The automatic transmission in my 2001 Mercedes-Benz clk430 will frequently become stuck in only one gear. Most often 3rd gear, but sometimes 2nd. This is a terrifying situation for me, especially in traffic, as the automobile does not accelerate from a stop in 3rd gear and abruptly slows when letting off the accelerator in 2nd. 2nd gear also limits the speed of the car significantly and has caused me to be the traffic slowdown at rush hour on many occasions. I have had several close calls, as I cannot get the car out of a busy intersection quickly or change lanes to make a turn when this is happening. I drive my children in this car and am afraid that a 3rd gear start or a 2nd gear abrupt slowdown or its severely limited velocity will cause an accident and they may get hurt. The only way to remedy this situation is to pull over, shut off the car and restart it. This is not always possible on a busy street, and is dangerous at best. My mechanic has determined that this is not a mechanical failure in the transmission, but a failure in the electronic module that controls the transmission. I understand through corroborative and anecdotal evidence that this could be a result of liquid from the cupholder seeping down into the electronics. There is evidence of a liquid spill, and it is clear that the poor design of the cupholder and its location above the transmission electronics are the cause of this safety issue. We have not pursued repair as of yet, as the parts and labor are quite expensive. The car is now parked in my garage, as I consider it unsafe to drive.

- Columbia, MO, USA

: the contact stated water was spilled on the console causing the transmission to be inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer replaced the electronic control unit in the console which corrected the problem. Updated 8/14/2006 -

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA