M-B's Largest Ever Recall is Another Embarrassment in a Long Line of Recent Problems
Embarrassing? No doubt Mercedes-Benz is hardly happy about its latest recall, involving a total of 680,000 units
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| Mercedes-Benz has announced the largest product recall in its history, involving a total of 680,000 units worldwide. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz Canada) |
Not only is this the largest product recall in the automaker's storied history, but the brake-by-wire technology has been sold as revolutionary, reinventing the way cars brake. The system that was to be failsafe now shows tendencies to merely fail. What's the problem? The system's hydraulic tank can develop bubbles that make brake failure possible, stated the automaker in a service bulletin.
It seems that the more a car is driven the more likely the problem will occur, or at least the fact that most complaints
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| High-Use vehicles such as E-Class taxis experienced braking problems more often. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz Canada) |
Mercedes isn't entirely responsible for the new Sensotronic braking system, however, with the development work and manufacture done by Bosch. The system took 6 years and USD$150 million to create, and includes a variety of sensors and chips plus a high-pressure hydraulic reservoir to put the binders on. The sophisticated setup electronically varies brake force at each wheel, while microchips annotate vehicle speed and direction as soon as the driver's foot releases the throttle. Once the brake pedal is depressed, braking force is initially applied with more strength to the front outer wheel and then to the rear inner wheel, all within milliseconds of course.