Defective Mercedes: Ordered to be replaced by the NCC!!

LandCruiser · 21st September 2007, 20:05

Came across this in rediff: Defective Merc: Co asked to offer new car

A supposedly overheating Mercedes was ordered to be replaced or the amount refunded by the National Consumer Commission. I think the car companies and shoddy dealers need to pull up their socks. As these verdicts set precedence more embattled customers will be ready to knock at the door of the courts!

Excerpt:

"
The car maker and its dealer, in their defence, claimed that the problems, if any, faced by the complainant, were operational in nature and were due to the nature of use and improper road conditions.

Interestingly, the Commission ordered road tests and even appointed court commissioners, who travelled over 200 km in the car to verify the car purchaser's complaint, that the central hump of the car was getting over-heated during long journeys.

On the basis of road tests, the Commission said "in our view, the constant grievances of the complainant that the central hump was getting heated in long journeys cannot be ignored. These facts are established by the complaints made continuously by the complainant as well as the temperature noted by the court commissioners.
"

sriramv.iyer · 21st September 2007, 20:15

This is the right way to go - I hope the companies start taking customer seriously!

maxbhp · 21st September 2007, 20:26

Merc's is coming low on reliability.

dadu · 21st September 2007, 20:49

Everybody in this world have their lows, you cant stay on top forever.

rahul_intlad · 22nd September 2007, 00:52

This guy has to be the unluckiest car owner in the world,stuck with two lemons from mercedes benz and that too the s-class[I presume both cars are the s-class].

hellspawn · 22nd September 2007, 02:25

the consumer court information is still not available to the masses.a lot of people still don't know what to do or who to approach.they visit the dealers and after being shooed off,they give up and learn to live with the car.
i think it would be nice if one of the members could post the consumer courts phone number or address for different districts and cities in india.

iraghava · 22nd September 2007, 03:22

NICE! That should teach a lesson to companies. And point to note is that the car in question was an S-Class.

arunk · 22nd September 2007, 08:35

great work by the court...high time companies became more responsible towards the indian car buyer

GTO · 22nd September 2007, 12:57

Excellent news!! Hats off to the consumer as well as the consumer court judge. Equally nice to hear that the court went the entire mile and conducted road tests of the car. I have been in this situation with the C180 so know exactly what he must feel like. Luckily for me, Mercedes replaced my car as they knew I was ready and fully-prepared to fight a long legal battle. When you spend 30 lakhs on a car, the least that you expect is for it to be reliable.

However, I didnt really understand what the real problem was in this car. The article does not list them...the only thing that it mentions is that the "central hump" was overheating.

nitrous · 22nd September 2007, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

The article does not list them...the only thing that it mentions is that the "central hump" was overheating.

I think they're referring to the transmission tunnel.

Nikhilb2008 · 23rd September 2007, 20:45

This was an old model Merc...So, it isnt surprising. Merc's quality had gone down badly in the past few years.

With the launch of the new S-class and C-class and the CL, Merc are now claiming that they are building quality cars again. I just hope for the sake of the company that it's true.

24th September 2007, 03:58

The 'punishment' is insignificant for the company, publicity excluded.

Replace the car? Refund the amount?

What about all the hassle and turmoil one has to go through while dealing with all this drama. The punishment should have a higher fine component to teach the companies a much needed lesson.

nayakrnr · 24th September 2007, 10:19

well.. a bentely was also replaced in bangalore few months ago.. it seemd the company could not repair the electrical glitches in the car even after repeated services (they used to take the car to delhi for servicing) and in the end offered the customer a new car!!!
he happily obliged..!!!

GTO · 24th September 2007, 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperSyn

The 'punishment' is insignificant for the company, publicity excluded.

Replace the car? Refund the amount?

What about all the hassle and turmoil one has to go through while dealing with all this drama. The punishment should have a higher fine component to teach the companies a much needed lesson.

IMHO a full product replacement is the best that one can have. Most go home with much less.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nayakrnr

it seemd the company could not repair the electrical glitches in the car even after repeated services (they used to take the car to delhi for servicing) and in the end offered the customer a new car!!!
he happily obliged..!!!

So I hear too. A delhi Bentley owner tells me that his car is an absolute nightmare to own with various problems / glitches coming up all the time.

GSHA · 24th September 2007, 17:42

It is amazing to hear that such expensive cars are no better in terms of ownership.

GTO, If I may ask, what are the problems you faced in your C180 to the level where Mercedes had to replace the car? Please share with us.

21st September 2007, 20:05	#1
LandCruiser BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 711 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	Defective Mercedes: Ordered to be replaced by the NCC!! Came across this in rediff: Defective Merc: Co asked to offer new car A supposedly overheating Mercedes was ordered to be replaced or the amount refunded by the National Consumer Commission. I think the car companies and shoddy dealers need to pull up their socks. As these verdicts set precedence more embattled customers will be ready to knock at the door of the courts! Excerpt: " The car maker and its dealer, in their defence, claimed that the problems, if any, faced by the complainant, were operational in nature and were due to the nature of use and improper road conditions. Interestingly, the Commission ordered road tests and even appointed court commissioners, who travelled over 200 km in the car to verify the car purchaser's complaint, that the central hump of the car was getting over-heated during long journeys. On the basis of road tests, the Commission said "in our view, the constant grievances of the complainant that the central hump was getting heated in long journeys cannot be ignored. These facts are established by the complaints made continuously by the complainant as well as the temperature noted by the court commissioners. " Last edited by LandCruiser : 21st September 2007 at 20:08.
	() Thanks

21st September 2007, 20:15	#2
sriramv.iyer BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 845 Thanked: 739 Times	Way to go! This is the right way to go - I hope the companies start taking customer seriously!
	() Thanks

21st September 2007, 20:26	#3
maxbhp Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: C C K Posts: 1,383 Thanked: 92 Times View My Garage	Merc's is coming low on reliability.
	() Thanks

21st September 2007, 20:49	#4
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,800 Thanked: 463 Times View My Garage	Everybody in this world have their lows, you cant stay on top forever.
	() Thanks

22nd September 2007, 00:52	#5
rahul_intlad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 1,577 Thanked: 5 Times	This guy has to be the unluckiest car owner in the world,stuck with two lemons from mercedes benz and that too the s-class[I presume both cars are the s-class].
	() Thanks

22nd September 2007, 02:25	#6
hellspawn Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: noida Posts: 1,686 Thanked: 9 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	the consumer court information is still not available to the masses.a lot of people still don't know what to do or who to approach.they visit the dealers and after being shooed off,they give up and learn to live with the car. i think it would be nice if one of the members could post the consumer courts phone number or address for different districts and cities in india.
	() Thanks

22nd September 2007, 03:22	#7
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 7,993 Thanked: 281 Times View My Garage	NICE! That should teach a lesson to companies. And point to note is that the car in question was an S-Class.
	() Thanks

22nd September 2007, 08:35	#8
arunk BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: kochi Posts: 108 Thanked: 0 Times	great work by the court...high time companies became more responsible towards the indian car buyer
	() Thanks

22nd September 2007, 12:57	#9
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,780 Thanked: 322,438 Times View My Garage	Excellent news!! Hats off to the consumer as well as the consumer court judge. Equally nice to hear that the court went the entire mile and conducted road tests of the car. I have been in this situation with the C180 so know exactly what he must feel like. Luckily for me, Mercedes replaced my car as they knew I was ready and fully-prepared to fight a long legal battle. When you spend 30 lakhs on a car, the least that you expect is for it to be reliable. However, I didnt really understand what the real problem was in this car. The article does not list them...the only thing that it mentions is that the "central hump" was overheating.
	() Thanks

23rd September 2007, 20:45	#11
Nikhilb2008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,194 Thanked: 10,178 Times	This was an old model Merc...So, it isnt surprising. Merc's quality had gone down badly in the past few years. With the launch of the new S-class and C-class and the CL, Merc are now claiming that they are building quality cars again. I just hope for the sake of the company that it's true.
	() Thanks

24th September 2007, 03:58	#12
SuperSyn Posts: n/a	The 'punishment' is insignificant for the company, publicity excluded. Replace the car? Refund the amount? What about all the hassle and turmoil one has to go through while dealing with all this drama. The punishment should have a higher fine component to teach the companies a much needed lesson.
	() Thanks

24th September 2007, 10:19	#13
nayakrnr BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 27 Thanked: 3 Times	well.. a bentely was also replaced in bangalore few months ago.. it seemd the company could not repair the electrical glitches in the car even after repeated services (they used to take the car to delhi for servicing) and in the end offered the customer a new car!!! he happily obliged..!!!
	() Thanks

24th September 2007, 17:42	#15
GSHA BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 107 Thanked: Once	It is amazing to hear that such expensive cars are no better in terms of ownership. GTO, If I may ask, what are the problems you faced in your C180 to the level where Mercedes had to replace the car? Please share with us.
	() Thanks