A220 USA Problems
 

Purchased a A220 (USA California) two weeks ago at Dealer #1. After 2 days, the car wouldn't start and had to be towed to Dealer #2 who claimed that Dealer #1 did not perform the PDI inspection properly. After a week in the shop, took the car on a road trip today and the car wouldn't start again and is being towed to Dealer #2 again. Is anyone having similar issues with the A220 (USA)?

Shoulda bought a Honda.

Read up on California’s lemon laws then call MBUSA.

Don’t let them cite different reasons for the same problem.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

I doubt anyone on this forum has that car. I've never even heard of it. You might try searching on YouTube. Generally people don't post on this forum until their car is out of warranty, sometimes way out. People are still here trying to fix 40 year old cars.

Car won't crank or won't run? These are two completely different issues and details matter. Does this car have keyless go? Any chance the car is getting improperly operated? Some cars require a brake press in order to start.


I have a work order found in a car I bought:

Customer states: Car won't start

Tech states: Car started x times over y days. No problem found.

Customer states: Key won't turn.

Repairs , lock cylinder , steering lock parts.


I'd push the 2nd dealer to state specifically in writing what the 1st dealer did wrong in the inspection. And why dealer 2 didn't solve the problem. ( I'm betting dealer 2 didn't have any basis for this )

The A class is a mini wagon / SUV in the realm of a Chrysler PT / Chevy HHR

There’s a different A-class in the US. It’s a more squared off sedan than the transverse FWD CLA-class.

A-class -

https://www.mbusa.com/content/dam/mb...DAN-CGT-DR.png

vs CLA-class -

https://www.mbusa.com/content/dam/mb...OUPE-CGT-D.png

It’s not the same A-class from a few years ago.

Original A-class -

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...oZsZAgzEF0bLi5

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

The car has keyless go. When you push the start button, dash board lights come on but the car doesn't start. No clicking sounds - nothing. One of the suggestions the dealer had when I called during the no-start condition was to place the key fob in the right-side cup holder that has a set of keys imprinted at the base of the cup holder - but that didn't work.

Have there been issues with the electronic "gear shift selector module" (or whatever it is called) on the 7 speed transmissions with the column mounted gear shift on any of the Mercedes lines which might explain a no-start condition? When the car failed to start, the white box that usually appears around the P R N D on the dashboard instrument panel disappears. You can't tell what gear is selected. I tried pushing the car and it it didn't roll so I assume I was in PARK.

There were error messages on the LCD instrument panel saying to close the door - the transmission is not in park - put the car in park to start. But moving the column shifter did nothing.

Apparently a bunch of codes were tripped when the car was towed to the dealer, but I don't think the dealer has a clue.

Seems like a faulty selector position switch or logic. We had a mild version of that in our old minivan. When in park, all the selector positions lit up. It didn’t affect starting though, only the display.

Does the steering lock release?

Stupid question - are you sure this isn’t a hybrid or stop-n-go engine in which the engine doesn’t start until you step on the accelerator? Or it needs your foot on the brake pedal when you press start.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

The official car of daddy paid for it!

The engine is a 2.0 liter gasoline - not a hybrid. Yes, the car has the annoying stop and go feature. You can disable the feature per trip by pressing the "A" button located right beneath the push start button. Yes, you press the brake pedal before pushing the start button. Not sure about the steering wheel lock. But the car has to start first. Thanks Sixto for posting the pictures of the cars.

Hopefully that's not a rebadged Dart

I thought the dart was fiat.

Hey, my first car was a Dart!

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

Still in the shop.

Yes. That seems to be correct. Good news!

Is the first digit of the VIN a "3"?

They’re assembled in Hungary and Mexico. If I had to guess which ones are sold in the US...

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

After about 2.5 months at the dealer, Mercedes agreed to repurchase the car - they made it right. Never received a convincing reason for the intermittent no-start condition-claimed it was a ground wire.

Same issue
 

I bought this car two months ago. 2nd time in shop doesn’t start. Would be interested in talking off line about Mercedes repurchase process.

Try pressing the button WITH THE KEY FOB. Could be a low fob battery.

I guess MBs long standing tradition of screwing it's entry level customers hasn't changed.

Every MB keyless go vehicle I've driven you can pop off the "press to start" button to reveal a normal Fob insertion point. Try removing the cap and starting the car with the fob like a normal car.

Keyless go is the dumbest thing ever. (on any car) It is in my opinion more cumbersome in most situations than just using the fob. Another case of "too much" improving of something.

I specifically looked for sparsely options vehicles when buying my GLK and Metris. My GLK doesn't even have blind spot assist or a backup camera. Nada! Its great!

The new MB’s don’t have a removable KG button and there’s no place to insert the fob.