1998 Mercedes Benz E320

SOME RUST DAMAGE HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON THE BODY OF THE CAR FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BUT NO MERCEDES MECHANICS SUGGESTED IT WAS STRUCTURAL OR DANGEROUS. RECENTLY, A LOUD CREAKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BEGAN TO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHEN SUBJECTED TO BUMPS, EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. BY REMOVING THE TIRE, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE CREAKING WAS FROM THE POORLY DESIGNED SUSPENSION CAP, WHICH HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN PARTIALLY OFF, BENDING THE SPRING AGAINST THE AXLE. THIS DAMAGE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS NO MERCEDES MECHANICS IDENTIFIED THE RUST AT THIS POINT, AND IF THE CAP SNAPPED OFF, THE ENTIRE WHEEL CARRIAGE WOULD BREAK. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN OPERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THIS KIND OF FAILURE, WHICH COULD OCCUR INSTANTLY WHEN SUBJECTED TO A NORMAL SHOCK IMPACT, COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. THE CAP IS DEFINITELY A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, ESPECIALLY AS THE MERCEDES STRUCTURE RUSTS (WHICH THEY CLAIM NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR), AND MANY OF THESE CARS COULD EASILY BE ON THE ROAD TODAY. THUS, WE BELIEVE THAT SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO THE CONSUMER PUBLIC IS COMPLETELY IGNORED BY MERCEDES-BENZ, WHICH WE FEEL IS AN APPALLING LACK OF CONCERN AND COMPLETE OVERSIGHT ON THE PART OF THE COMPANY. *TR

DURING THE COURSE OF OWNERSHIP OF AN 1998 MERCEDES BENZ E320 THE FRONT TOP SPRING SUPPORT A.K.A RUSTS OUT AND CAN EASILY DISINTEGRATE CAUSING COMPLETE FALLOUT OF THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND IF HAPPENING IN THE HIGHWAY IT CAN EASILY KILL YOU. LUCKILY FOR ME IT HAPPENED IN A 30 MPH ROAD WHERE THE SPRING PERCH BROKE OFF AND THE WHOLE FRONT WHEEL GOT OUT OF PLACE LOCKING ITSELF UP. *TR

A/C, HEATER BLOWER, WINDOWS REGULATOR FAILED AS EXPECTED. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN IGNORED BY MANUFACTURER EVEN WHEN LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINT ABOUT IT AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION THROUGH A RECALL OR AT LEAST ADMIT THERE'S A PROBLEM. THEN YOU ARE FORCED TO PURCHASE THE REGULATOR, MOTOR, AND MOUNTING BRACKET AT AN EXORBITANT PRICE ! I.E IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND IT WILL GO AWAY. I PURCHASED A MERCEDEZ AND ENDED UP WITH A CHRYSLER !!!!! *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 E-320 DOWN A MAIN ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN MY FRONT SPRING CAME OFF THE FRAME AND FELL OFF MY CAR, CAUSING THE HOLE FRONT END TO DROP AND THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL. I WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH, MY FRONT END BOUNCED OFF THE GROUND, MY NECK AND BACK ARE HURT, AND MY EXHAUST SOUNDS MESSED UP NOW TOO. I CHECKED THE MERCEDES BENZ FORUM AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE W210 CHASSIS, I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALER, ON MONDAY WHEN THEY RE-OPEN, AND AT THE VERY LEAST I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL TYPE DEAL, AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO REPORT PLEASE E-MAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFO, THANKS -BRIAN RONCA *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG FAILURES PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND HAS PICTURES OF HERSELF AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. SHE IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A LEFT FRONT TIRE BLOW OUT 18 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE AND NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THE NEXT TIME THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE BLOW OUT WAS BETWEEN THE TIRE TREAD AND THE RIM. *LA THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE SECOND TIRE BLOWOUT WAS CAUSED BY A SMALL PUNCTURE WHICH ALLOW AIR TO SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE TIRE. *NM