NHTSA Complaint #10102183 — 1998 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS

THE CRANK SHAFT BALANCER DISINTEGRATED WITHOUT WARNING AT 40 MPH RESULTING IN PARTIAL ENGINE DESTRUCTION, OIL PAN, FAN BLADE, FAN SHROUD, IDLER PULLEY,ETC. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL MBZ DEALER AND REPAIRS COMPLETED IN AMOUNT OF $1584. MBZ AREA REPRESENTATIVE OFFERED 50% COMPENSATION. MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA WAS CONTACTED FOR COMPENSATION OF BALANCE AND OBLIGED. THE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT BALANCER MIGHT NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AS A RESULT MOST CERTAINLY IS! I HATE TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS INCIDENT HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR IN TRAFFIC AT FREEWAY SPEED. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT MERCEDES BENZ WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM (REFERENCE: MB TECH TIPS, DECEMBER 1, 2000, PAGE 4) AS WELL AS 27 PAGES OF OWNER DOCUMENTATION ON AN INTERNET WEBSITE < MERCEDESSHOP.COM > IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A SAFETY RECALL! *AK