Mercedes claimes that the Metris is able to tow 5000lbs. We bought the vehicle new with the tow package factory installed. Mercedes never disclosed the fact that it's wiring harness included in the package does not operate electric trailer brakes and that no factory or third party option is available. We almost had an accident due to our inability to stop quickly enough. Thats how we found out that the factory installed trailer wiring harness does not operate electric brakes. Mercedes should have warned us about this issue. The factory trailer wiring harness includes a 7 wire connector, but is only wired for 6. it controls brake lights, turn signals, running lights but not electric brakes. I filed a complaint with Mercedes corporate and stated how this is a safety issue. Customers may wrongly assume that their electric trailer brakes are being activated when applying the vehicles brakes. Without trailer brakes, most tow payloads are limited to 2500lbs. 5000lbs is way beyond the safe limit. Mercedes stated that there is no way for the Metris to activate electric brakes. I believe that Mercedes needs to warn customers of this specific design flaw. Most light duty trailers and campers in the usa use electric brakes. Our almost accident happened on the I35 South of waco tx. We were at highway speed when the traffic came to a sudden stop. Luckily we had a large enough distance between us and the cars stopping ahead. We had a car at the last moment swerve into our lane and stop. Now we were trying to come to an emergency stop. We had to depart our lane to keep from rear ending the car. We later found out that our trailer brake we not being activated and that was the cause of our increased stopping distance.

- Lakeside, TX, USA