1998 Mercedes Benz C230

ON 6/2/09, I REMOVED MY OLD WHEEL FROM MY 1998 MERCEDES BENZ C230 PRIOR TO TRADING IT FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. I POSTED THE CUSTOM WHEELS AND TIRES (YOKOHAMA YK520) THAT I PURCHASED FROM DISCOUNT TIRES. I MET WITH A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE TIRES, BUT CAREFULLY INSPECTED THEM AND FOUND HAIRLINE CRACKS ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WALL OF ALL 4 TIRES. THIS WAS ENOUGH FOR HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND AND NOT MAKE THE PURCHASE. I THEN BECAME SUSPICIOUS AND AFRAID THAT MY FAMILY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN AT RISK AND MANY OTHER FAMILIES OUT ON ROADS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND ELSEWHERE. ON 6/3/09, I CONTACTED DISCOUNT TIRES AND BROUGHT THE COMPLETE WHEEL AND TIRES FOR AN INSPECTION AND POSSIBLY REPLACEMENT. DISCOUNT TIRES STATED THAT THE TIRES ARE A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT WOULD ONLY PRORATE THE TIRES AND GIVE ME A PARTIAL CREDIT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF TIRES. DISCOUNT THEN GAVE A NUMBER TO CONTACT YOKOHOMA TIRES CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE DIRECTLY TO DISCUSS THIS SERIOUS MATTER. I LATER CONTACTED YOKOHOMA CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE AND DISCUSSED THE MATTER IN DETAIL WHICH THEY LATER REFUSED TO REPLACE MY TIRES OF GIVE FULL CREDIT REFUND. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS MATTER WILL IMMEDIATELY BE FORWARD TO MY ATTORNEY FOR REVIEW IF THIS MATTER CANNOT BE RESOLVED AT THIS LEVEL. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PARTICULAR YOKOHOMA TIRE (YK520) 225/40R/18 HAS A MANUFACTURER MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAN BE CATASTROPHIC TO MILLIONS OF FAMILIES OUT ON THE ROADS AS I WRITE THIS TODAY. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE MILLIONS OF TIRE SHOPS SUCH AS DISCOUNT TIRES IN MY CASE FAIL TO COMPLETE A FULL THOROUGH INSPECTION OF TIRES AND WHEELS UPON REPAIR OR SAFETY CHECKS. SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THESE TIRES, I WENT BACK TO DISCOUNT TIRES FOR REGULAR ROTATIONS AND BALANCES AND THEY DIDN'T NOTICE THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HAZARD. NOW THIS ISSUE COMES DOWN TO WHO IS AT FAULT, THE TIRE MANUFACTURER OR THE TIRE RETAILER. THE LEGAL COURSE MAY HAVE TO DETERMINE THIS CASE. *TR

ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2008, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH. MY LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING FELL COMPLETELY OFF MY CAR! THE FRONT END DROPPED, I TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, AND THE SPRING WENT INTO THE ROAD, CAUSING A ROAD HAZARD FOR ANY ON-COMING VEHICLE (THANKFULLY THERE WERE NONE). I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE MECHANIC AT MY GARAGE THAT THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE (MERCEDES BENZ C230) AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET MERCEDES TO RECALL THE MOUNTING PIECE FOR THIS SPRING (WHICH RUSTED) FOR SOME TIME WITH NO SUCCESS. IS MERCEDES WAITING FOR A FATALITY BEFORE ACCEPTING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS DEFECT? NO DOUBT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT 55-60 MPH I WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE FATALITIES (AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS IN THE VICINITY). PLEASE POST THIS DEFECT AND TRY TO GET AS MANY MERCEDES OWNERS AS POSSIBLE ACQUAINTED WITH THIS DEFECT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THIS MOUNTING PIECE INSPECTED BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES! THIS PART SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RECALLED AND REPLACED IN ANY CAR IN WHICH IT IS INSTALLED. THE SPRING, MOUNT, AND BROKEN TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,400. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE UPPER SPRING PERCH (WHERE THE COIL SPRING CONNECTED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE) COMPLETELY DISLODGED. THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED ON THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED DUE TO RUST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 150,000. UPDATED 11/25/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/25/08. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON RTE 50 IN VIRGINIA, THE FRONT SPRING HOUSING COLLAPED AND THE COILED SPRING CAME OFF ONTO THE ROAD. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE OF THE BRACE THAT HOLDS THE SPRINGS ONTO THE FRAME. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE CAR HAD TO BE DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE, THOUGH THE REPAIRER SAID THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY ON MECREDES BENZES AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THIS SAME DEFECT. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED - TWO NEW BRACES WERE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND SHOCKS WERE REPLACED THAT WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEFECT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE COIL SPRINGS HAS FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED AND THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN. HE HAS THE DEFECTIVE COIL SPRINGS FOR PROOF. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WAS $434. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.

01 V 366 000/BATTERY: WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE BATTERY FROM THE TRUNK AND PLACED IT ON A CRATE TO CHECK THE WATER LEVEL, IT ALL OF A SUDDEN EXPLODED IN THE CONSUMERS FACE. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED ACID BURNS, CUTS AND BRUISES TO HIS FACE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS NOT TOUCHING THE BATTERY AT THE TIME OF EXPLOSION. *TC

SPRING MOUNT BRACKETS, DRIVING CAR TURNED LEFT INTO LOT CAR FELT LIKE IT DROPPED A FOOT TOOK TO NEAREST AUTO PLACE, PEPBOYS THE SERVICE GUY TURNED THE WHEEL AND THE SPRING SHOT OUT OF THE CAR AMOST SEVERLEY INJURING HIM. MISSED HIM BY AN INCH. TOOK TO MERCEDES BODY SHOP FIXED IT BUT SAID THE OTHER WILL DO THE SAME THING. I ASKED THE SERVICE TEC. IF THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER CARS. HIS REPLY SHOCKED ME WHEN HE SAID SEVERAL TIMES ON THE C280 NEVER HAS HAPPENED ON THE C230. IT HAPPENED!!!! HELP IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO YOU IT WILL COST ABOUT 700.00 I COULD ONLY THINK IF I WAS ON A INTERSTATE OR WORSE. THANKS E