NHTSA Complaint #10289081 — 1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320

I RECENTLY HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I STOPPED TO INSPECT THE NOISE AND FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS SLIGHTLY LEANING TO THE RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANYTHING ON THE ROADSIDE, I DROVE IT HOME SLOWLY TO INSPECT FURTHER. INFORMATION I READ ONLINE INFORMED ME OF A DESIGN FLAW INVOLVING THE FAILURE OF SPOT WELDS THAT ATTACH THE FRONT, TOP COIL SPRING PERCH TO THE CHASSIS. UPON DEEPER INSPECTION I FOUND MY R SIDE SPRING PERCH WELDS WERE 80% FAILED AND THE FORCE OF THE COIL SPRING HAD BENT THE SPRING PERCH UP 45 DEG. FROM NORMAL. EVIDENTLY THE NOISE I HEARD WERE THE WELDS BREAKING! THE COIL SPRING WAS BULGING OUTWARD, ABOUT TO POP OUT. THANKFULLY, THE SPOT WELDS DID NOT FULLY LET GO ON THIS CURVY ROAD. IF THEY HAD FULLY FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY OFFERED TO WELD A NEW SPRING PERCH IN FOR $440. THE L SIDE HAD ALREADY BEEN CORRECTED BY A PREVIOUS OWNER. I HAVE PHOTOS AND THE FAILED PART IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAD IT INSPECTED BUT THE DEFECT WAS MISSED. AT A MINIMUM, OWNERS OF THIS MAKE, YEAR AND MODEL SHOULD BE CONTACTED AND WARNED OF THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL AND REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. *TR