1998 Mercedes Benz E300

The front driver side coil spring ejected out while driving, causing the front of the car to dive down on the driver side. I do have the parts that came out. Luckily I had just got off of the freeway and was only going around 10 mph when it happened and no one was hurt. I'm sure at hwy speeds you could potentially lose control. This issue just happened today 11/19/23 and no repair shops, insurance or agencies have been notified. This is the first report of my problem. There were no warning signs noticed prior to the failure.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE TOP FRONT SPRING MOUNT FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE EASTBOUND INTERSTATE 10 IN GULFPORT, MS IN A LIGHT RAIN ( IT HAD BEEN HEAVY 2 HOURS BEFORE ) WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 65 MPH. I HAD JUST COME OVER THE LORRAINE COWEN (SPELLING?) EXIT AND A LITTLE AFTER THE CAR WAS ON THE FLAT ROAD, THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING SPUN 180 DEGREES AND WE WERE BACKWARD ON THE INTERSTATE. SEEING THE TRACKS ON THE SHOULDER THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR CAME OFF THE INTERSTATE BACKWARDS AT ABOUT A 15 TO 20 DEGREE ANGLE, SPUN ANOTHER 270 DEGREES AT THE LOWER EXTENT OF THE CLEARED EMBANKMENT, AND WENT INTO THE WOODS. IT MIRACULOUSLY MISSED ALL LARGE TREES AND THE 3 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED NO INJURIES AT ALL. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS THERE WAS NO SEVERE IMPACT, THE MOST SEVERE AREA OF IMPACT DAMAGE BEING SOMEWHILE IN THE RIDE HITTING THE LEFT REAR DOOR AREA MORE SEVERELY, AS THE LARGEST DENT WAS THERE. THE SPIN-OUT WAS NOT PROCEEDED BY ANY HYDROPLANING FROM THE FRONT END. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF POOLED WATER ON THE ROAD AT THAT POINT. I WAS COMPLETELY BAFFLED AT WHY WHEN GOING ABSOLUTELY STRAIGHT, WITH NO BRAKE OR WHEEL MOVEMENTS AND NOT ENCOUNTERING NOTABLE WATER, THE CAR SHOULD SUDDENLY SPIN. AFTER THINKING ABOUT THIS, I THEORIZE THAT THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED GOING DOWNHILL FROM THE ELEVATED OVERPASS OF THE ROAD CROSSING THE INTERSTATE. THE AREA OF SPIN OUT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH WHEN THE SLOWING CAR WOULD HAVE AGAIN GOTTEN POWER FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CAR WAS AN E300 TURBODIESEL AND IT ON ACCELERATION FROM STARTING HAS ALWAYS HAD A TURBO LAG WITH A VERY NOTICEABLE BURST OF POWER WHEN THE TURBO COMES IN. IT IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER DIESELS I HAVE HAD IN THAT IT DELIVERS CONSIDERABLE TORQUE--243 FT.LB.@ 2600 RPM. I HYPOTHESIZE THAT THE SUDDEN APPLICATION OF TORQUE ON THE WET ROAD THREW THE REAR END AROUND. IF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ENCOUNTERED IN OTHER CASES, AT THE LEAST, A WARNING TO NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL IN THE RAIN SHOULD BE PUT OUT. I HAVE GIVEN UP CRUISE CONTROL FOR GOOD.

UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN CRASH, RESULTING FROM OIL INTO INTAKE FROM SEAL ON TURBO CHARGER. CAR HAD BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED 5 DAYS PRIOR, WITH ERROR MESSAGE ON AIR MASS SENSOR. PART WAS REPLACED. THIS ERROR MESSAGE ALSO OCCURRED 15 MONTHS BEFORE, AND WAS ALSO REPLACED THEN. CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING NORMAL PRIOR TO BOTH SERVICING. NO ENGINE INDICATOR WARNINGS EVER CAME ON PRIOR TO CRASH. SEAT BELT APPARATUS ALSO BROKE UPON IMPACT ON DRIVERS SIDE WHEN MY HEAD STRUCK IT. *JB

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE WITH NO SUCCESS. CHECKED OIL AND DIPSTICK WAS DRY. CONSUMER ADDED ADDITIONAL OIL AND VEHICLE STARTED. RECHECKED OIL AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS OVERFILLED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE "SHUT-OFF VALVE". DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IF CAR IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE THE OIL AND FUEL WILL DRAIN TO AN AREA OUTSIDE OF "SHUT OFF VALVE" MAKING THE CAR "THINK" IT HAS NO OIL OR FUEL. CONSUMER STATED CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT PROBLEM DOES EXIST. TS