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

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.

LEFT FRONT SPRING CUP ASSEMBLY RUSTED AND BROKE AWAY FROM BODY. RESULTED IN DROPPED FRONT END. PART REPLACED AND AREA REPAIRED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY DUE TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

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

ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 2014, WHILE STOPPED ON HABANA AT MLK, JR. BLVD. IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER, A VERY LOUD "EXPLOSION" OCCURRED INSIDE MY CAR AND THERE WAS INSTANT PRESSURE ON MY CHEST. FROM THE NOISE AND THE PRESSURE, I THOUGHT I'D BEEN SHOT, BUT THEN REALIZED NEITHER I NOR THE CAR WAS STRUCK BY ANYTHING! I LOOKED AT THE DRIVERS ON EITHER SIDE OF ME (NOBODY BEHIND ME) TO SEE IF THEY HAD HEARD OR SEEN ANYTHING, BUT NOBODY WAS LOOKING MY WAY, SO IT WAS OBVIOUS THEY HAD NOT HEARD OR SMELLED ANYTHING (BURNING ODOR" EMANATING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE CAR). I FELT PAIN IN MY CHEST & BACK/SHOULDER, AND WAS SHAKING, BUT SINCE I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE DOCTOR ANYWAY, I PROCEEDED TO HER OFFICE FOR MY APPOINTMENT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, I WENT TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP (NO SEAT BELT), WHERE I LEFT THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THEY ACTED AS THOUGH THIS KIND OF THING HAPPENS EVERY DAY - NOBODY EVEN ASKED IF I WAS OK; NOR DID ANYONE DISCUSS THE OBVIOUS "MALFUNCTION" THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED. I WAS LATER ADVISED THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE "COMPUTER" THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT TO CRASH! NOW, THE CAR NEEDS A NEW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY AND AN SRS CONTROL UNIT/TOTAL PRICE ~$3,000! I TOLD MY SERVICE GUY (DR) THAT THEY NEED TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS, THAT THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A MALFUNCTION/DEFECT IN THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT THE DEALERSHIP'S CONCERN, THAT I NEED TO CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ, WHICH I DID. I AM WRITING THIS ON DECEMBER 6TH, 17 DAYS AFTER LEAVING MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP. I AM SHOCKED

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 WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO RETRACT AND LOCK ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

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.

1997 E320 4 DOORS SEDAN WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ON THE HWY AND A VERY LOUD NOISE SCARE ME. PULL OVER , THEN DRIVE SLOWLY TO THE GAS STATION AND WAS TOLD VERY BAD NEWS DRIVER SIDE FRONT SPRING PERCH BROKE OFF AND SEPARATE FROM THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT TIGHTENED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE SEATBELT WAS UNLOCKED BUT STILL WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEATBELT MODULES FAILED. THE SEATBELTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED AFTER EACH FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 192,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 201,000.

WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR, NOTICE SRS (SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT ON, UPON MOVING FORWARD IN SLOW SPEED, A LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY THE TIGHTENING OF THE SEAT BEAT AND THEN BURNING SMELL OF SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN. THIS I ASSUME IS HOW THE SYSTEM SHOULD WORK DURING AN ACCIDENT BUT THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR PUBLIC HIGHWAYS, I COULD HAVE EASILY CRASHED DUE TO THE INCIDENT. *TR

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.