2004 Mercedes Benz SL

WHILE DRIVING 30MPH, SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I HELD THE STEERING WHEEL FIRMLY, BUT THE CAR STARTED MOVING TO THE RIGHT, SO I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. IT APPEARED TO BE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, IT WAS OKAY. WITHIN A WEEK OR SO, THE SAME THING HAPPENED, AGAIN. LUCKILY, BOTH TIMES, I WAS DRIVING LOCALLY AT A LOW SPEED, RATHER THAN AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE FREEWAY, WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65MPH. *JS

A POUNDING NOISE (LIKE A HAMMER HITTING A 2X4) OCCURRED REPEATEDLY WHENEVER I STARTED OR STOPPED. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILURE OF THE BAFFLES INSIDE THE GAS TANK AND REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT OF THE GAS TANK AT A COST OF OVER $2000. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP AND SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. THE BAFFLES SLIDING AROUND THE TANK WOULD ULTIMATELY CAUSE IT TO LEAK IF THE TANK WERE NOT REPLACED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. IT HAS APPARENTLY OCCURRED ON MANY MERCEDES CARS ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET REPORTS. *JS