONT OF A&Z AUTOMOTIVE ON MANNING BOULEVARD. WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED, THEY SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND BEGAN TO GET THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG…”