1999 Mercedes-Benz E430 Owner Complaints

WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 30-40MPH ENTERING THE FREEWAY THE CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT, WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTED IT LOST ALL DRIVE. THE ENGINE CAN FREELY REV BUT NO MOVEMENT WHATSOEVER. HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE FREEWAY AND PUT IT INTO THE PARK AND RESTART THE CAR. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WILL BE LOCKED INTO 3RD GEAR AND WON'T SHIFT, THERE IS NOT WARNING LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON. 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ALSO HAS HARSH ENGAGEMENTS.

NHTSA ID

11398558

Incident

Feb 27, 2021

Mileage

120,000 mi

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN SPRING CAME OUT AND LOST CONTROL OF CAR PUT CAR IN SHOP COST ME 1400 FOR REPAIRS SOMEONE NEED TO HELP PAY FOR IT AND THIS SHOULD BE S RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10761131

Incident

Sep 2, 2015

Mileage

199,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A SUSPENSION SPRING FRACTURED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPRING COIL TOWER FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10679314

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. THEY RELATE THAT THEY HAVE SENT PICTURES AND INFORMATION TO "MERCEDES" AND AFTER 1 WEEK I AM ONLY TOLD THAT IT COULD TAKE. LONGER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664648

Incident

Dec 6, 2014

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT OCCUPANT SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V256000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,829.

NHTSA ID

10610602

Incident

Jun 18, 2014

Mileage

99,829 mi

SAFETY ISSUES: SRS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. AC BLOWING WARM AIR, SIDE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE., FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CANNOT ADJUST-SENSOR FAULT INDICATED L/ VALVE COVER BREATHER NIPPLE BROKEN -REPLACED L/SIDE VALVE COVER -($1524.89). *TR

NHTSA ID

10608241

Incident

Jun 5, 2014

Mileage

99,829 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPRING PERCH FRACTURED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WELDED ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/30/11*LJ

NHTSA ID

10425082

Incident

Aug 22, 2011

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E430. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.

NHTSA ID

10403809

Incident

May 30, 2011

Mileage

119,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING SUPPORT AND THE COIL SPRING FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. BECAUSE OF THAT FAILURE, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO SOMEONE'S YARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COIL SPRING REPAIR BUT HE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE REIMBURSEMENT WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,996. UPDATED 03/24/10 *BF UPDATED 06/28/10*JB

NHTSA ID

10312239

Incident

Jan 17, 2010

Mileage

99,996 mi

I OWN AND DRIVE A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. IT HAS APPROX. 133000 MILES. THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED OFF THE CAR AS I WAS DRIVING IT AT APPROX. 35 MPH. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR DRIVING ON ROUTE 516 OLD BRIDGE, NJ ABOUT 3 MILES FROM MY HOME. I WAS NOT INJURED JUST BADLY SHAKEN UP. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND IS AT OLD BRIDGE COLLISION ON ENGLISHTOWN ROAD, OLD BRIDGE NJ. I HAVE NOTED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS. PLEASE NOTE MY COMPLAINT AND ADVISE ASAP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293676

Incident

Nov 21, 2009

Mileage

133,000 mi

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430 CONCERNING FRONT SPRING PERCHES. DATE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED 9/22/2009. FAILURE TO THE PASSENGER FRONT SPRING PERCH RESULTING IN THE SPRING TO DISLOCATE. FORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT DRIVING SPEED RATHER OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT UNFORTUNATELY THE SECOND INCIDENT WITHIN 5 YEARS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SPRING PERCH DISLOCATED AND THE SPRING EJECTED ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE FRONT END DROPPED TO THE WHEEL. NO INJURIES OR CASUALTIES OCCURRED. THE DRIVER SIDE PERCH WAS REPAIRED AND A VISUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND NO APPARENT DAMAGE WAS NOTED, HOWEVER, NOW THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I BELIEVE A 10 YEAR OLD VEHICLE MANUFACTURED BY A PRESTIGE AUTOMOBILE COMPANY SHOULD NOT FAIL IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286566

Incident

Sep 22, 2009

Mileage

135,000 mi

1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430 RH FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE FROM ITS MOUNT DURING DRIVING AND JAMMED INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS. CAR HAS 65,400 MILES. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION STEPS HAVE HAPPENED SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231289

Incident

Jun 9, 2008

Mileage

65,425 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE UPPER COIL SPRING HAD RUSTED OFF. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10151644

Incident

Mar 2, 2006

Mileage

49,276 mi

1. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: ON DECEMBER 24, 2005, I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430 ON INTERSTATE 95 TRAVELING TO CHARLOTTE, NC FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC. 2. FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: WITHOUT ANY APPARENT CAUSE, THE REAR WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR COMPLETELY SHATTERED AS I WAS DRIVING ON I-95. SHARDS OF GLASS BEGAN FLYING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD ONTO THE CAR AND THE ROAD, AS WELL AS INTO THE CAR. THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE CAR WERE DAMAGED. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: I NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WILL BE REPAIRED. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IS ORDERING A MANUFACTURER/OEM REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD. I CALLED MERCEDES CORPORATE TO INQUIRE WHETHER THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN ANY OTHER SIMILAR MODELS AND TO FIND OUT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE GLASS. THE MERCEDES REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT SUCH INFORMATION WAS PROPRIETARY AND THAT SHE COULD NOT GIVE ME ANY OF THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146599

Incident

Dec 24, 2005

Mileage

48,780 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEVELOPED CRACKS ALL AROUND AND SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THIS ALSO OCCURRED AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE SPEAKER. I AM WORRIED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND WILL CREATE A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. I WROTE SEVERAL TIMES TO THE MECEDES-BENS HEADQUARTERS AND NOT ONLY DID THEY DENY THIS MASSIVE MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP DEFECT BUT THEY REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE OR PROPOSE A CORRECTIVE MEASURE. I AM PLANING TO TAKE THIS TO THE MEDIA AND COURT. THIS IS A $55,000 FOUR-YEAR-OLD LUXURY CAR AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE CHEAP AND DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. *MR

NHTSA ID

10073269

Incident

Nov 24, 2003

Mileage

85,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 72S AND SUDDENLY MY DRIVER FRONT SIDE COLLASPED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT OF BEEN THE TIRE WAS BLOWN, BUT AFTER TAKING A LOOK I SAW FROM UNDERNEATH THAT A SPRING WAS HANGING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH IT MYSELF. THE UPPER SPRING MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND WAS TEARING AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. THIS IS A 1999 MERCEDES E430 SO IT IS FAIRLY A NEW VEHICLE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE RECALL FOR THE FRONT SPRING TOWERS ON E CLASS MODELS DATING FROM 97-2000. IT ALSO IS COMMON AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. I HAD TALK TO MERCEDES AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE SO THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK. BUT THEY ARE TELLING THAT THERE WAS NEVER SUCH A RECALL. SO AT THIS MOMENT MY VEHICLE IS SITTING AT THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068295

Incident

Apr 28, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE CAR STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT WARNING. FORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY WAS HEAVY AND EVERYONE WAS STUCK IN THE TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION, CONVERTER AND RADIATOR WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 65,600 MILES. THE CAR HAD SCHEDULED SERVICES AT THE AUTHORIZED MBZ DEALERS SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN 11/98. THE MOST CURRENT MAINTENANCE WAS ONE ON 11/28/03 AT 61,290 MILES. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS FROM THE DEALERS ABOUT THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE TRANSMISSION. MBZ DEALER COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY EXPLAINATIONS AS TO WHY A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AT 65,600 MILES. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA AND RECEIVED NO REPLY FROM THEM.

NHTSA ID

10063887

Incident

Mar 9, 2004

Mileage

65,663 mi

AFRAID THAT AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY BECAUSE OF CRACKS. LOCAL DEALER AND REGIONAL MANAGER REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10058422

Incident

Oct 11, 2003

Mileage

54 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE DASH BOARD THAT SEPARATE THE AIR BAG FROM THE OCCUPANTS. I FEEL THE AIR BAG MAY NOT FIRE PROPERLY SINCE THE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON 1/2 OF THE TOTAL AREA THAT SURROUNDS THE AIRBAG. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING AND REALLY DID NOT CARE. I ALSO TRIED TO REACH THE AREA DSM FOR MERCEDES BUT THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER WOULD NEVER PATCH ME THROUGH. THE CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED THROUGH THE DASH BOARD DECOMPOSING UNUSUALLY QUICKLY FOR A CAR THAT IS A 1999 MODEL. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A DASHBOARD CRACK THIS BADLY ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN A 10+ YEAR OLD CAR. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THEIR MERCEDES E430'S AND HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET MERCEDES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT MERCEDES HAS NOT EVEN ATTEMPTED TO ACT TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. I AM OUT OF WAYS TO GET THE ATTENTION OF MERCEDES AND AM FORCED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10032524

Incident

Jul 24, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

LOUD ORIGINAL BTTERY EXPLOSION UNDER REAR SEAT WITH DISLODGING OF REAR SEAT AND ACID SPARY.*AK

NHTSA ID

745872

Incident

May 24, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT A COLLISION OCCURRING DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THREE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VEHICLE WITH NEW ONE. *YH

NHTSA ID

861004

Incident

Jul 27, 1999