1997 Mercedes-Benz 420 Owner Complaints

WELD BROKE AND DISLODGED THE SPRINGS.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546758

Incident

Oct 4, 2013

Mileage

212,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD POP NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND SAW THAT METAL WAS HANGING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN BUT WAS UNSAFE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10461727

Incident

Jun 13, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT REGARDING AFTER WARRANTY SUPPORT FOR THE ABOVE REFERENCED VEHICLE. THE SPRING SEAT DETACHED FROM THE BODY OF THE AUTOMOBILE CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO FAIL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 45 MPH ON A DOWNHILL GRADE. AS THE SUSPENSION DETACHED FROM THE CAR, THE LEFT FRONT SIDE DRAGGED ON THE ROAD CAUSING THE RIGHT REAR TO SLIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. IMPACT FROM AN APPROACHING VEHICLE WAS NARROWLY ADVERTED. FURTHER, LARGE PIECES OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE COIL SPRING WHERE LEFT IN THE ROAD CAUSING A HAZARD. MY MECHANIC AND THE FACILITY THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE. FURTHER, A INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS FAILURE SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL. I HAD A DISMISSIVE CONVERSATION WITH MERCEDES BENZ USA. WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM IF THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. I WOULD ASK THE NTSB TO RE OPEN THIS ONGOING ISSUE WHICH IF LEFT UNADDRESSED COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424746

Incident

Jun 28, 2011

Mileage

163,000 mi

I AM A VICTIM OF A DANGEROUS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW IN MY 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. LAST WEEK, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON A LOCAL STREET NEAR OUR HOME, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FLEW OUT OF THE CAR, RESULTING IN HER COMPLETELY LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS - NO SOUNDS, RATTLES, ETC. LUCKILY, SHE WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED OF 35MPH AND THAT THE CARS AROUND HER STOPPED, ALLOWING HER TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, SHE AVOIDED ANY ACCIDENT AND WAS NOT HURT. THE COIL SPRINGS SUPPORT THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE CAR, AND WHEN THE SPRING FLEW OUT OF THE CAR, THE CAR COLLAPSED ONTO THE TIRE UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT. THE WHEEL WELL RESTED ON THE TIRE AND SUPPORTED THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF THE CAR. THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE AS A RESULT OF THE WHEEL WELL RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE AND CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE HALT. MY WIFE COULD NOT STEER THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT, SINCE THE WHEEL WELL PREVENTED THE TIRE FROM MAKING SUCH TURNS. WHEN SHE FORCED A TURN SO THAT SHE COULD PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, THE CAR JUMPED AS THE WHEEL EXITED THE WHEEL WELL AND RODE ON ITS EDGE. THE WHEEL WELL SCORED DEEP GASHES IN THE TIRE. THE COIL SPRING DENTED THE WHEEL WELL, THE WHEEL AND THE SHOCK ABSORBER. WHEN YOU LOSE SUCH CONTROL OF THE CAR, YOU CAN VERY EASILY BE INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND JEOPARDIZE YOUR SAFETY. I DREAD TO THINK WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN IF WE WERE DRIVING AT 65MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE COIL SPRING FLEW OUT. A COIL SPRING FLYING OUT OF THE CAR IS NOT CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, IT IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. I HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT THE DAMAGE - 1. THE COIL SPRING MOUNT (A.K.A "SPRING PERCH") IS MADE OF THIN SHEET METAL AND IS POORLY DESIGNED. IT IS SPOT WELDED ONTO THE WHEEL WELL IN 3 SPOTS. THIS DESIGN IS TOO WEAK TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR, AND IT BROKE OFF AS A RESULT. 2. NEW SHOCK ABSORBER, TIRE, WHEEL 3. WHEEL ALIGNMENT. PHOTOGRAPHS AND REPLACED PARTS AVAILABLE. *TR *KB

NHTSA ID

10413904

Incident

Jul 12, 2011

Mileage

200,150 mi

1997 MERCEDES E420 DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING PERCH FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257996

Incident

Feb 8, 2009

Mileage

172,000 mi

HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING, AND LOOKS IDENTICAL TO PICTURES SENT TO NHTSA BY OTHER OWNERS AND IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT IS UNDETECTABLE UNTIL SHORTS OR FIRES DEVELOP. THE INSULATION IS LITERALLY FALLING APART, AND THIS CREATES GREAT POTENTIAL FOR UNSAFE OPERATION, SHORTCIRCUITS, BREAKDOWN AND IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249623

Incident

Nov 21, 2008

Mileage

111,111 mi

I HAVE A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. THE SPRING PERCHES HAVE FAILED ON BOTH FRONT SIDES OF THIS CAR. THE DRIVE SIDE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND HAD TO BE WELDED AND REPAIRED. I CAUGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE BEFORE ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE OCCURRED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE AND HAS BEEN RECALLED IN CANADA FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT NOT IN THE USA. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO THE VERY REAL PROBABILITY OF INJURY OR DEATH FROM THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222929

Incident

Jul 15, 2006

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ 420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS CRACKED. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RUST ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE THE COIL SPRING CRACKED. HE INSPECTED THE COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT TOO HAS RUST, BUT IT IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE AS THE DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING. THE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $666. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,300.

NHTSA ID

10201267

Incident

Aug 28, 2007

Mileage

88,300 mi

TL* - ON 1/16/07 THE LEFT UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING SUPPORT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ 420. ON 01/02/07 THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN MORRISTOWN, NJ FOR A SAFETY CHECK, AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS. ON 01/23/07 CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE LEFT PERCH WAS RUSTED ,AND THAT THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10180740

Incident

Jan 16, 2007

Mileage

107,000 mi

LEFT UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING SUPPORT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED A SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT FROM ON THE CAR. I REMOVED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE SPRING SUPPORT WAS JUST ABOUT READY TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME. I WAS HORRIFIED TO THINK OF WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED IF THIS WOULD HAVE FAILED DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MERCEDES BENZ OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR HOWEVER, THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE WHOLE REPAIR. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160968

Incident

Jun 26, 2006

Mileage

150,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED TO 5 MPH AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE COIL SPRING ONTO THE FRAME HAD DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OFF. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER STATED THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR IF DONE BY THEIR BODY SHOP. THE REPAIR WAS $2600. THE CONTACT WANTED THE REPAIRS DONE LOCALLY AND OPTED FOR THE DEAL. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THAT THIS INDICATED THAT MERCEDES TOOK SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10152198

Incident

Mar 8, 2006

Mileage

102,000 mi

I RECENTLY HAD A GAS TANK PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 1997 E MODEL MERCEDES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE INTERIOR OF THE GAS TANK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RETURN LINES INSIDE THE TANK HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TANK PRESSURE, LEAKAGE, AND /OR IMPROPER EMISSION SYSTEM SENSOR READOUTS. THE TANK HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO MPACT SO THE DISCONNECTED LINE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN OR ENGINEERING DEFECT. IN ADDITION, THE IMPROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE RETURN LINE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAS A MAJOR IMPACT ON GAS MILEAGE. THE DEFECTIVE RETURN LINES REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TOTAL GAS TANK AS A REPAIR MEASURE AT A COST OF OVER $800. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE TANK. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS

NHTSA ID

10133880

Incident

Aug 8, 2005

Mileage

123,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING HARD. THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRAME WELL WAS BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB METAL ON FRAME WELL WAS REPLACED DUE TO FATIGUE. ALSO, FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BY CONSUMER IN AN AUCTION. *LA

NHTSA ID

10080293

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE VEHICLE SAT IDLING, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM ITS WELDED POSITION. (NAR) *PH *CB

NHTSA ID

10061781

Incident

Aug 19, 2003

DRIVERS SIDE SEATBACK IS STUCK IN RECLINING POSITION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE CONSUMER CAN HARDLY SEE OUT WINDOW, AND THIS IS UNSAFE WAY TO DRIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

883049

Incident

Mar 13, 2001

WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN ISUZU TROOPER PASSENGER FRONT HIT PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL OF MERCEDES AND PASSENGER DOOR WITH DRIVER SIDE FRONT. DURING IMPACT, FRONT SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER. ALSO, CAUSED DRIVER'S BREAST IMPLANTS TO RUPTURE. OTHER PASSENGER FAILED TO WEAR SEAT BELT. BUT, AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID

878390

Incident

Dec 2, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE FUSES WERE CHECKED. A CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO REPAIR UNIT FREE IF OWNER LEFET THE DEFECTED PART. *AK

NHTSA ID

869342

Incident

Aug 29, 2000

THE GAS TANK ON MY MERCEDES BENZ E420 COLLAPSED. IT LOOKED LIKE A GIANT STEPPED ON IT. PRIOR TO THE TANK COLLAPSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL EVAPORATION SYSTEM REPAIRED. I TOOK THE CAR TO BERBERIAN EUROPEAN MOTORS (A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER) IN STOCKTON CA. FOR REPAIR. THIS FAILURE IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED BY MY CALIFORINA EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY. THE MERCEDES BENZ FACTORY REP. SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER THE WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIRS MYSELF. MY POINT IN CONTACTING YOU IS THAT A GAS TANK THAT JUST CRUMPELS UP BY ITSELF SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO. THE OTHER QUESTION IS, WHY IS MERCEDES BENZ NOT INTRESTED IN TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM UNDER THE EMISSION WARRANTY?

NHTSA ID

714366

Incident

Oct 15, 1999

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. IT WOULD GET STUCK IN THE GEARS AND MAY RESULT A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

842832

Incident

Oct 1, 1996

REAR SEAT BELT RESTRAINT FAILED.

NHTSA ID

605143

Incident

Jul 1, 1996

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID

603600

Incident

May 1, 1996

CRUISE CONTROL IS LOCATED ON A SMALL STALK NEXT TO LARGER STALK FOR TURN SIGNALS, UPON TURNING, BOTH STALKS ARE MOVED, CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO COME ON.

NHTSA ID

506530

Incident

Jul 22, 1996