NHTSA Complaint #10620792 — 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320

ONE DAY I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE SEEMED TO BE LOW. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF FILLING THE TIRE, ONE DAY I DECIDED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE (TIRE WAS FINE). I QUICKLY CAME TO REALIZE THAT MY LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS NOT ONLY CRACKED BUT ALSO BENT OUT OF SHAPE. ADDITIONALLY I FOUND THAT THE UPPER HOUSING OF THE COIL (SPRING) WAS LITERALLY PEELING OFF THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE THUS CAUSING THE ADDED PRESSURE TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WHERE THE SPRING SITS. I WENT TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP AND GOT A QUOTE FROM THE TECH THERE. IT COST ME JUST OVER $1,100 TO FIX IT WITH A WELDED PLATE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL (TO REINFORCE THE HOUSING OF THE COIL (SPRING) PLUS CHANGING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. I DID NOT DARE TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO A MB DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY WERE QUOTING ME $5100 TO FIX THE ISSUE (WELL MORE THEN WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH). IT'S A SHAME TO KNOW THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS BUT YET THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN TURNED INTO A RECALL. BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ, I'M STUNNED AT HOW MANY INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AND NOT 1 PERSON HAS BEEN INJURED OR WORSE KILLED! THOSE COILS(SPRINGS) ARE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE AND HAVING ONE THIS THING FLYING AROUND IS NOT A JOKE! SAD TO SAY BUT SOON ENOUGH SOMEONE WILL GET HURT AND THEN MAYBE THIS WILL TURN INTO A RECALL. *TR