1994 Mercedes Benz 124

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Defect. THE FRONT PASSENGER METAL FOOT REST CAN, OVER TIME, ABRADE THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE FOOT REST CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN CAUSE THE WIRES TO OVERHEAT, STALL THE ENGINE, OR INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY AN AIRBAG, ANY OF THESE INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL WIRING HARNESS CABLE FASTENER TIES AND EDGE PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR SHARP EDGES OF THE METAL FOOT REST.

THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE ENGINE RETARTED BUT WITH A DISTINCT ROUGH IDLE. INCREASING THE GAS PEDAL PRESSURE WAS RESPONDED BY THE ENGINE WITH INCREASED BUT FLUCTUATING RPMS. I COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE A DAY OR MORE LATER IT RAN NORMAL. HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENTLY I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE MERCEDES DEALER IN TAMPA AND THEY BROUGHT IN A RETIRED MECHANIC WHO CONNECTED A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TO THE VEHICLE. HE SHOWED ME IN THE SHOP THE SIGNAL FLUCTUATIONS, IN WHAT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, OF THE FUEL MIXTURE SYSTEM. I INQUIRED ABOUT A REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR IT COULD NOT BE DONE BY MERCEDES ANYMORE. THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT IN THE PAST, THERE WERE INDEPENDENT SHOPS THAT WOULD DO REPAIRS OF THE AFFECTED ITEMS BUT HE COULD NOT GIVE ME A NAME OR CONTACT. THE VEHICLE IS STILL OPERATIONAL, SHOWS OCCASIONAL RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. I KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED. *TR

UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS (MB PART# A 124 440 19 06) INSULATION CRACKED IN MANY PLACES. IT DECOMPOSED/DETERIORATED SO BADLY IT EFFECTED ADDITIONAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. ENGINE STALLED MANY TIME WHILE IN TRAFFIC. HARNESS WAS REPLACES ON 04-21-2005 AND CAR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE FROM MERCEDES DEALER SHIP DUE TO ECU PROBLEMS AND STILL ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH ASR (ANTI SKID CONTROL) PROBLEMS. *JB