1999 Mercedes-Benz 320 Owner Complaints

THIS IS A CORRECTION TO THE SUBMISSION MADE EARLIER THIS MORNING. JUST LIKE THE GM CARS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING RECALLED, MY CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON A LIMITED ACCESS ROAD. FORTUNATELY FOR MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE, AND THERE WAS A WIDE SHOULDER. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR, WHICH HAD TO BE TOWED. THE MECHANIC KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT WAS WRONG, AND THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TO A MERCEDES HE REPAIRED THE WEEK BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568001

Incident

Oct 3, 2012

Mileage

59,463 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY AT NIGHT AT AROUND 50 MPH; THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND A SOUND OF METAL BEING THROWN AROUND UNDER THE CAR. THE SOUND CAME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THEN AFTER A LOUD THUMP THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY NOISE. THE CAR DIDN'T FEEL THE SAME AFTER THAT. AFTER PULLING OVER AND CHECKING THE PASSENGER SIDE, YOU COULD SEE THAT THE CAR WAS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND, THE WHEELS TOUCHED THE TOP OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE NEXT MORNING AFTER JACKING THE CAR UP THE SPRING WAS NO LONGER IN THE CAR, AND THE ENTIRE UPPER ASSEMBLY OF THE SPRING SETUP WAS COMPLETELY TORN OFF. AFTER LOOKING CLOSE YOU SEE THAT THERE WAS QUITE A LOT OF RUST WHERE THE METAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT AND WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, AND THAT THE COIL SPRING PERCH WAS POORLY PROTECTED IN MY MODEL OF MERCEDES. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535730

Incident

Aug 15, 2013

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED TO MY 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320 SEDAN. THE "INCIDENT" INVOLVES THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING PERCH FAILURE. IF IT WERE NOT FOR AN INSPECTION RELATED TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, MY MECHANIC WAS SURE THAT A SERIOUS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GLEEN FROM MERCEDES BENZ OWNER WEBSITES, THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THESE VEHICLES AND YET MB HAS NOT ORDERED A RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152053

Incident

Mar 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THIS WAS DUE TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WITH THE TURN SIGNAL OR HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE USED. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151333

Incident

Feb 19, 2006

Mileage

50,000 mi

ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THERE WAS AN EXYREMELY LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WAS JARRED. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THIS IS WHERE THE INFANT SEATS ARE LOCATED BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE MY GRAND CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO RIDE. FORTUNATELY, THEY WERE NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE REPLACED THE BATTERY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116733

Incident

Apr 9, 2005

WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FLUID HOSE CLAMP OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE CAUSE HAS HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10113506

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

91,448 mi

THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FLIES OFF THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. I OWN A MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP. THERE HAVE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF FAILURES AND SOMEONE WILL DIE WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR STEERING.MERCEDES IS NOT COVERING THESE FAILURESOUT OF WARRANTY. IT AFFECTS ALL V-6 ENGINES FROM 96-2003 . CALL ANY DEALER PARTS DEPT. AND ASK HOW OFTEN THEY SELL ONE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060759

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10053593

Incident

Dec 10, 2003

Mileage

51,236 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED SMOKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THEN TWO MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055363

Incident

Jan 16, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED THAT THE FOUR WINDOW CLUSTERS FOR ALL THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO GET THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TO OPERATE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ALL FOUR WINDOW CLUSTERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED FROM THE HOSES/CLAMPS, AND CONNECTORS. THE LEAKS APPEARED MORE FREQUENTLY DURING THE WINTER SEASON WHICH CAUSED THE METAL TO EXPAND. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10038041

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

36,100 mi

PER CONSUMER VEHICLE IS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL WHILE DRIVING , ESPECIALLY ON LONG TRIPS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026631

Mileage

51,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE USES A QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY 1000 MILES. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE WILL BURN OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024651

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

WHILE IN PARK, THE BATTERY EXPLODED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *MR WHILE PARKED, THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE HOPPECKE BATTERY UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS CRACKED AND BROKEN AND SETTING IN A POOL OF ACID WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR THE ACID SMELL AT THE TIME OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10022524

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

Mileage

24,000 mi

THE BATTERY AND AIR BAG EXPLODED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. (LAWYER, TREVOR GRIMM, ON BEHALF OF CLIENT). *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10010019

LOSS OF CONTROL OF ACCELERATOR. VEHICLE RUNS TO 1000 RPM, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK

NHTSA ID

758732

Incident

Feb 26, 2002

THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON CONTIUOUSLY;AIR BAGS NOT ON;9/26/01 THE DEALERSHIP ALLEGEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR $136.80; TWO DAYS LATER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTED; RETURNED AGAIN TO DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD THAT A PART NEEDED TO BE ORDERED FOR THE RIGHT FRONT SAIRBAG(THE OTHER PROBLEM INVOLVED THE LEFT AIRBAG); ON OCT 18 RETURNED FOR THIRD TIME TO HAVE PROBLEM CORRECTED;THEY ALLEGEDLY HAVE FIXED PROBLEM, CHARGING ME $329.60 (THEY PAID FOR PART AFTER I COMPLAINED). I FEEL THIS WAS DEFECTIVE AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON AN $80,000. VEHICLE.MERCEDES SHOULD BE HELD RESPONDIBLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

753740

Incident

Sep 26, 2001

TRANSMISSION LEAKS OIL/GAS PEDAL IS VERY STIFF & HARD TO PRESS/ DOOR LOCKS KEEP GOING UP AND DOWN WHEN USING REMOTE CONTROL/ REAR WASHER HOSE TO REAR WIPER HAD TO BE REPLACED/THERE IS NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, AND DISC BACKING PLATE IS BENT AND BRAKE PEDAL IS STIFF WHEN TRYING TO STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID

873637

Incident

Sep 17, 1999

THE LOCKS WILL RATCHET UP AND DOWN WHEN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO USE REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE. THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN 2 LOCKS REPLACED ON THIS UNIT IN THE PREVIOUS SIX -EIGHT MONTHS. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT DAIMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH SAME, BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO. I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE LOCK REMAINS IN THE LOCKING POSITION AFTER IT COMPLETES A NUMBER OF CYCLES AND MUST BE LOCKED MANUALLY. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT DAIMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LOCKS ON THIS PARTICULAR UNIT AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED AS THE VEHICLE IS TIED UP FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WITH EACH OCCURRENCE. **** DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****728303. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10006345

Incident

Aug 17, 2000

Mileage

16,250 mi

FUEL GUAGE DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECT LEVELS OF FUEL. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT THREE TIMES WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK REAR SEATS CAN NOT BE UNLATCHED TO USE CARGO AREA AND TO RELOCK PROPERLY. EXTERIOR TRIM IS FALLING OFF THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE RATTLES FROM REAR. A/C DOES NOT COOL UNLESS THE RECIRCULATORY SYSTEM IS ON. SUN ROOF HAVE FOLLEN OUT. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND NOISY. THE LATCHING MECHANISM ON THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY DUE TO RECALL. THE OWNER NOTIFIED OFTHE RECALL AND THE DEALER FIXED (99V-328). *YH

NHTSA ID

866395

ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

857741

Incident

Feb 22, 2000

MERCEDES BENZ BABY SMART FEATURE ALLOWS YOU TO PURCHASE THERE SPECIALIZED FRONT-FACING INFANT SEAT THAT WILL DISABLE THE AIRBAGS.......THEY CLAIM THAT THIS SEAT IS SAFE BUT I DONT' FEEL COMFORTABLE USING IT GIVEN YOUR RECOMENDATION (ALONG WITH 2 MERCEDES BENZ EMPLYEES THAT I SPOKE WITH). I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF MERCEDS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING AN ALTERNATE SOLUTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

713843

TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED THEN DOWNSHIFTED (1ST) WHILE DRIVING. BRAKES ENGAGED. CAR CAME TO VIOLENT HALT , THEN CAR AND PASSENGERS WERE LURCHED BACK & FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT OPERATOR INPUT, RPMS ERRATIC UNTIL KEY REMOVED. FREEWAY INCIDENT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN FATALITIES. CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, MFG DENIED SIMILAR CLAIMS, SEE NHTSA ITEM # SB605899. TRAUMA OF EVENT HAS RESULTED IN INABILITY TO DRIVE VEHICLE (CONCERN FOR SAFETY AND FEAR OF REOCCURANCE).

NHTSA ID

713182

Incident

Sep 15, 1999

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 20MPH AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN, AND THREW THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ABS BRAKES SYTEM WERE SUPPOSE TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID

847912

Incident

Sep 8, 1999

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN VEHICLE HITS BUMPS IN THE ROAD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, INFORMING OWNER TO NOT PUT ANY KEYS IN THE IGNITION. CONSUMER REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS SUBJECT. *YC

NHTSA ID

843257

Incident

May 31, 1999

THER IS NO PLACE FOR A TODLER ATTACHMENT AND DEALER WILL NOT ATACH ONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

846302