NHTSA Complaint #10281886 — 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS

ON OR ABOUT JUNE 22, 2009, I WAS DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE 64 WHEN THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE AND THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT SHOCK TO IMMEDIATELY BREAK. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR FELL ONTO THE TIRE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE MERCEDES DEALER COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CORRESPONDED BY E-MAIL WITH 2 MERCEDES REPRESENTATIVES WHO TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY WAS OUT AT 50,000.00 MILES AND THE CAR HAD APPROX. 56,000.00 MILES AT THE TIME. I EXPLAINED THAT I KNEW THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN I CALLED, HOWEVER, I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A PREMATURE FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE MERCEDES REPS TOLD ME I PURCHASED THE CAR AS A USED VEHICLE AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING AND HOPED THAT MY CONFIDENCE IN MERCEDES WOULD BE RESTORED AS I CONTINUED DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE CAR WOULD NOT BE SAFE UNLESS I REPLACED THE SPRING AND SHOCK ON BOTH SIDES. THE REPAIR BILL WAS JUST UNDER $1,800.00. *TR