1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS Complaints

I HAVE A 1996 MERCEDES E300D AND RECENTLY I LEARNED FROM AN INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD ABOUT A SAFETY DEFECT ON THIS CHASSIS INVOLVING THE FRONT SUSPENSION. SPECIFICALLY IT'S THE UPPER SPRING SUPPORT OR PERCH AS SOME PEOPLE CALL IT WHICH CAN RUST AWAY AND BREAK FROM THE SUPPORTING BACK WALL, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE RUSTING IS CAUSED BY OR AT LEAST CONTRIBUTED TO BY A POOR-QUALITY SEALANT THAT MERCEDES USES AROUND THAT AREA. AFTER SOME TIME THIS SEALANT LOSES ITS ADHESION OR STARTS TO CRACK, TRAPPING WATER UNDERNEATH IT AND STARTING CORROSION. THE UPPER SPRING SUPPORT IS ONLY SPOT WELDED IN TWO PLACES TO THE SIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL AND IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH CORROSION TO CAUSE A FAILURE. ON MY CAR THE PASSENGER SIDE IS RUSTED SO BAD THAT ONE OF THE WELDS HAS ALREADY BROKEN AND THE SPRING SUPPORT IS NOW CLOSE TO FAILURE. PEELING OFF THE SEALANT REVEALED THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE RUST AND IT IS EXTENSIVE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOOKED FINE AT FIRST, BUT PEELING OFF THE SEALANT REVEALED EXTENSIVE RUST AS WELL, THOUGH THE WELDS ARE STILL IN ONE PIECE. THE VEHICLE HAS NO SIGNIFICANT RUST ELSEWHERE, ONLY WHERE THE SEALANT USED TO BE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SO I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN PROBLEM. SOME OWNERS HAVE ALREADY SUFFERED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT. LUCKILY I CAUGHT IT JUST IN TIME. AFTER SOME PUSHING, MERCEDES HAS AGREED THROUGH THE LOCAL DEALER TO COVER 50% OF MY EXPENSES TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 100% OF THE EXPENSES BECAUSE IT'S A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. WHO WOULD EXPECT A 9 YEAR OLD MERCEDES TO LOSE ITS FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE HIGHWAY? FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD THERE ALREADY IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN IN CANADA, BUT NOT IN THE US.

RIGHT FRONT SPRING PERCH MOUNT BROKE ON MY 1996 E300D MERCEDES WHILE BEGINNING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP SIGN CONTROLLED INTERSECTION. VEHICLE GAVE NO FOREWARNING SIGNS, AND HAD IN-FACT JUST BEEN SERVICED WEEK PRIOR. MERCEDES DENIES ANY DEFECT, AND I HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING AND REPAIR COMPLETELY. THANK GOD IT DID NOT OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEED! I AM NOW READING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO HUNDREDS OF MERCEDES OWNERS, AND I JUST WANTED TO REPORT MY OWN EXPERIENCE!

1996 MERCEDES-BENZ STALLS OUT.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *JB *NLM