The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling specific model year 2000-2002 M-Class and model year 2000-2004 M-Class AMG vehicles. According to the NHTSA vehicle recall alert, approximately 136,751 vehicles are being recalled because of a problem with cruise control that could lead to difficulty or delay in disengaging cruise control, increasing the chances of a motor vehicle accident.
Mercedes-Benz discovered that under some circumstances, use of the brake pedal in affected vehicles may not automatically deactivate cruise control as anticipated by a motorist. Even though other ways of disengaging cruise control are completely functional, a driver may still experience problems reducing the speed of a vehicle. For example, the degree of force required to undo cruise control to reduce the speed of the car may have to be greater than a motorist expects.
The cruise control system in affected Mercedes-Benz vehicles permits drivers to undo the system by tapping the brake pedal, using the cruise control stalk, or braking the vehicle enough to get to a specific rate of deceleration. However, this may not be an easy process for all motorists and it may occur at a slower pace than is needed to avoid an accident or adhere to traffic laws and signage.
The vehicle safety recall will begin during September 2011 and dealers are expected to fix the vehicles at no cost to consumers.
Components that affect vehicle speed and control, such as cruise control and brake systems, are essential in ensuring motorist safety and preventing auto accidents. If these vehicle parts are flawed in any way, that increases the risk of an accident occurring or can limits a vehicle’s crashworthiness and vehicle occupants and others on the road can be in serious danger of suffering injury or death.
At Blume Forte, our New Jersey defective car accident attorneys have the experience and resources to successfully handle auto product liability litigation. Auto manufacturers are responsible for designing and manufacturing vehicles that are safe for consumers and the driving public. If this duty is breached, and, innocent drivers and pedestrians are seriously injured or killed as a result, auto manufactures should be held accountable. Call our firm at 973-845-4421 for a no-cost consultation about your potential claim.