NHTSA Complaint #10398676 — 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280

AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX AT A SLOW SPEED, WE HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THEN, AS WE WERE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WE HEARD A GRINDING OR DRAGGING NOISE. WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD COME LOOSE, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED SUDDENLY AFTER ANOTHER LOUD POPPING NOISE. AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE CAR SOME MORE I SAW THE SPRING WAS LAYING ON IT'S SIDE BEHIND THE WHEEL. I JACKED THE CAR UP AND REMOVED THE SPRING WHICH WAS JUST LYING THERE LOOSE AND SAW THE UPPER MOUNT/PERCH HAD A LOT OF RUST ON IT AND LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BENT UPWARD AND GAVE WAY, RELEASING THE SPRING. LUCKILY HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT DOOR, BUT HAD JUST DRIVEN HOME FROM A TOWN 30 MINUTES AWAY ON I-75 AT 70 MPH! GLAD IT DIDN'T GIVE WAY THEN!!! I HAVE FOUND TONS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ONLINE SEARCHING "MERCEDES SPRING PERCH RUSTED". VERY COMMON PROBLEM, SHOULD BE RECALLED IN MY OPINION, OR AT THE VERY LEAST A MINIMAL CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER TO HAVE NEW MOUNT/PERCH REWELDED ON BOTH SIDES AT THE SAME TIME. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE RIGHT SIDE GIVES WAY I GUESS! *TR