1998 Mercedes-Benz C280

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.

WITHOUT ANY WARNING ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AROUND THE CORNER CAR JUST MADE A VERY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE FRONT. CAR CAME DOWN ON DRIVER SIDE VERY CLOSE TO TIRE. WHEN I EXISTED THE VEHICLE IS WHEN I REALIZED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SUSPENSION WAS ON THE GROUND COMPLETELY OFF. HAD IT TOWED AND LOOKED AT BY A MEINIKE THEY STATED THE THE FRAME WHERE THIS CAME OFF HAD SOME RUST. I HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY OIL CHANGE WITH TIRE ROTATION NO MECHANIC EVER NOTICED IT WHILE SERVICING. I HAVE A TODDLER DRIVING IN THE CAR WITH ME AND JUST CAME OFF THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE OUT COME. IN THE MEANTIME MERCEDES DEALERS HAVE JUST BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND THIS IS OBVIOUS A MANUFACTURE'S DEFECT. AND VERY EXPENSIVE OUT OF POCKET TO REPAIR. MERCEDES SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MALFUNCTIONING DEECT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN HORRIFIC TRAGEDY TO ME AND MY FAMILY AND OTHER MOTORIST.

NHTSA ID

10808202

Incident

Nov 25, 2015

Mileage

1,310,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, THE SPRING PERCH SUPPORTING THE LEFT, FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. INSTANTLY, THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION TOTALLY COLLAPSED LEAVING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WITHOUT ANY SUSPENSION OR WHEEL CLEARANCE INSIDE THE FENDER. THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER TO NEARLY DRAG ON THE PAVEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN MERCEDES AUTOMOBILES THAT USE THIS SAME OR SIMILAR SPRING PERCH. THIS TYPE OF PART IS ONE THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL UNLESS DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVER IN THIS CASE KEPT HER CALM AND SAFELY GUIDED THE VEHICLE OFF THE INTERSTATE. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, I HAD MY 1997 MERCEDES E420 INSPECTED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPRING PERCHES ON THAT CAR WAS ABOUT TO COLLAPSE AS WELL. ALL MERCEDES USING A SIMILAR SPRING PERCH SHOULD BE INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558970

Incident

May 11, 2013

Mileage

221,746 mi

THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER SENT TO MERCEDES WHIDH DESCRIBES THE ISSUE. DEAR MERCEDES: I RECENTLY HAD AN ALMOST TRAGIC INCIDENT IN MY MERCEDES. I WAS WITH MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING MY CAR, UNDER HER LEARNERS PERMIT, ALONG THE HIGHWAY ON A CLEAR, SMOOTH, AND DRY PAVEMENT AT 55 MPH, THE SPEED LIMIT. THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING FELL OFF THE CAR. I AM SURE YOU CAN IMAGINE THE NOISE AS THE SPRING RUMBLED UNDER OUR CAR. IT SCARRED HER, THOUGH SHE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY, WITHOUT THE SPRING IN PLACE, THE CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS SERIOUSLY JEOPARDIZED. ONCE SHE FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, A MOTORCYCLIST PULLED UP ALONG SIDE TO LET ME KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. TO THAT POINT, I HAD NO IDEA. FORTUNATELY, THE SPRING BARELY MISSED THE CYCLIST AS IT BOUNCED ERRATICALLY DOWN THE ROAD, OR HE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. IN SPEAKING WITH MY MERCEDES MECHANIC, AS WELL AS THE DEALERS COLLISION REPAIR SHOP, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 15-20 SUCH SPRING FAILURES DUE TO THE FLAWED SPRING SOCKET DESIGN. I DO NOT BELIEVE MERCEDES WOULD WANT TO RISK THEIR REPUTATION BY CONTINUING TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH SUCH A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. WHILE I HAVE APPRECIATED THE EFFORTS, AND FRIENDLY SERVICE, PROVIDED BY JUDY SUTTON OF R&H MOTORCARS, LTD. IN ARRANGING THE TOWING OF MY CAR AND FOR MERCEDES TO COVER HALF THE COST OF THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING REPLACEMENT, I FEEL MERCEDES SHOULD BE TAKING A MORE PROACTIVE STANCE ON THE MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I AM ASKING MERCEDES TO COVER THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIR TO BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT SPRING SOCKETS, AND TO RECALL THE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM SO THEIR VEHICLES ARE NOT ON THE ROAD PRESENTING A HAZARD TO THEMSELVES AND TO OTHERS. REGARDS, SAMUEL J. WORNOM, III CC: NHTSA *TR

NHTSA ID

10198603

Incident

Jul 30, 2007

Mileage

144,000 mi

ON MAY 22, 2005, THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING POPPED OUT OF VEHICLE FROM DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROAD. INFORMATION ENTERED BY STATE FARM. ON JULY 20, 2005, THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING WAS DAMAGED FROM DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROADS.

NHTSA ID

10139740

Incident

May 22, 2005

FUEL HOSE (PART NO.A2084761526) ABRUPTLY BURST WHEN CAR WAS STARTED, RESULTING IN HUGE FUEL LEAK (LIKE A SPIGOT), WITH FUEL IMMEDIATELY POOLING UNDER THE CAR AND STREAKING AWAY. IF THERE HAD BEEN A LIT CIGARETTE BUTT ON THE PARKING LOT PAVEMENT WE WOULD HAVE EXPLODED, KILLING ALL 4 OCCUPANTS AS WE WERE GETTING INTO THE CAR. IT WOULD HAVE WIPED OUT THREE GENERATIONS: TWO PARENTS, ONE CHILD AND ONE SURVIVING GRANDPARENT. THIS PART HAS TO BE FAILSAFE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF LIFE. I HAVE A 13-YR-OLD CAR THAT HAS NEVER HAD BREAKAGE OF A FUEL HOSE LIKE THIS. I URGE A RECALL OF THIS PART SO AS TO PREVENT FUTURE LOSS OF LIFE. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

763346

Incident

May 26, 2002

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED, AND EVENTUALLY BATTERY WENT DEAD. VERY NEXT DAY A RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8006091

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

758720

Incident

Feb 18, 2002

WHILE HUSBAND WAS MOVING OBJECTS IN TRUNK. TOUCHED BATTERY AND EXPLODE AT HIS FACE, INJURING PARTS ON FACE AND BODY.*AK THE CONSUMER SUFFERED EYE DAMAGE, NASAL FRACTURE AND FACIAL LACERATIONS AS THE RESULT OF BATTEY EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *YH

NHTSA ID

887539

Incident

Apr 16, 2001

NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock

If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit

Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R

Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of front axle

Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises

Clunking noise from front axle suspension strut or rear axle shock absorber on short strokes of the damper