1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 Suspension Problems

1999 E320 RIGHT FRONT UPPER COIL SPRING MOUNT ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM FRAME. THIS PROBLEM IS FREQUENT ON THIS MODEL AND CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL UNDER A FAILURE CONDITION. THE LEFT COIL SPRING CAP IS FINE, AS IT IS IN MOST CASES I'VE RESEARCHED. - I FOUND THIS PROBLEM JUST BEFORE IT BROKE WHILE REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKES, AND THIS PARTS FAILURE REQUIRES REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFECTED AREA AND PARTS. THE REPAIR IS ~$550.00 AND IS A MUST TO USE THE CAR SAFELY. - MERCEDES BENZ CERTAINLY KNOWS ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS FAILED TO AT LEAST NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL THAT USERS EXPECT TO LAST FOR DECADES. THIS IS NOT A "NORMAL" PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10781492

Incident

Oct 11, 2015

FRONT SPRING PERCH: THIS COMPONENT IS HEAVILY CORRODED. IT STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY WORK. SPRING IS NOTICIBLY BENT AND TOUCHING THE STRUTS WHICH IS CAUSING GRINDING AND VIBRATION. SPRING IS VERY CLOSE TO FALLING OFF WHICH WILL CAUSE THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TO DROP WHICH I BELIEVE IS VERY DANGEROUS IF THE PART FAILS WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE HAVE MERCEDES BENZ ISSUE A RECALL REGARDING THIS MATTER. I WOULD HATE FOR PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR LIVES IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD'VE BEEN PREVENTED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10427963

Incident

Sep 29, 2011

Mileage

143,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED ON THE TIRE WHEN THE SPRING PERCH THAT'S CONNECTED TO THE SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED HE WAS NOT SURE IF HE COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND HE HAD TO ORDER THE REPAIR PARTS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN UPDATED 09/21/11

NHTSA ID

10415048

Incident

Jul 21, 2011

Mileage

117,000 mi

THE SUSPENSION SPRING PERCH BROKEN AND SPRING COIL FELL OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10398188

Incident

Apr 28, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) SEPTEMBER 12, 1998 I PURCHASED A 1999 E320W.] I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS DRIVEN LEISURELY. TO DATE, IT ONLY HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN REGULARLY OBTAINING THE A & B MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR MONTHS AND MB ALLEGEDLY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IT; AND I HAVE BEEN USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. A SECOND OPINION MECHANIC SAID IT IS OIL SLUGGING WHICH WAS RECALLED BUT MB WON'T HONOR. HE ALSO SAID MY ENGINE / MOTOR NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS ALSO AN INTERMITTENT SCRAPING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. DURING ALL OF THE SERVICES TO MB THEY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL NOR PROVIDED SERVICE TO ENSURE THAT MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A TOTAL RECALL BUT A CASE-BY-CASE SITUATION AND I AM NOT ELIGIBLE. I AM VERY FEARFUL WHEN I AM DRIVING. EACH TIME I GO OUT I FEAR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR A ENGINE. PLEASE HELP ME. I CAN PROVIDE A TIMELINE OF THE HISTORY OF MY VEHICLE WHICH WITH HINDSIGHT LOOKS LIKE I PURCHASED A LEMON. THE SECOND OPINION MECHANIC INFORMED ME OF THE RECALL/CLASS ACTION BUT MB CONCEALED THE INFORMATION. *TR THE LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SERPENTINE BELT, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FUEL SENSOR LEVEL WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A SHIMMY IN THE SUSPENSION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES AND LEFT RIM. THE VALVE STEM WAS LEAKING, THE LEFT REAR WINDOW WAS INOPERABLE. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT REGULARLY TURN INTO LINE BARS. THE TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP, RIGHT FRONT HEAD LIGHT AND LEFT FRONT PARKING BULBS WERE HAD TO BE REPLACED UPDATED IVOQ 05/27/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10327199

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

AFTER TURNING INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A REPAIR SHOP, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND THAT THE FRONT SPRING PERCH HAD FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268229

Incident

May 7, 2009

Mileage

115,000 mi

FUNNY NOISES FROM FRONT END, THEN SUSPENSION DROPPED, DISENGAGING FROM FRAME.*TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRACING THAT HELD THE SHOCK AND SPRING FAILED. UPDATED 10/09/08. *JB UPADTED 03/01/10

NHTSA ID

10237596

Incident

Aug 4, 2008

Mileage

98,412 mi

DT: FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON CAR EXPLODED CAUSING DAMAGE TO HUB AND SPINDLE ALSO DAMAGING BRAKES. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE AND LAST YEAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 50,000 AND THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED AT 60,000. IT IS A CONTAINED UNIT, SO IT CAN NOT BE MAINTAINED AS THOUGH YOU COULD JUST ADD LUBRICATION. SERVICE DEALER WAS SURPRISED AT HOW THIS OCCURRED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TT *SB *NM

NHTSA ID

10121085

Incident

Apr 25, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE THE FRONT DROPPED TO THE GROUND. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. THE SUSPENSION SPRINGS FELL TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079345

Incident

Jun 11, 2004

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE DRIVER MANAGED TO GET CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *NLM THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT COLLAPSED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO RUSTING. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10040614

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

Mileage

98,000 mi