Table 1 shows one common latches/locks/linkage related problems of the 2009 Mercedes Benz S Class.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Latches/locks/linkage problems |
There are no child safety locks on the rear doors. The manufacturer seems to think the fact that the door locks once the car is moving over a specific speed is good enough, the problem is a child can still pull the handle twice to open the door while it's moving, or simply lift the rear lock latch and pull the door handle once, and out they kid goes at highway speeds. I personally don't understand how the manufacturer could get away with selling this car without this most basic safety feature for children's protection. Either we wait until some kids fly out this car before acting, or force the manufacturer to come up with a solution to this safety hazard.
We tow a 2009 Smart passion cab behind our RV, as allowed by Smart and in writing within its owners manual. Twice now, we have lost the hood (or as Smart refers to it, the service flap) while towing. The hood completely disengages from its location and basically flaps around until the car is pulled over to a stop. Damage has occurred to the hood, and the first time we immediately replaced it at a Smart dealer who stated it may have been our problem due to the possibility that we may have improperly installed it. . The second time it occurred (in exactly the same manner) another Smart dealer took it to the manufacturer who declared that by towing it behind the RV we had an unusual amount of turbulence and therefore was not covered under warranty,nor was there any 'fix' for it. My concern is that these same turbulence can be felt on an interstate behind a large vehicle or in a high wind. Therefore I feel that it is more of a problem than the manufacture would confirm. We have two of the smarts, the other one is a 2008, and this situation has never occurred while towing it.