1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class Owner Complaints

I TOOK MY CAR INTO GET THE SUSPENSION FIXED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SPRING PERCH THAT ATTACHED THE SPRING TO THE CAR HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS ABOUT TO BREAK. LUCKILY I FOUND IT BEFORE I HAD A BAD ACCIDENT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CHECKING WITH MERCEDES TO SEE IF THEY WILL STAND BY A POOR DESIGN ISSUE AND REPAIR IT. I AM AMAZED THAT SOMEONE HAS NOT CONTACTED OWNERS OF OLDER CARS AS THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE FOR THOSE NOT FORTUNATE TO GET THINGS CHECKED OUT. I AM NOT DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL SOME DECISION IS MADE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556553

Incident

Dec 16, 2013

Mileage

96,000 mi

I WAS COMING OFF WEST RT 46. I CAME TO A STOP SIGN,MADE A RIGHT AND AS I WAS DRIVING HEARD A THUMP NOISE....THEN AS I DROVE A SQUEAKING NOISE AND I PULLED OVER,LOOKED AT THE CAR ,AROUND IT AND UNDER IT AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I DROVE IT SLOWLY ABT A MILE HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME I OPENED THE HOOD AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC AROUND THE CORNER AND HE TOLD ME I HAD A SPRING COIL FAILURE. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS PREVALENT IN CERTAIN MERCEDES VEHICLES AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THIS FAILING PART. I'M ATTEMPTING TO HAVE MERCEDES COVER SOME OF THE COSTS TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467941

Incident

Jul 25, 2012

Mileage

139,535 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E420. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN LIGHTLY DRIZZLED WEATHER CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. SUDDENLY, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER SYSTEM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10313837

Incident

Nov 10, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A RATTLING SOUND FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. SHORT WHILE LATER, STARTED TO PROCEED FROM A STOP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION COIL SPRING CAME OFF THE CAR AND EXITED OUT THE WHEEL WELL WITH A BIG BANG AND ROLLED DOWN THE STREET ABOUT 75 FEET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291568

Incident

Nov 8, 2009

Mileage

102,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E300 DIESEL. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPRING PERCH ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WAS RUSTING AND SEPARATED FROM THE SUSPENSION CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10225736

Incident

Mar 5, 2008

Mileage

140,000 mi

I HAVE A 1997 E420 MERCEDES THAT MY WIFE AND OUR ONE MONTH OLD BABY DRIVE DAILY. WELL SHE TOLD ME SHE HEARD SOME STRANGE NOISES COMING FROM THE WHEEL AREA OF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. I TOLD HER THAT SHE BETTER LET US HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BEFORE DRIVING THE CAR ANYMORE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT THE SPRING PERCH WAS HANGING ON THE FRAME BY A THREAD OF METAL. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AS IT TURNS OUT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A NUMBER OF CARS LIKE MINE, IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS RECALLED WITH OUT A DOUBT. SOMEONE ELSE'S WIFE AND BABY COULD HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SENSE TO GET THIS CHECKED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224905

Incident

Apr 15, 2008

Mileage

144,000 mi

MY MB E300D'S ENGINE WILL CUT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT STARTED GRADUALLY JUST CUTTING OFF WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION OR WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP. FEELING IT WAS ANYTHING FROM FUEL TO COMPUTER PROBLEMS I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THEY ADVISED THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND WANTED TO START REPLACING PARTS LIKE RELAYS. THE PROBLEM CAME TO A HEAD WHILE MY WIFE WAS ACCELERATING ON AN INTERSTATE RAMP INTO TRAFFIC RUNNING 70MPH. THE CAR CUT OFF CAUSING NEAR CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS. THIS IS OF COURSE UNACCEPTABLE. MERCEDES IS ACTING LIKE THIS IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM. UPON SEARCHING THE WEB, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM -"CUTTING OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON" AND SO FAR THIS AGENCY SEEMS TO HAVE NOT DONE MUCH TO FORCE MERCEDES TO CORRECT THIS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. I CAN NOT KEEP DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL SOMETHING BREAKS BAD ENOUGH FOR MERCEDES TO FIND IT. THE WIRING HARNESS IS THE KNOWN CULPRIT THOUGH MERCEDES WON'T ADMIT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222207

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

201,000 mi

MR. GARY BOUND MERCEDES BENZ 3 PARAGON MONTVALE NJ 07645 DEAR MR. BOUND, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE ON A VERY TROUBLING MATTER. I HAVE 1997 MERCEDES E 420, , (IT HAS 81,000 MILES) WHICH RECENTLY DEVELOPED A SERIOUS DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE, MORE PRECISELY A LACK OF STEERING CONTROL. I WAS SO ALARMED BY THE HANDLING; I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM. (I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE EXTRA DISTANCE TO A MB DEALER). AFTER A QUICK EXAMINATION THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COIL SPRING TOWER HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THEY SAID THE REPAIR WAS POSSIBLY IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS RANGE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES, PARTICULARLY WITH THE E SERIES. ACCORDING TO THEM IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TYPE OF STEEL USED, THE WELDS, AND AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF EXTRAORDINARY METAL FATIGUE REGARDLESS OF MILES OR AGE OF VEHICLE. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT MERCEDES BENZ WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AND MB WAS CONSIDERING ABSORBING THE COSTS OF THESE REPAIRS, EVEN THOUGH THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT NHTSA IS SO CONCERNED ABOUT A PATTERN OF THESE FAILURES THAT THEY ARE URGING AN OFFICIAL RECALL. BUT UNDERSTANDABLY MB WOULD PREFER NOT TO DEAL WITH AN OFFICIAL RECALL. NOW OBVIOUSLY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY, AS WELL AS GETTING A QUALITY REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE ASAP-- WITHOUT PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THIS TO BE RESOLVED OUT OF MY POCKET.. I WAS GIVEN YOUR NAME BY A MAN NAMED MITCH CARR, OF MITCH?S AUTO SERVICE IN KENSINGTON MARYLAND. AS YOU MAY BE AWARE HE SPECIALIZES IN MERCEDES REPAIRS. HE EXPLAINED THAT YOU HAD FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM; APPARENTLY EITHER YOU OR YOUR STAFF HAVE VISITED HIS SHOP TO SEE MERCEDES VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. MARK SLIMP, [email protected] *TR

NHTSA ID

10202543

Incident

Sep 10, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

ON A 1997 MERCEDES E300D, THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING PERCH IS CORRODING CONSISTENT WITH THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT PE07021. *JB

NHTSA ID

10202261

Incident

Sep 7, 2007

Mileage

200,750 mi

SOCKET DEFORMS THERMALLY CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHT NOT TO ILLUMINATE. PROBLEM IS ON MY 1997 MERCEDES E300 DIESEL VIN# [XXX]. EXACT SAME PROBLEM WAS RECALLED ON 98-2004 SLK-CLASS BUT NOT ON MODEL. RECALL # FOR SLK IS 2006-080005. THANKS. *NM UPDATED 07/11/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10181771

Incident

Dec 30, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

SPRING PERCHES ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS RUSTED AND ARE FALLING APART. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT AND IF THE PERCHES BREAK WHILE DRIVING, PEOPLE CAN GET KILLED. LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO REPAIR OR EVEN INSPECT THE PROBLEM AND IS TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. RUST ON THE FRAME WELD IN ANY CAR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED BY THE LACK OF QUALITY AND LACK OF SUPPORT FROM MERCEDES-BENZ!!!*JB

NHTSA ID

10174087

Incident

Nov 20, 2006

DRIVING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE LEFT FRONT SPRING PERCH BROKE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR WITH NO INJURY OR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170549

Incident

Jul 27, 2006

Mileage

129,600 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END STARTED SHAKING. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHO NOTIFIED THE PERCH, WHICH SUPPORTED THE COILS SPRINGS, WERE SEPARATED FROM THE STRUCTURE. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A DEALERSHIP WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT AND NOTIFIED THE COST WOULD BE COVERED BY THE CONTACT.

NHTSA ID

10167390

Incident

Jan 15, 2006

Mileage

78,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS OPENED, THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND, AND A SOUND OF GLASS BREAKING. AFTER THESE INCIDENCES THE WINDOW WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLOSE, EVEN THOUGH THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS STILL FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAD FAILED, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10161970

Incident

Jul 9, 2006

Mileage

62,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID

10152568

Incident

Mar 13, 2006

Mileage

79,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S REPAIR SHOP AND DETERMINED THE UPPER SPRING SUPPORT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. THE CONTACT WELDED IN A NEW UPPER SPRING SUPPORT.

NHTSA ID

10148764

Incident

Jan 21, 2006

Mileage

115,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH DOWN A SMALL HILL THE FRONT PASSENGER SPRING MOUNT (PERCH) ON MY 1997 E 300 DIESEL (W210) BROKE OFF CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OFF OF THE CAR. THIS WAS AN UNBELIEVABLY DANGEROUS OCCURRANCE AND LUCKILY IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS GOING 65 MPH. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR MY AUTOBODY SHOP AND WE ARE STILL WORKING ON WHO WILL COVER THE COST OF MY REPAIRS (INSURANCE OR MB)

NHTSA ID

10140792

Incident

Oct 24, 2005

Mileage

77,635 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THIS MORNING THAT THE SPRING HOUSING WAS CORRODED. THE FRONT COIL SPRING HOUSING CORRODED AND BROKE AWAY FROM THE BODY ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY THE CONSUMER WHILE HE WAS ROTATING HIS TIRES. HE FELT THE SPRING COULD COME OUT AND CAUSE THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THERE HAS BEEN NO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. THE CONSUMER PLANNED TO CONTACT THE DEALER THIS AFTERNOON. THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND OTHER WEBSITES AS WELL. THE MERCEDES OWNER WEBSITE HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS LISTED. THE VEHICLE IS AN E420. THE CHASSIS NUMBER W210.*AK

NHTSA ID

10138106

Incident

Sep 29, 2004

Mileage

104,000 mi

SPRING PERCH IS CHEAPLY WELDED TO THE WHEEL WELL ON THE MERCEDES 210 CHASSIS (1997 E420). ALL OTHER CARDS HAVE IT ATTACHED TO A SOLID BAR. MERCEDES WELDED IT TO VERY THIN SHEET METAL WHICH MERCEDES KNOWS HAS BEEN FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE (DEALER ADMITTED THIS TO ME - THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM EVERY WEEK). 18 INCH LONG SUSPENSION SPRING POPPED OUT OF MY CAR WHILE MOVING. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS CAR IS UNCONTROLLABLE AFTER SUSPENSION GIVES OUT. INEXCUSABLE DESIGN FLAW THAT MERCEDES KNOWS IS A DAILY PROBLEM FOR ANYONE WITH THE 210 CHASSIS (AND THE HEAVIER ENGINES (420, 430 ETC.) WHERE THERE IS ADDITIONAL WEIGHT ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION). SERVICE REP AT DEALER EVEN TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN IT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON B/C HE SEES IT SO OFTEN. LUCKILY, THE CAR HE WITNESSED WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE BREAK-DOWN LANE/SHOULDER FOR SAFETY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION ON THE MERCEDES 210 CHASSIS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137699

Incident

Sep 21, 2005

Mileage

100,100 mi

LOUD POP AND CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. FRONT SPRING SUPPORT (PERCH) CAME LOOSE FROM THE FRAME RAIL. FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REMOVED, NEW SUPPORT WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION REPLACED. AFTER READING OWNERS FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, IT HAS BECOME QUITE OBVIOUS THAT MANY MERCEDES BENZ W210 CHASSIS CARS (E CLASS) HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT HAS TO DO WITH A SEALANT FAILING THAT ALLOWS WATER TO SIT IN THE JOINT WHERE THE SUPPORT IS WELDED TO THE FRAME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116579

Incident

Mar 17, 2005

Mileage

57,000 mi

LEFT FRONT SPRING MOUNT FAILED WHILE CAR BEING DRIVEN APPROX. 45 MPH FAILURE DUE TO POOR WELD. DEALER REIMBURSED ONLY 50% OF COST. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 14 OF THESE SAME FAILURES ON YOUR SITE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100886

Incident

Aug 26, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

REMOVED LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND FOUND UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING PERCH BREAKING AWAY FROM BODY, COULD SEE POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING. NO INCIDENT YET BUT AN ACCIDENT AVOIDED. DEALER HAS THIS PARTICULAR PART IN STOCK AND ASKED IF IT HAD COME APART "YET" BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN IT BEFORE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10090763

Incident

Sep 10, 2004

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLIES 4 TIMES. TWICE ON THE PASSENGER REAR & TWICE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW. KEY PIECES LIKE PULLEYS AND THE ACTUAL PARTS THAT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE GLASS, IN THESE ASSEMBLIES ARE MADE WITH CHEAP PLASTIC COMPONENTS THAT BREAK UNDER NORMAL USE. ALSO THE MOTORS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF OR STOP WHEN THE WINDOW IS ALL THE WAY UP OR DOWN, AND CAN CAUSE STRESS THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO BREAK THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS AND DAMAGE THE DEVICE. THE REGULATORS ARE SOLD AS ONE WITH THE MOTOR AND CAN COST $165.00- $300.00.. CONSUMER INSTALLATION OF REPLACEMENT REGULATORS IS DIFFICULT DUE TO RIVETS HOLDING UNITS IN PLACE.. THUS CAUSING LABOR CHARGES OF 100.00+ FOR REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10064034

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

49,000 mi

THE SEAT TRACK FOR THE CAR CONTINUES TO BE DEFECTIVE. CAR SEAT "ROCKS" EXCESSIVELY - CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION IN HEAVY/EMERGENCY BRAKING. THE FRONT SEAT TRACK WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR (1996-2003). MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ASKED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE SEAT TRACKS TO ALLOW DRIVERS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS.

NHTSA ID

10054661

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

I AM A MERCEDES BENZ TECHNICIAN OF 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND HAVE BECOME AWARE OF AN OUTRAGEOUSLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION. ON CERTAIN MODELS OF MERCEDES BENZ "210" BODIES THE SUPPORT THAT HOLDS THE UPPER PORTION OF THE COIL SPRING IN PLACE IS RUSTING OFF OF THE FRAME. IF IT BREAKS ALL OF THE WAY THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION WILL COLLAPSE. IT IS ONLY HAPPENING TO THE RIGHT FROM AND NOT THE LEFT BELIEF IS AN IMPROPER WELD OR DEFECTIVE METAL IN THE MOUNT ITSELF. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT EFFECTS 96-98 CARS SO FAR. THE DEALERS ARE NOT COVERING THIS UNDER WARRANTY. YOU CAN CONFIRM HOW MANY CARS ARE BEING AFFECTED BY SIMPLY ASKING MERCEDES HOW MANY OF THE RIGHT SIDE SUPPORTS THEY HAVE SOLD IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS AS OPPOSED TO THE LEFT SIDE. MY GUESS IS THAT IT WILL BE BETTER THAN A 100 TO 1 RATIO ONLY TIME A PART LIKE THIS SHOULD EVER NEED REPLACEMENT IS ACCIDENT DAMAGE. THEY ARE TELLING CUSTOMERS THAT THEY MUST HAVE HIT A POTHOLE AND SO YOU WILL MOST LIKELY NOT GET MANY CONSUMER COMPLAINTS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO TRIGGER AN INVESTIGATION BUT I HOPE THAT MY YEARS OF EXCLUSIVE MB EXPERIENCE WILL CARRY AT LEAST SOME WEIGHT TO CONSIDER THE COMPLAINT AS WORTH A PHONE CALL TO MERCEDES ABOUT THE NUMBER OF MOUNTS THEY HAVE SOLD.I AM HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU BUT NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM REPERCUSSIONS FROM MERCEDES FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. IF YOU NEED AN ACTUAL CAR LET ME KNOW AND I WILL SUPPLY YOU WITH THAT INFO RMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10043901

Incident

Oct 20, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi