Mercedes Benz E Class coil spring problems

Filed Jan 5, 2010 · Engine, Locks · 130,000 miles · CT

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 mercedes benz e class 320 wagon which was purchased used in march 2003. He stated that while driving at speeds of less than 40 MPH, the contact thought he had run over something and there was a violent vibration in the steering wheel. Then, while making a left turn he could heard a grinding and thumping sound coming from under the vehicle. He then noticed the front passenger's side wheel was actually inside the wheel well. The vehicle was towed to the nearest dealer where they found the front passenger's side coil spring perch failed causing the front end passenger's side of the vehicle to collapse. The current and failure mileages were under 130,000. Updated 01/19/10 *bf the air mass flow sensor and outer tie rod were replaced. The lower ball joints were worn and were replaced. The crank sensor was replaced. The engine was consuming large amounts of oil. The dealer stated the vehicle needed new rings and a valve seal. The transmission would slip during cold weather conditions. There was an internal fault with the clutches. The gear shifter had excessive play. The left window regulator had to be replaced, because it would not close. The left rear door latch was inoperative. Updated 01/20/10.

Filed Nov 9, 2009 · Suspension · 102,000 miles · IL

While driving, heard a rattling sound from the front end of the car. Short while later, started to proceed from a stop and the front passenger side suspension coil spring came off the car and exited out the wheel well with a big bang and rolled down the street about 75 feet.

Filed Aug 27, 2009 · Body, Suspension · 90,000 miles · WI

I own a 1999 mercedes benz e55 amg (w210). After parking the car while grocery shopping, I returned and found the front of the vehicle much lower than normal. Upon further inspection, the driver's side front coil spring and two other parts were found lying under the vehicle. I moved the vehicle slightly to look for additional broken parts and was able to drive home at 15 MPH, making only very minor turns (for approximately 1/4 mile). Upon inspection with the wheel off, the upper spring perch had become almost completely separated from the frame rail, severed the ABS sensor wire (which caused several warning codes related to the ABS, bas and esp braking systems), and had also chipped the inner rim of the wheel and put a very large slash near the bead of the tire. I had just inspected the passenger side the week prior while changing a flat tire, and witnessed no corrosion/rust whatsoever. Vehicle has 90,000 miles, has not been driven in the winter, and the only rust on the vehicle is where the spring perch tore away from the frame rail. The rest of the car, body and undercarriage, is rust free. I contacted my local mercedes benz dealer and was offered no help, and strongly discouraged against there being anything that would be done for me, as if they were reading a script relating to the age of the car and location/climate. I immediately contacted mb USA, who is currently investigating the claim.

Filed Aug 26, 2009 · Suspension · 56,500 miles · WV

On or about june 22, 2009, I was driving home on interstate 64 when the left front spring broke for no apparent reason. I did not hit a pot hole and the car was not involved in an accident. This caused the left front shock to immediately break. The front end of the car fell onto the tire while driving 70 MPH. I had to have the vehicle towed. The mercedes dealer could offer no explanation for this problem. I corresponded by e-mail with 2 mercedes representatives who told me they could do nothing for me because the car was out of warranty. The warranty was out at 50,000.00 miles and the car had approx. 56,000.00 miles at the time. I explained that I knew the car was out of warranty when I called, however, I consider this to be a premature failure that could have caused an accident resulting in serious injury or death. The mercedes reps told me I purchased the car as a used vehicle and they could do nothing and hoped that my confidence in mercedes would be restored as I continued drive the vehicle. The mercedes dealership told me the car would not be safe unless I replaced the spring and shock on both sides. The repair bill was just under $1,800.00.

Filed May 15, 2009 · Suspension · CT

Front spring support failed on 2000 mercedes e300 while driving on the highway. The coil spring was ejected and could have punctured the front tire. Cause was determined to be a rust at the weld points for the upper constraint for the front coil spring.

Filed May 14, 2009 · Body, Suspension · 140,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 1994 mercedes benz e320. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise at the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle proceeded to pull to the right. He took the vehicle to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that the front coil springs and struts were corroded. In addition, the stabilizer bar was cracked. The manufacturer was aware of the failures; however, the warranty is only valid in canada and not the united states. Therefore, the manufacturer will not assist with the repair. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 140,000. Updated 06/09/09 *bf the consumer stated spring housing shroud was corroded. The wheel disengaged while driving, which caused the consumer to loose control of the vehicle. The suspension collapsed and the wheel buckled under the front fender. The consumer believed it to be a structural failure. Updated 06/10/09.

Filed Sep 23, 2008 · Suspension · 99,059 miles · CA

On april 27, 2008 my car's front left side spring failed when driving back home at a speed of 30 MPH. If I had been driving on the freeway, I may have lost control and got into an accident. When the perch ripped off, it sounds like my wheel came off. The steering was jammed and I pulled over to the shoulder and found the spring on the pavement. On may 3, 2008 I drove to nearest auto shop which is about 2 miles away and paid $80 for an initial check up and they found out that they couldn't fix it. The spring perch rusted away and broke. I complained with mercedes benz USA and I did not get any answer from them. It's been in my garage for five months.

Filed Sep 11, 2007 · Suspension · 80,000 miles · VA

Mr. Gary bound mercedes benz 3 paragon montvale nj 07645 dear mr. Bound, I would like to request your assistance on a very troubling matter. I have 1997 mercedes e 420, , (it has 81,000 miles) which recently developed a serious driving safety issue, more precisely a lack of steering control. I was so alarmed by the handling; I took my vehicle to the closest repair shop for an analysis of the problem. (I didn't feel safe driving the vehicle the extra distance to a mb dealer). After a quick examination they told me that the coil spring tower had become detached from the frame. They said the repair was possibly in the thousands of dollars range. They also told me they had seen this problem many times, particularly with the e series. According to them it has to do with the type of steel used, the welds, and an unusual amount of extraordinary metal fatigue regardless of miles or age of vehicle. They also informed me that mercedes benz was aware of this issue, and mb was considering absorbing the costs of these repairs, even though this issue has occurred after the warranty has expired. I also understand that the federal safety agency is so concerned about a pattern of these failures that they are urging an official recall. But understandably mb would prefer not to deal with an official recall. Now obviously I'm concerned about my safety, as well as getting a quality repair to the vehicle asap-- without paying thousands of dollars for this to be resolved out of my pocket.. I was given your name by a man named mitch carr, of mitch?s auto service in kensington maryland. As you may be aware he specializes in mercedes repairs. He explained that you had first hand knowledge of this problem; apparently either you or your staff have visited his shop to see mercedes vehicles with this problem. Mark slimp, [email protected]

Filed Aug 29, 2007 · Suspension · 120,000 miles · DC

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 mercedes benz e class. On august 27, 2007, while driving 10 MPH, the contact heard a loud clunking noise coming from the vehicle. He decelerated and noticed that the driver side hood appeared lower to the ground than the passenger side. He pulled over and noticed a coil spring rolling across the road. The vehicle was towed. He stated that he did not drive over anything that may have caused the failure. The dealer stated that the front spring perch mount was rusted and sheared off of the vehicle. The vehicle is not under warranty and has not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 120,000.

Filed Jun 2, 2007 · Suspension · 153,000 miles · NJ

1998 mercedes benz e-320, speed <15 MPH had the front drivers side coil spring ejected and housing completely separated from the vehicle making the front end drop down onto driver's side front tire without warning. The impingement of the body onto the tire and wheel and/or the spring itself precluded any steering control. The coil spring mount or "saddle" had separated from the welded point to the frame of the vehicle. Mercedes offerred to pay 25% of the repair fee due to excellent service history. We repeatedly requested a team from mercedes to inspect the vehicle because this vehicle would be ideal to investigate as no other complicating crash had occurred. They refused this. My wife authorized the repair but indicated that we wanted all parts to be saved for further investigation by the federal safety agency.the next day, the service manager reported that mercedes now offerred to pay 50% of repair cost but required a "waiver" be signed to "hold harmless" mercedes from any further problems or damages incurred with this part of the vehicle. We refused to sign any waiver as it is our expectation that the repair be completed in a manner to ensure the vehicle's future safety. We contacted the body shop with the plan to inform mercedes that we would be towing the vehicle to another shop for further inspection/ repair. We were informed the repair had already been compelted and that the car was now at the dealership for allignment but old parts were saved for us. Mercedes never informed us of any open investigation regarding this vehicle even when directly asked this question. We anticipate the repair to exceed $1,000 plus towing. I disagree with information provided by mercedes in earlier investigations indicating that this failure would not result in a loss of control of the vehicle. I completely lost all ability to steer the vehicle and was only able to stop without crashing because it occurred at low speed with no other vehicles or objects around me.