1998 Mercedes-Benz E Class Owner Complaints

I AM WRITING REGARDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO MERCEDES BENZ E300 (W210 CHASSIS) FAILURES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE, ROUTE 90 ON MONDAY, MY SPRING PERCH FAILED, BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS LOST ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PERCH LET GO WITH A VERY LOUD BANG, THEN A PRONOUNCED BUMP (PRESUMABLY AS THE REAR TIRE DROVE OVER THE SPRING ASSEMBLY.) THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPPED HARD ON THE FRONT RIGHT BUMP STOPS. LOTS OF WARNING LIGHTS - BAS, ASR, ETC. I THOUGHT I BLEW A TIRE OR HIT SOME ROAD DAMAGE. SURPRISINGLY, JUST A LITTLE SWERVE IN THE LEFT LANE AND I MADE IT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AFTER A 1/4 MILE. I HAD HEARD OF THE SPRING PERCH FAILURES FROM THE USER FORUMS AT WWW.MERCEDESSHOP.COM. AT THIS POINT I WAS PRETTY SURE IT WAS A PERCH OR POSSIBLY SOMETHING WORSE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TIRE SMOKE, BURNING OR NOISE. I CHECKED THE TIRES & DROVE IT 15 MILES HOME. PUT IT UP ON JACKS & FOUND NO SPRING AT ALL & SOME DISCONNECTED SENSOR WIRES. DROVE IT 10 MILES TO MY INDEPENDENT SHOP. WAITING FOR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. STILL NO WORD FROM THE DEALER HE CONTACTED. I GUESS THAT'S MY NEXT MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247135

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

201,500 mi

1998 MERCEDES BENZ E-320, SPEED <15 MPH HAD THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING EJECTED AND HOUSING COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE MAKING THE FRONT END DROP DOWN ONTO DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE IMPINGEMENT OF THE BODY ONTO THE TIRE AND WHEEL AND/OR THE SPRING ITSELF PRECLUDED ANY STEERING CONTROL. THE COIL SPRING MOUNT OR "SADDLE" HAD SEPARATED FROM THE WELDED POINT TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. MERCEDES OFFERRED TO PAY 25% OF THE REPAIR FEE DUE TO EXCELLENT SERVICE HISTORY. WE REPEATEDLY REQUESTED A TEAM FROM MERCEDES TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE IDEAL TO INVESTIGATE AS NO OTHER COMPLICATING CRASH HAD OCCURRED. THEY REFUSED THIS. MY WIFE AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR BUT INDICATED THAT WE WANTED ALL PARTS TO BE SAVED FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA.THE NEXT DAY, THE SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED THAT MERCEDES NOW OFFERRED TO PAY 50% OF REPAIR COST BUT REQUIRED A "WAIVER" BE SIGNED TO "HOLD HARMLESS" MERCEDES FROM ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS OR DAMAGES INCURRED WITH THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE. WE REFUSED TO SIGN ANY WAIVER AS IT IS OUR EXPECTATION THAT THE REPAIR BE COMPLETED IN A MANNER TO ENSURE THE VEHICLE'S FUTURE SAFETY. WE CONTACTED THE BODY SHOP WITH THE PLAN TO INFORM MERCEDES THAT WE WOULD BE TOWING THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION/ REPAIR. WE WERE INFORMED THE REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPELTED AND THAT THE CAR WAS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALLIGNMENT BUT OLD PARTS WERE SAVED FOR US. MERCEDES NEVER INFORMED US OF ANY OPEN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS VEHICLE EVEN WHEN DIRECTLY ASKED THIS QUESTION. WE ANTICIPATE THE REPAIR TO EXCEED $1,000 PLUS TOWING. I DISAGREE WITH INFORMATION PROVIDED BY MERCEDES IN EARLIER INVESTIGATIONS INDICATING THAT THIS FAILURE WOULD NOT RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I COMPLETELY LOST ALL ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CRASHING BECAUSE IT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS AROUND ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192300

Incident

May 29, 2007

Mileage

153,000 mi

THE MAIN SUSPENSION SPRING FROM MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OUT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR AND THE CAR CAME DOWN ON THE TIRE. TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 60 MPH AND HAD IT OCCURRED TWO MINUTES EARLIER SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE POOR DESIGN BY MB CAUSED EXCESS RUST AND FAILURE IN THE 1998 MB E320. *JB

NHTSA ID

10163953

Incident

Jul 13, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE FRONT END COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING PERCH FRACTURED. THE SPRING PERCH WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10159242

Incident

Jun 7, 2006

Mileage

140,000 mi

CATALYTIC CONVERTER LOOSE INSIDE, RATTLING AND NOT EFFECTIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153386

Incident

Feb 14, 2006

Mileage

156,982 mi

TIRES OVERHEAT ON DRY PAVEMENT, CAUSING DECREASED TRACTION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151735

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

150,000 mi

1998 MERCEDES BENZ E300D 4 DOOR SEDAN. DRIVER SIDE SPRING PERCH IS RUSTED AND PEELING OFF DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE WAY IT IS DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON MANY FORUMS AS WELL AS PREVIOUS HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESSHOP.COM/SHOPFORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP3?T=95228. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146834

Incident

Dec 15, 2005

Mileage

115,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, STAYS ON 1ST. GEAR (ROUGH RUN). TOOK TO AUTHORIZED MBZ REPAIR STATION, THEY RESET THE "COMPUTER" AND RUN APPROXIMATELY 450 MILES OK AND AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM. WENT BACK AND THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND RESET AGAIN "COMPUTER FAULTS", RUN AGAIN FOR 75 MILES AND SAME PROBLEM, AND SO ON.....*JB

NHTSA ID

10145133

Incident

Sep 9, 2005

Mileage

139,500 mi

I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE SPRING/COIL UPPER TOWER PERCH HAS ALMOST COME COMPLETELY OFF. IF IT COMES OFF WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL LOSE CONTROL. IT HAS COME LOOSE DUE TO RUST,WHICH IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. THESE CARS WILL RUST ON THE BODY PANELS AND ON THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. PLEASE GET MERCEDES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. NOT ONLY IS IT BAD COSMETICALLY, BUT THE RUSTED SPRING PERCHES CAN BE CATASTROPHIC.*AK

NHTSA ID

10135226

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHEN THE ENGINE GETS HOT, IT STALLS . AFTER IT COOLS FOR SOME TIME, IT RE-STARTS. IT HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY (BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC). FOUND OUT FROM THE MERCEDEZ FORUM THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM DUE TO CRANSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. IT HAS HAPPENED TO NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

NHTSA ID

10127535

Incident

Jun 22, 2005

Mileage

52,000 mi

DRIVING CAR AT 55 MILES PER HOUR WHEN HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED, LOST POWER STEERING, WAS ABLE TO DIRECT CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD CAR TOWED TO SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED PROBLEM, SUGGESTING IT GO TO A MB DEALER. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE

NHTSA ID

10121674

Incident

May 17, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE GEAR MOVED ON ITS OWN WITH NO KEY. VEHICLE WAS IN PARK A CHILD ENTERED THE VEHICLE, MOVED THE GEAR FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACK, GOING THROUGH A FENCE AND STRIKING A TREE. THE CHILD SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10113120

Incident

Feb 26, 2005

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE TOP SPRING MOUNT BROKE OFF THE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A CHECK UP, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OTHER RIGHT SPRING NEEDED REPAIRS AS WELL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *AK THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10101797

Incident

Nov 22, 2004

THE CRANK SHAFT BALANCER DISINTEGRATED WITHOUT WARNING AT 40 MPH RESULTING IN PARTIAL ENGINE DESTRUCTION, OIL PAN, FAN BLADE, FAN SHROUD, IDLER PULLEY,ETC. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL MBZ DEALER AND REPAIRS COMPLETED IN AMOUNT OF $1584. MBZ AREA REPRESENTATIVE OFFERED 50% COMPENSATION. MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA WAS CONTACTED FOR COMPENSATION OF BALANCE AND OBLIGED. THE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT BALANCER MIGHT NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AS A RESULT MOST CERTAINLY IS! I HATE TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS INCIDENT HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR IN TRAFFIC AT FREEWAY SPEED. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT MERCEDES BENZ WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM (REFERENCE: MB TECH TIPS, DECEMBER 1, 2000, PAGE 4) AS WELL AS 27 PAGES OF OWNER DOCUMENTATION ON AN INTERNET WEBSITE < MERCEDESSHOP.COM > IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A SAFETY RECALL! *AK

NHTSA ID

10102183

Incident

Jul 27, 2004

Mileage

49,035 mi

FAILURE OF HARMONIC CRANKSHAFT BALANCER IN 1998 MERCEDES BENZ E320. *LA

NHTSA ID

10050830

Incident

Jul 2, 2003

Mileage

74,000 mi

1998 MERCEDES BENZ E320 DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED SEVERE CRACKS AROUND THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID

10030911

Incident

Aug 6, 2003

Mileage

56,000 mi

APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER FIRST STARTING THE CAR FOR THE DAY AND DRIVING 5 OR 6 MILES ON RURAL ROADS, I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR 20 OR 30 SECONDS AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT ON TO THE MAIN HIGHWAY. AT FIRST THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL I HAD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HALF WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THEN IT SLOWLY RESPONDED WITH A VERY LOW LEVEL OF POWER. ONCE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, I HAD TO HOLD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN 50 MILES PER HOUR. SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE OTHERWISE I ASSUMED THAT THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF COMPUTER PROBLEM INTERRUPTING THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE IGNITION OFF FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND RESTARTED THE CAR. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE. OBVIOUSLY I WAS LUCKY THAT MY INTERSECTION INCIDENT DID NOT PLACE ME IN THE PATH OF ANY FAST MOVING VEHICLES OR ELSE THE OUTCOME MAY HAVE BEEN QUITE DIFFERENT. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018552

Incident

May 11, 2003

Mileage

55,500 mi

TRANSMISSION--VALVE BODY, CLUTCH, CONTROL UNIT.

NHTSA ID

609749

Incident

Dec 22, 1998

PARKING LIGHT FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

608946

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

GAS TANK GAUGE NOT WORKING AT ALL. YH

NHTSA ID

608899

Incident

Apr 1, 1998

STARTER RELAY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

608716

SUNROOF FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

605998

TANSMISSION SLIPPING. NLM

NHTSA ID

605990

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

605953

Incident

Jun 1, 1998