NHTSA Complaint #10082774 — 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320

DURING NORMAL OPERATION I EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST AND THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. I BARELY MISSED HITTING SEVERAL ROADSIDE OBSTACLES AND WAS NEARLY STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH SPEED ROADWAY. I AM A WOMAN OF OVER 70 YEARS OF AGE AND DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO WRESTLE A 3000 POUND CAR AROUND WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL AND AVOIDING A COLLISION. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED NEARLY 20 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AT A COST OF $4500.00. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAD A FAILURE OF THE HARMONIC BALANCER ON THE ENGINE WHICH DESTROYED A LARGE NUMBER OF SURROUNDING PARTS. THE DAMAGED PARTS WERE REPLACED AND THE BALANCER WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE OLD PART HAS BEEN REQUESTED FROM THE DEALER.*AK