1997 Mercedes Benz E320

* Left front substrate to which the Coil Spring Perch mounts is badly rusted and the spring is about to come off under pressure of the cars weight, thereby endangering myself and the general public. The car was towed to Feldmann Imports, a Mercedes-Benz dealer at 4901 American Blvd west, Bloomington , MN 55437 (952) -641-7908 and can be inspected there. * If the spring perch loosens any further, the coil spring would shoot off and likely interfere with the steering system, fuel lines and any number of other components on the vehicle, also there have been reports of the spring going out of the car under pressure and hitting other objects. * Yes, My car was in for another matter at LaMettry's Collision Center, of Eden Prairie, MN for a (minor dent) and (Braden) of LaMettry's said upon inspection of the spring perch that the car was undrivable and could not be fixed. * Feldmann Imports is currently looking at my car and Feldmann said that I should call Mercedes-Benz USA which my Brother-in-Law [XXX] did for me and is waiting for a call back. * There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the discovery by LeMettry's, in fact, Feldmann Import's inspected my car 12 times over the years with no mention of this serious condition. Upon searching the internet and other sources I believe that it is incumbent upon the NHTSA to issue a recall on all these cars, there are several different models that use this thin wall substrate Mercedes-Benz has out on the road that must be endangering the lives and property of the owners and the public at large. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Driver seatbelt exploded while buckled up as the car was going about 30 mph on a 4 lane street. No warning and was very traumatic. I had to pull over when I smelled something burning. When I released seatbelt to get out of the car it would not buckle up when I tried to get back in the seat. Had to drive home without seatbelt on Christmas Eve. The same thing happened a month later to the passenger seatbelt when I was a passenger in my car. This was very traumatic while driving down a 4 lane Avenue.

1997 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAGS MALFUNCTION. *SMD CONSUMER STATED THAT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DEFECTIVELY FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 5MPH. CONSUMER STATED THAT CONTENTS FROM THE AIRBAG INFLATOR DID NOT GO INTO AIRBAG BUT INSTEAD HIT HIMSELF AND A PASSENGER IN THE TORSO AREA. *CN

WAS DRIVING SLOW LIKE 10 MPH AND PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AS THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT SLAMMED INTO THE STERNUM OF MY 73 YEAR OLD MOTHER, WHO ALMOST HAD AN EPISODE OF CARDIAC ARREST, BOTH FROM THE IMPACT OF THE BELT PUSHING ON HER HEART AND THE EXPLOSION. ONE WEEK LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DID THE SAME THING . I HAD NOT USED THE DRIVERS SIDE BELT ON THE DAY OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, OR ANY DAY SINCE. BUT THEY ARE EXPLODING ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT THE DRIVERS BELT WAS PUT IN USE AFTER THE PASSENGER BELT INCIDENT. THE SAME SLOW RIGHT TURN, WHILE BRAKING INTO A THE TURN, WAS BEING PERFORMED. THE SRS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE.

WHILE PROCEEDING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET, AT ABOUT 30 MPH, DURING THE DAY, WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, I HEARD A METALLIC EXPLOSION INSIDE OUR 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320 SEDAN. THE SEAT BELT IMMEDIATELY AND PAINFULLY PINNED ME BACK INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT, RENDERING ME BREATHLESS AND DISORIENTATED. I FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN SHOT, AND I LOOKED AROUND OUTSIDE THE CAR FOR THE SOURCE. I TURNED OFF THE STREET AND PARKED. I WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE SEATBELT, BUT IT DID NOT RETRACT. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND INSPECTED ITS EXTERIOR. THERE WAS NOTHING TO NOTE. I SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN AUTHORIZED INSPECTION AND EVALUATION. I LEARNED THAT THE SEATBELT RETRACTION SYSTEM HAD ACTIVATED, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO INPUT TO THE ACTIVATION SENSOR. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, SO THE REPAIR BILL IS ON ME.

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ON A MAJOR STREET I HEARD A LOUD POP AND PULLED OVER TO SEE IF I RAN OVER SOMETHING, BUT NOTHING WAS IN THE ROAD. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND BEGAN DRIVING I NOTICED THE SUSPENSION WAS MAKING NOISES. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING PERCH SEPARATED FROM THE BODY AND THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THEY QUOTED ME $1500.00 TO REPAIR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY EMITTED A YELLOW SUBSTANCE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. SHORTLY AFTER, THE SHIFT LEVER EXPLODED AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE CONSOLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CAM SHAFT FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES DUE TO THE SUBSTANCE FROM THE AIR BAG THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT OUTSIDE A DRUGSTORE VERY SLOW. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AT ALL. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SEATBELT MADE A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND SMELLED LIKE BURNING. MY ENTIRE BODY WAS RESTRAINED VERY TIGHT AGAINST THE SEAT AND A HARD IMPACT ON MY CHEST. IT WAS SCARY AND I THOUGHT I WAS SHOT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME SEAT BELT EXPLODED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR