1996 Mercedes Benz E320

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK AND VIBRATED BEFORE COLLAPSING. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION SPRING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED A PUNCTURE TO THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED KNEE, BACK, NECK, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF STORE ALLOWING A 93 YEAR OLD LADY TO GO SHOPPING,AS I WAS PARKED THERE I WAS SIDESWIPED, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE AUTO SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, AFTER DOING THIS I DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY CAN'T START THE CAR BECAUSE THE IGNITION IS JAMMED OR KEY WILL NOT TURN, SO THE CAR WON'T START. I CALLED A LOCKSMITH AND DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION IS DEFECTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STARTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEGAN TO DRY ROT AND WAS TO DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. ..UPDATED 07-01-13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA YK580 TIRES, SIZE 215/55/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FEELING FROM THE TIRES. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD BECOME SHREDDED. THE CONTACT INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE CONTACT LATER WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TIRE INFLATION WAS TOO LOW SO THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS VEHICLE (1996 MERCEDES E320) HAS HAD A HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. MANY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT GREAT EXPENSE! THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I WAS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE MYSELF. TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY FROM THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONNECTION IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE PARK/NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH ON THE TRANSMISSION AND TO THE STARTER. THIS HARNESS ALSO INCLUDES CONNECTIONS TO THE STARTER AND SENSORS ON THE TRANSMISSION. ALL WIRES IN THE ENTIRE HARNESS HAVE CRUMBLED INSULATION AND HAVE SHORTED TOGETHER. THIS CAUSED SHORTING AND BURNING OF THE WIRES AND DAMAGE TO OTHER SYSTEM COMPONENTS. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 15+ YEARS AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE HARNESS ASSEMBLIES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND SUBJECT TO FAILURE. THE INSULATION ON ALL WIRES IS INFERIOR AND WILL FAIL AND CRACK OVER SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE OTHER HARNESSES ON THE VEHICLE HAS REVEALED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY. LUCKILY THE DAMAGE WAS SMALL AND CONTAINED TO THIS ONE HARNESS, HOWEVER ALL HARNESS ON THE VEHICLE MUST BE REPLACED. *TR