NHTSA Complaint #10437260 — 1998 MERCEDES BENZ E320

SOME RUST DAMAGE HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON THE BODY OF THE CAR FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BUT NO MERCEDES MECHANICS SUGGESTED IT WAS STRUCTURAL OR DANGEROUS. RECENTLY, A LOUD CREAKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BEGAN TO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHEN SUBJECTED TO BUMPS, EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. BY REMOVING THE TIRE, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE CREAKING WAS FROM THE POORLY DESIGNED SUSPENSION CAP, WHICH HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN PARTIALLY OFF, BENDING THE SPRING AGAINST THE AXLE. THIS DAMAGE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS NO MERCEDES MECHANICS IDENTIFIED THE RUST AT THIS POINT, AND IF THE CAP SNAPPED OFF, THE ENTIRE WHEEL CARRIAGE WOULD BREAK. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN OPERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THIS KIND OF FAILURE, WHICH COULD OCCUR INSTANTLY WHEN SUBJECTED TO A NORMAL SHOCK IMPACT, COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. THE CAP IS DEFINITELY A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, ESPECIALLY AS THE MERCEDES STRUCTURE RUSTS (WHICH THEY CLAIM NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR), AND MANY OF THESE CARS COULD EASILY BE ON THE ROAD TODAY. THUS, WE BELIEVE THAT SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO THE CONSUMER PUBLIC IS COMPLETELY IGNORED BY MERCEDES-BENZ, WHICH WE FEEL IS AN APPALLING LACK OF CONCERN AND COMPLETE OVERSIGHT ON THE PART OF THE COMPANY. *TR