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)

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.

ONE DAY I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE SEEMED TO BE LOW. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF FILLING THE TIRE, ONE DAY I DECIDED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE (TIRE WAS FINE). I QUICKLY CAME TO REALIZE THAT MY LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS NOT ONLY CRACKED BUT ALSO BENT OUT OF SHAPE. ADDITIONALLY I FOUND THAT THE UPPER HOUSING OF THE COIL (SPRING) WAS LITERALLY PEELING OFF THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE THUS CAUSING THE ADDED PRESSURE TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WHERE THE SPRING SITS. I WENT TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP AND GOT A QUOTE FROM THE TECH THERE. IT COST ME JUST OVER $1,100 TO FIX IT WITH A WELDED PLATE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL (TO REINFORCE THE HOUSING OF THE COIL (SPRING) PLUS CHANGING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. I DID NOT DARE TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO A MB DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY WERE QUOTING ME $5100 TO FIX THE ISSUE (WELL MORE THEN WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH). IT'S A SHAME TO KNOW THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS BUT YET THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN TURNED INTO A RECALL. BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ, I'M STUNNED AT HOW MANY INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AND NOT 1 PERSON HAS BEEN INJURED OR WORSE KILLED! THOSE COILS(SPRINGS) ARE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE AND HAVING ONE THIS THING FLYING AROUND IS NOT A JOKE! SAD TO SAY BUT SOON ENOUGH SOMEONE WILL GET HURT AND THEN MAYBE THIS WILL TURN INTO A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND. THE CONTACT ASSUMED A TIRE HAD BLOWN HOWEVER, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING HAD BEEN EJECTED FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE HEARD A CRACKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SPRING PERCH FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 197,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ 320E. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND THERE WAS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING IN ONE DIRECTION. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS SLIGHTLY IN A COLLAPSED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE COIL SPRING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.