autoevolution
 

The Owner of This Mercedes S-Class Is Still Afraid to Drive It After 3 Years

One Canadian man’s fight against Mercedes Benz is raging on, with renewed claims that the carmaker, through the official Richmond dealership, is refusing proper inspection and repair of a potentially dangerous steering defect.
S-Class owner hasn't driven it since 2018 because he's scared to 151 photos
Photo: Arlen Redekop / PNG via VancouverSun.com
This isn’t the first time that this story makes international headlines, though it seems some details have changed. In June 2020, word got out that Da Tong Yang and his wife Guifang Huo were suing Mercedes over the S 550 they had bought for $155,000 in 2017.

As per the initial report, less than a year and 6,400 km (4,000 miles) into the ownership, while on the highway, the steering wheel locked, and the couple nearly drove into a concrete wall. The Richmond dealership said that it had inspected the car and issued a fix, providing a detailed account of the work done. Yang, on the other hand, wanted the car replaced or his money returned, saying he would still not feel safe in it.

He even traveled to Germany to speak to Mercedes bosses but only got in return the promise that they would look into it.

The case is yet to go to trial, even though Yang filed in early 2019, the Vancouver Sun is now reporting. Meanwhile, Yang is talking to the media and, as noted above, some details of the story have changed. He’s now saying the Richmond dealership is refusing adequate inspection and repairs, even though he was offered assurances by Mercedes bosses that he would get everything done free of charge.

Moreover, he makes it sound as if this is some coverup by Mercedes, citing the U.S. recall for the S-Class models produced between 2015 and 2019, in which a transistor in the power steering control unit could overheat and disable the power system, increasing the odds of a crash. For his part, he insists the dealership is telling him he can drive the car as is, but he’s too afraid to do so.

“They insisted I can drive the car, but I’m afraid to. I drive on the highway all the time and it could be life-threatening,”
he says.

The other option he’s being offered, that of selling the S-Class, is not doable, he says. That would mean passing the car with a known, potentially fatal defect. Keeping silent on the issue could mean other drivers are at similar risks as himself.

“We are doing this for a good cause, so they can do some more research (on the defect) before someone gets hurt,” he tells the publication. “Mercedes-Benz has continued to shirk responsibility, to delay everything and deny everything.”

So, the virtually brand new 2017 S 550 has been sitting in Yang’s garage all this time, having been parked there in April 2018.

A publicist for Mercedes-Benz Canada says they can’t comment on pending litigation.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Elena Gorgan
Elena Gorgan profile photo

Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories