1994 Mercedes Benz 202

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.

THE INSULATION OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS GETS BRITTLE AND CRUMBLES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO EITHER NOT RUN PROPERLY OR JUST QUIT RUNNING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE W202 BODY (AND I BELIEVE OTHER BODY STYLES) BETWEEN 1994 THRU 1996 +- MODEL YEARS. AT ONE POINT THEY WERE DOING A GOOD-FAITH REPLACEMENT OF THESE HARNESSES BUT STOPPED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE ABOUT 1.5 M CARS IN THE US AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. *TT *KB

THE ENGINE HAD SEVERAL ERRATIC FAILURES SUCH AS MISFIRING, LACK OF POWER AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED TO WORK AT ALL DURING A HEAVY RAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOTORWAY. I CHECKED IF THERE WERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRINGS BETWEEN ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMPONENTS SUCH AS IGNITION COILS, INJECTORS, HFM, CAMSHAFT SENSOR, WATER TEMP SENSOR ETC. AND THE ECU. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE INSULATION OF THESE WIRES WIRE LITERALLY FALLING INTO PIECES BY CRACKS SINCE THE MATERIAL HAD BECOME TOTALLY STIFF AND BRITTLE, MAKING ELECTRICAL CONTACT TO SURROUNDING ENGINE PARTS AS WELL AS INTERNALLY POSSIBLE. I WENT TO AUTHORIZED SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY AGREED THAT THE COMPLETE WIRE HARNESS ON THE ENGINE HAD DISINTEGRATED FOR SOME REASON, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. DAILMER-CHRYSLER LATER BY E-MAIL REFUSED TO GIVE ANY ECONOMICAL HELP WHAT SO EVER TO SOLVE THIS FAULT AND ONLY REMINDED THAT MERCEDES IS GIVING 2 YEARS OF GUARANTEE ON ITS CARS. ON A 12 YEAR OLD CAR I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH BAD QUALITY IN SUCH A VITAL ENGINE PART, AND THE CAR WAS IN FACT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON ROAD SINCE POWER COULD SUDDENLY STOP DURING AN OVERTAKING OR IN A CROSSING GIVING AN SEVERE ACCIDENT. I HAVE PICTURES AND THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS AS PROOF IF NEEDED FOR THIS INVESTIGATION. THE CAR IS AN MERCEDES-AMG C36. (BASED ON THE C280). *TR