2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Suspension Problems

There was already a recall for my rear subframe that I am now getting done due to rust corroding the metal structure. However, upon the dealers inspection the corrosion is also present on the rear brake lines which cause a safety concern and are charging $4000 to replace the brake lines aside from the warranty repair. It poses a safety hazard if the lines were to fail and have heard of others having the same issue along with rotted rear subframes.

NHTSA ID

11644847

Incident

Feb 25, 2025

1. brake lines corroded and broke. i see there were numerous reports sent to you and nothing was done. 2. both driver and passenger seat broke in the same spot...mercedes recognized the issue in their internal bulletins. nothing was done 3. both rear springs broke on their own. no accident. car was really unstable in highway speeds

NHTSA ID

11631348

Incident

Dec 13, 2024

REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED,

NHTSA ID

11623287

Incident

Oct 31, 2024

My vehicle was pulling in the rear when braking. My mechanic informed me that it was a rotted undercarriage. When I called Mercedes they informed me that there is a problem with many models of Mercedes with this. They told me there is a warranty to cover it. This is a very dangerous condition. There should be a recall on all impacted vehicles. This safety failure and lack of transparency by the company (reportedly known for years) puts owners and motorists at risk. Please investigate. To make matters worse, the Dealers are unresponsive and slow to provide service and help. One dealership, Mercedes in New London CT has ignored my repeated phone calls and emails trying to clarify and schedule service. I went to another dealership Mercedes in Warwick RI. They have been more responsive with confirming the issue--but there are delays in getting the vehicle fixed--and no provision of loaner vehicles requiring the renting of vehicles during this time frame. Please investigate and require a recall.

NHTSA ID

11561703

Incident

Dec 8, 2023

Same problem that many others have reported. Took car dealer for a battery. Was told subframe is rusted and about $5000 to fix and that if not fixed could lead to car failure. 1) Why has Mercedes not informed the many thousand 2010-2014 C-Class and E-Class drivers affected by this dangerous defect. Many do not take their cars to the dealership for service anymore and could miss the problem until it is too late. 2) These cars have been recalled in Germany and elsewhere. Why not in the United States? 3) Is this situation up the the standards of NHTSA? If not why has a recall not been ordered? 4) Is there a difference in weighing customer safety against company bottom-line in the US compared to other countries? Thanks.

NHTSA ID

11505557

Incident

Dec 21, 2022

RUST ON THE REAR SUBFRAME AND CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. MB WILL NOT HELP AND THESE CARS ARE A DANGER TO THE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD AND WILL CAUSE DEATH IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD 5K TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALL THESE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND MB IS NOT TAKING THE BLAME FOR THIS AND NOT LISTING THIS AS A RECALL TILL SOMEONE DIES.

NHTSA ID

11498731

Incident

Dec 1, 2022

I took my vehicle to Sun Mercedes for a Pennsylvania safety inspection on 14 Dec 2022. I was approached by the service representative that my vehicle failed inspection. There is a rust hole in the left rear sub-frame. He indicated this is common to Mercedes vehicles of my type/years. The location of rust is common and appears to stat from inside the frame. I saw many similar cases in my research. Also read that Mercedes covers the costs in some of the cases, specifically in United Kingdom and other countries. Here is ink to service video: http://smcipa.mkvwa43.com/p/thwROZ.html

NHTSA ID

11497980

Incident

Dec 14, 2022

We have been told by our Mercedes Auto Repair shop and subsequently confirmed by two additional auto repair shops, that our rear sub frame has deteriorated and that the steel brakes lines are also rusting creating a very dangerous situation. We were warned to drive straight home and not to drive it again. We have also been told that this is a "known" problem with Mercedes C and E class cars and that the sub frame deteriorates from the inside out and has nothing to do with salt on the roads or snow or ice. Had we not brought it in for the usual oil change and check up we could have been killed. We understand that there are recalls in the UK, Canada, Ireland, and other countries but not in the US. The repair is $7,000.00+ and the wait for the part is approximately 6 months. Why is there no recall in the US? We have read numerous reports on the Menz World Forum with the same issue. I would like to file a complaint as someone could be killed and Mercedes is not addressing this hazardous issue. Does someone have to die before it is recalled?

NHTSA ID

11491827

Incident

Oct 20, 2022

My rear subframe is rotting out. This was found at a Mercedes dealer while they were performing a normal scheduled service. They quoted a price to replace the subframe at $3400. It has chewed up my right rear tire and they suggested I replace all four tires at a cost of $1275

NHTSA ID

11470779

Incident

Jun 23, 2022

Brought car in for routine PA inspection and was told the rear subframe is beginning corrode and will eventually need to be replaced soon as it will not pass inspection. This is a known Mercedes Benz issue and yet there has no recall to date. Could potentially lead to a fatal car accident as the corrosion is not obvious.

NHTSA ID

11464387

Incident

May 12, 2022

SUSPENSION ISSUES, I JUST PLACED 4 NEW TIRES ON MY CAR IN JUNE OF 2018. ON DEC 28, 2019 MY CAR FELT AS IF SOMEONE WAS UNSCREWING ALL OF MY WHEELS OFF AND I SPENT OUT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I AM UNABLE TO GET MERCEDES-BENZ USA TO SHARE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. MY CAR HAS 100.000 MILES. MBUSA DIRECTED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE SPEC. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK AND NEVER DID. I GOOGLED INFO REGARDING MY ISSUES AND SAW THIS SITE AND WAS LIKE WOW. IT WAS RAINING AND I WAS DOING 60 MILES NOTHING MORE.

NHTSA ID

11204992

Incident

Dec 28, 2018

Mileage

1,000,000 mi

SUSPENSION ISSUES, I JUST PLACED 4 NEW TIRES ON MY CAR IN JUNE OF 2018. ON DEC 28, 2019 MY CAR FELT AS IF SOMEONE WAS UNSCREWING ALL OF MY WHEELS OFF AND I SPENT OUT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I AM UNABLE TO GET MERCEDES-BENZ USA TO SHARE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. MY CAR HAS 100.000 MILES. MBUSA DIRECTED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE SPEC. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK AND NEVER DID. I GOOGLED INFO REGARDING MY ISSUES AND SAW THIS SITE AND WAS LIKE WOW.

NHTSA ID

11204983

Incident

Dec 28, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

DESPITE ALL ATTEMPTS, I AM UNABLE TO GET MERCEDES-BENZ USA TO SHARE THE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. MY CAR HAS 145,000 MILES. I NEED TO REPLACE FRONT SHOCKS/STRUTS. I NEED THE GROUND CLEARANCE SPEC IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO REPLACE FRONT SPRINGS AT THE SAME TIME. GROUND CLEARANCE IS COMMONLY PUBLISHED AS PART OF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR ALL OTHER CARS. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE OWNED FOR WHICH THE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION IS NEITHER PUBLISHED NOR AVAILABLE THROUGH OTHER MEANS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. MBUSA FIRST DIRECTED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE SPEC. THEN THEY SAID THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SPECIFICATION AND THEY COULDN'T HELP. NEXT, I REACHED OUT TO THE MERCEDES CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IN EUROPE. BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE SPECIFICATION EITHER. FINALLY, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. THEY GAVE ME A GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION THAT IS FAR LOWER THAN THE CLEARANCE ON MY CAR. FOR HIGH-MILEAGE CARS, THE GROUND CLEARANCE SHOULD BE LOWER THAN SPEC, NOT HIGHER. WHEN I STATED THIS, THEY GAVE ME A DIFFERENT HIGHER NUMBER. BOTTOMLINE - UNLESS I HAVE THE TRUE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION FOR MY CAR, I CAN'T DETERMINE WHETHER MY CAR'S SUSPENSION IS IN GOOD HEALTH. A TIRED, SAGGING, SUSPENSION COULD LEAD TO SAFETY ISSUES. ON A RELATED NOTE, MERCEDES-BENZ HAS ZERO STOCK WORLDWIDE FOR THE FRONT SPRINGS FOR MY 2013 VEHICLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ID

11204298

Incident

Apr 2, 2019

Mileage

145,000 mi