On February 10, the owner of a Mercedes-Benz GLK car said that the news of a broken drive shaft on the highway attracted attention. On the 11th, nandu reporters contacted Mr. Ren, the party involved in the incident. He said the incident occurred on the afternoon of February 9, and after inspection by the workshop, the front drive shaft of his vehicle broke and damaged many other parts. Since mercedes-benz announced the recall of some imported GLK-class and S-class four-wheel drive vehicles produced between October 1, 2011 and October 31, 2013 due to the problem of the universal cross axle in the front drive shaft, he hoped that "Mercedes-Benz can find out why my car did not have the same problem as the recalled vehicle in the original recall area?" ”
Mercedes-Benz told nandu reporter that the relevant dealers have obtained customer authorization to test the vehicle, and the follow-up will also assist the dealer to formulate a corresponding technical plan based on the test results to help customers repair the vehicle as soon as possible and resume use.
Vehicles lose power on the highway
On February 11, Nandu reporters contacted Mr. Ren, the party involved in the incident. He said he bought a Mercedes-Benz GLK car in 2014. On the afternoon of February 9, he picked up his wife and children from Beijing Capital Airport to go home, and shortly after leaving the Capital Airport for 3-4 kilometers and just getting on the highway, Mr. Ren heard the sound of metal tapping from the body. Subsequently, the sound of tapping slowly changed into a tractor-like sudden sound, and after stepping on the accelerator, the vehicle could not speed up, and could only rely on inertia to move forward.
He then slammed on the brakes, parked the car on the side of the highway, and erected a triangular warning sign. Eventually, the vehicle was taken off the highway by towing.
On the evening of the 9th, Mr. Ren dialed the customer service hotline of Mercedes-Benz, and called the customer service twice on the 10th, but did not get an official response, and finally communicated with the staff of the Mercedes-Benz 4S store. The staff said the vehicle was out of warranty and could not be repaired. Mr. Ren said that after inspection by the workshop, the front drive shaft of his vehicle broke and damaged many other parts, and the maintenance cost alone exceeded 30,000.
Mr. Ren calculated the account, "If you repair, you need to replace the small drive shaft, it costs 444 + 8053 yuan, the replacement of the right ternary catalyst is 333 + 8689 yuan, the replacement of the right front right rear oxygen sensor 3429 + 2883 yuan, the replacement of the heat shield and bracket 230 yuan, the replacement of the engine intake pipe two 706 yuan, the replacement of the differential heat shield and screws, the replacement of the differential oil 222 + 950 yuan, not counting the working hours, consignment costs and other costs." ”
On February 11, Mr. Ren told Nandu reporter that the staff of the Mercedes-Benz 4S shop contacted him again on the same day, and said that he would pull his vehicle away for identification, and if it was a problem with the vehicle itself, he could help him repair the vehicle for free, but Mr. Ren had refused. "I have paid the workshop for repairs, but I hope that mercedes-Benz officials can identify my vehicle and give me a statement."
At about 16:00 on the 11th, the employees of the Mercedes-Benz 4S store called Mr. Ren again, saying that the vehicle identification had been completed, and responded to the situation to the Mercedes-Benz company, and needed to wait for the feedback of the Mercedes-Benz company. At present, the car has been returned to the repair factory that Mr. Ren originally sent for repair.
Mercedes-Benz said the dealership had inspected the vehicle
Mr. Ren said that in August 2019, Mercedes-Benz (China) Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. had recalled some imported GLK-class and S-class four-wheel drive vehicles manufactured between October 1, 2011 and October 31, 2013, and it is reported that due to supplier manufacturing reasons, the gimbal cross shaft of the front drive shaft has insufficient hardness and the surface is not smooth, which may lead to abnormal wear of the cross shaft and bearings during use. As the gap between the cross shaft and the bearing becomes larger and the vehicle continues to travel a longer distance, the flange of the front drive shaft universal may eventually break, causing the vehicle to lose driving force and there is a safety hazard.
Mr. Ren said that his car was purchased in 2014 in the model of Mercedes-Benz GLK300 2013, and according to the ticket information, the vehicle was shipped on January 10, 2014.
He hoped that "Mercedes-Benz can find out why my car did not have the same problem as the recalled vehicle in the original recall area, and whether it should be recalled but not recalled." He also said that he would contact other Mercedes-Benz owners who had broken shaft problems and continue to defend their rights.
Mercedes-Benz told nandu reporter that it attaches great importance to relevant customer feedback, and has also contacted customers through relevant authorized dealers and customer service centers, and sincerely invites customers to arrange vehicle testing in stores to clarify the vehicle situation. At present, the relevant dealers have obtained customer authorization to test the vehicle.
In the future, Mercedes-Benz will also assist dealers to formulate corresponding technical solutions based on the test results to help customers repair vehicles as soon as possible and resume use.
Written by: Nandu reporter Yang Tianzhi intern Chen Yantong