ZF Trading North America, LLC: Wheels
ZF Trading North America, LLC reported this defect to federal regulators on Feb 6, 2006 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 31,422. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
CERTAIN ZF TRADING NORTH AMERICA AFTERMARKET WHEEL BEARING KITS, LEMFOERDER P/N 1402301, SOLD FOR INSTALLATION ON 1992-2001 MERCEDES BENZ SL500 (R129) VEHICLES AFTER APRIL 1, 2005. THE CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS USED IN THE WHEEL BEARING KIT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, SHEAR OFF AND BREAK. IF BOTH CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS BREAK, THE BRAKE CALIPER MAY BECOME UNFIXED AND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKED, THE BRAKE ROTOR COULD DRAG THE CALIPER, CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE TO RUPTURE AND THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED.
The risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
ZF TRADING WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND REPAIR THE WHEEL BEARING KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 27, 2006.
10 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 Mercedes Benz SL500 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 06E014000.
Full record for the 2001 Mercedes Benz SL500 → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →