Mercedes-Benz A-Class Engine Problems

I’m not aware of a recall or class action over this problem, but it would definitely be worth talking to Mercedes-Benz’s Australian customer service department to see if there’s any help on offer. Provided the car has a complete service history, you might get a sympathetic ear, but, that said, don’t count on it.

The counter-argument you’ll likely be met with is that you should have been paying attention to the car’s temperature gauge and stopped the engine when it began to overheat. "That’s why cars have temperature gauges", will probably be the response at dealership level, but go straight over the dealer’s head and talk to head office.

Take it to an auto electrician who should be able to test it and tell you if it is malfunctioning.

A broken valve spring is not something that would be caused by the fuel. Most likely the spring was faulty, perhaps there was in inclusion in the material it was made from, or there could have been some other manufacturing problem. Use either 95 or 98-octane fuel.

YOU really don't have any recourse; the car is out of warranty. You could seek legal action, but I doubt you'd have much luck.

There could be any numbers of reasons for it cutting out, but there are two fundamental things that are needed for an engine to run, fuel and spark. You should check the ignition system, coil, plugs and leads, and also check the fuel supply, pump, filter and injectors.

Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says: "The issue has been, first, a coolant leak from the thermostat therefore displaying the low coolant level light on a slope. After this repair was completed the customer has started to watch his temperature gauge and found the operation different to what he has possibly experienced on other vehicles. The design of the cooling system has located the temperature sensor in an area where the coolant temperature does fluctuate as the thermostat operates. Stop-start operation can also influence this temperature variance because if the engine is not running no heat is generated. This is normal on the A-Class and has been documented from Germany for our dealers."