A class rear view camera constantly opening at slow speed

[DonaldS]

The thing for me is what constitutes a fault and what constitutes a characteristic. I had assumed that the new model was better than my 2 1/2 year old car! I hadn't test driven the new car as it was ordered from stock online. If I had driven and had heard the clicking I wouldn't have bothered and would have bought a new car from another manufacturer or would have kept my old car until my PCP was up at the end of March. The fact that they are keeping our cars to fix says to me that there must be something that needs fixing. It also appears that Mercedes themselves won't put anything in writing and this is all on the basis of hearsay from my dealer.

I received the following written response from MB head office back in July 2023:

“Thank you for contacting Mercedes-Benz on 26.05.2023 I have been liaising with Mercedes-Benz of Teesside who have advised that this is a normal function of the reversing camera. They have previously raised this matter with our Technical Team, who advised that this is normal operation for this vehicle and cannot be changed. I am sorry that this is not the outcome that you were seeking, however it does represent the final position of the Authorised Repaired and Mercedes-Benz as a manufacturer.” I have more recently written to my local dealer and asked them to try and follow this up for me as MB refuse to correspond with me on this issue and I am still awaiting a response other than an acknowledgement from the dealer that they have forwarded on my query. I have just now sent a further message asking for an update or when I might expect one. I don’t expect this to ever get resolved and the only remaining option is to go to the ombudsman. So much for the idea of aspiring to own a Mercedes - no evidence that they any better than any other manufacturer and certainly not as good as my previous BMW, many Volvos or VWs.

 

[JCW36]

I received the following written response from MB head office back in July 2023:

I've filled in the form for the Ombudsman tonight.

 

[DonaldS]

I've filled in the form for the Ombudsman tonight.

Oh wow! Good luck - keep us posted. If I don’t get a satisfactory response I will be right behind you with my submission. I wonder if, in the meantime, I could temporarily solve the problem with some duct tape as I can usually fix most things with that.

 

[E55BOF]

What relief have you actually asked the ombudsman to provide?

 

[JCW36]

What relief have you actually asked the ombudsman to provide?

I have asked the ombudsman to allow my car to be swapped for another model without this issue or for my car to be returned and my deposit refunded to allow me to buy another car. Not optimistic but feel I at least need to try.

 

[DonaldS]

Here is the reply from my dealer to my request yesterday for an update on their request to MB on my behalf for a resolution to this issue. Given MBs previous response to me to the effect that this was the normal operation of the camera, that nothing can be changed and that was their final position I am not at all hopeful that they will do anything. I have had the car now for almost a year without actually rejecting it so I guess they think I have just given up and are getting on with it. In thinking about it, if I were to go to the Ombudsman about this what would I be asking for - it’s too late to ask for another car and if MB simply say they can’t do anything about it technically so what could be done - nothing I suspect.

 

[markjay]

The thing for me is what constitutes a fault and what constitutes a characteristic. I had assumed that the new model was better than my 2 1/2 year old car! I hadn't test driven the new car as it was ordered from stock online. If I had driven and had heard the clicking I wouldn't have bothered and would have bought a new car from another manufacturer or would have kept my old car until my PCP was up at the end of March. The fact that they are keeping our cars to fix says to me that there must be something that needs fixing. It also appears that Mercedes themselves won't put anything in writing and this is all on the basis of hearsay from my dealer.

If you really wanted to fight it out, you may have a case under 'not fit for purpose' or 'not as described' or both.

Just look up some ads or a brochure that says that the cabin is quiet and relaxing, and explain that this was a major consideration when buying this particular model.

 

[markjay]

Here is the reply from my dealer to my request yesterday for an update on their request to MB on my behalf for a resolution to this issue. Given MBs previous response to me to the effect that this was the normal operation of the camera, that nothing can be changed and that was their final position I am not at all hopeful that they will do anything. I have had the car now for almost a year without actually rejecting it so I guess they think I have just given up and are getting on with it. In thinking about it, if I were to go to the Ombudsman about this what would I be asking for - it’s too late to ask for another car and if MB simply say they can’t do anything about it technically so what could be done - nothing I suspect.

You could argue to the ombudsman that you intend to sell the car privately (assuming it's is not on a lease?) and that you intend to be truthful with the buyer, which will likely reduce the car's value.

Or you could say that the noise is unacceptable and that you will now have to sell the car (sooner than planned) and incur a loss.

Either will allow you to put in a figure for compensation for potential damages.

This might help MB focus the mind and actually try and do something effective about this issue.

 

[E55BOF]

This might help MB focus the mind and actually try and do something effective about this issue.

TBH, given that some cars do it and some don't, I strongly suspect that MB don't know how to fix the problem.

 

[PinkMink]

Latest update.

So, after my car being with the service team for a month and having a new camera system installed, I received a call today to advise that 'it's still a bit noisy'. In other words, it hasn't been fixed. He said it's left them scratching their heads a bit. Brilliant.

I'm due to collect the car tomorrow so I will report back here to let you know if 'still a bit noisy' means it's exactly the same as before.

 

[PinkMink]

Car picked up today after a month with the service team. Fault still present. As before, the camera will calibrate in daylight if you're able to get it into a position to drive under the correct circumstances, but will not calibrate at night.

So, the long and short of it is, I still have a car with a fault.

Guys, it appears we're all stuck with a £30k car that has a clicky camera flap. Completely unacceptable.

 

[DonaldS]

Car picked up today after a month with the service team. Fault still present. As before, the camera will calibrate in daylight if you're able to get it into a position to drive under the correct circumstances, but will not calibrate at night.

So, the long and short of it is, I still have a car with a fault.

Guys, it appears we're all stuck with a £30k car that has a clicky camera flap. Completely unacceptable.

Thanks for the update but unfortunately just as expected. I have asked MB to at least tell me why the camera now has to calibrate itself every time you start the car so I can understand the logic of why it is required but not heard anything back yet.

 

[JCW36]

Car picked up today after a month with the service team. Fault still present. As before, the camera will calibrate in daylight if you're able to get it into a position to drive under the correct circumstances, but will not calibrate at night.

So, the long and short of it is, I still have a car with a fault.

Guys, it appears we're all stuck with a £30k car that has a clicky camera flap. Completely unacceptable.

I've never had any acknowledgement from MBUK of my complaint, nor a reply to any of my emails. I spoke with my dealer yesterday who says that Mercedes Benz UK are no longer bothering to reply to him either and he has gone back to the factory once again to ask for further technical advice. In the meantime I am still running around in a courtesy car. I will update if I get a further update. I would strongly advise that if your car is financed via HP/PCP that you raise your concerns with the finance company because at least then you have the option to go to the Ombudsman.

 

[JCW36]

Just had the dealer on the phone who was lovely - says that at present the factory are collecting information from dealers across Europe to see if they can identify a solution for the characteristic. He says that they want to return my car and take back the courtesy car. I have said that I don't want my car back and as Mercedes UK won't respond to my emails I have asked him to take it up with them.

 

[Albtay]

Just joined this group and have a question for A class owners. Bought a new 2023 A class 180 in April and I have an issue with the rear view camera. When I first set off the rear view camera opens then closes once you get to about 20mph. Thats no problem so far. What happens next is a problem though. Every time I slow down to 16mph the camera opens then closes again once I get back up to 20mph. It can do this for up to 10 times or even more before it stops doing it. It does this every time I start the car after it has been sitting for a while. The camera opening and closing is very noisy and extremely irritating. I took it into the dealer and after doing some tests and attempted software updates I was advised that this is normal operation on the new A class as it carries out a recalibration every time the car is started up. I was taken out for a test drive in another A class and it did indeed do the same thing. Anyone else on here experienced this issue?

I think I've found the solution for you.!! I also just bought the new release A200 in Xmas 2023. The rear view camera sound was so annoying that I had to return the car twice to fix. The first time they said it was fixed but the problem remained. I was given a new courtesy car then, an A250 and it also makes the exact annoying sound every time I slowed down to make corners or even at traffic lights. So after the first unsuccessful repair, my wife told me to accept it as such (a 'feature'), since the courtesy car also had the same problem. I refused to accept that and took it back again. The service dept tried to explain to me why the camera needs to recalibrate etc but I argued 'that's fine but as a driver I don't need to be reminded of it !!'

The problem was due to rear view camera being slightly obstructed by the number plate cover and it couldn't fully descend and hence did not complete its calbration cycle. So it keeps on trying to do that whilst the car is in motion. Solution is to trim off part of the plate cover (see attached pic) and now my car does not make those constant annoying sound. The camera do still calibrates but quite softly and much less often. PROBLEM RESOLVED.

 

[Albtay]

Hi DonaldS
I have exactly the same issue!
I bought the new car 10 days ago
Unless a fix is found, I can’t see me keeping this car very long!

I think I've found the solution for you.!! I also just bought the new release A200 in Xmas 2023. The rear view camera sound was so annoying that I had to return the car twice to fix. The first time they said it was fixed but the problem remained. I was given a new courtesy car then, an A250 and it also makes the exact annoying sound every time I slowed down to make corners or even at traffic lights. So after the first unsuccessful repair, my wife told me to accept it as such (a 'feature'), since the courtesy car also had the same problem. I refused to accept that and took it back again. The service dept tried to explain to me why the camera needs to recalibrate etc but I argued 'that's fine but as a driver I don't need to be reminded of it !!'

The problem was due to rear view camera being slightly obstructed by the number plate cover and it couldn't fully descend and hence did not complete its calbration cycle. So it keeps on trying to do that whilst the car is in motion. Solution is to trim off part of the plate cover (see attached pic) and now my car does not make those constant annoying sound. The camera do still calibrates but quite softly and much less often. PROBLEM RESOLVED.

 

[Albtay]

You think that's excessive? Wait until it decides a minute or so is not long enough, one time it took me every day for two weeks going to an empty industrial estate every time I was passing to get it to calibrate. There are not many roads that are straight enough and you can go slow enough without holding up cars behind you. There must be many bugs in the software when it refuses to calibrate while following the instructions.

I think I've found the solution for you.!! I also just bought the new release A200 in Xmas 2023. The rear view camera sound was so annoying that I had to return the car twice to fix. The first time they said it was fixed but the problem remained. I was given a new courtesy car then, an A250 and it also makes the exact annoying sound every time I slowed down to make corners or even at traffic lights. So after the first unsuccessful repair, my wife told me to accept it as such (a 'feature'), since the courtesy car also had the same problem. I refused to accept that and took it back again. The service dept tried to explain to me why the camera needs to recalibrate etc but I argued 'that's fine but as a driver I don't need to be reminded of it !!'

The problem was due to rear view camera being slightly obstructed by the number plate cover and it couldn't fully descend and hence did not complete its calbration cycle. So it keeps on trying to do that whilst the car is in motion. Solution is to trim off part of the plate cover (see attached pic) and now my car does not make those constant annoying sound. The camera do still calibrates but quite softly and much less often. PROBLEM RESOLVED.

 

[DonaldS]

I think I've found the solution for you.!! I also just bought the new release A200 in Xmas 2023. The rear view camera sound was so annoying that I had to return the car twice to fix. The first time they said it was fixed but the problem remained. I was given a new courtesy car then, an A250 and it also makes the exact annoying sound every time I slowed down to make corners or even at traffic lights. So after the first unsuccessful repair, my wife told me to accept it as such (a 'feature'), since the courtesy car also had the same problem. I refused to accept that and took it back again. The service dept tried to explain to me why the camera needs to recalibrate etc but I argued 'that's fine but as a driver I don't need to be reminded of it !!'

The problem was due to rear view camera being slightly obstructed by the number plate cover and it couldn't fully descend and hence did not complete its calbration cycle. So it keeps on trying to do that whilst the car is in motion. Solution is to trim off part of the plate cover (see attached pic) and now my car does not make those constant annoying sound. The camera do still calibrates but quite softly and much less often. PROBLEM RESOLVED.

I have just gone out to check my car and the camera is not obstructed by the number plate and operates freely so this will not fix my cars camera issue but thanks anyway for trying. It may be that in your car the problem was worse than mine due to the obstruction but it sounds as if you still have the same fundamental problem of constant camera calibration.

 

[markjay]

I have just gone out to check my car and the camera is not obstructed by the number plate and operates freely so this will not fix my cars camera issue but thanks anyway for trying. It may be that in your car the problem was worse than mine due to the obstruction but it sounds as if you still have the same fundamental problem of constant camera calibration.

I think that Albtay's issue was that the camera view was obstructed, not the physical movement of the device?

These cameras have a very wide viewing angle, so it is possible that the view is obstructed even if it does not seem so initially?

 

[DonaldS]

I think that Albtay's issue was that the camera view was obstructed, not the physical movement of the device?

These cameras have a very wide viewing angle, so it is possible that the view is obstructed even if it does not seem so initially?

No, he quite clearly states that the camera could not fully descend due to clashing with the number plate. As he is in Australia the number plate design and size my be different to UK type.