NHTSA Complaint #10749942 — 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C280

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF UNTREATED ALUMINUM. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT SALT WILL REACT EASILY WITH ALUMINUM, EXTENSIVE CORROSION RESULTS. THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT SITS IN A POCKET IN THE FRAME, WHERE BRINE CAN LAY ON IT FOR PROLONGED PERIODS. OF NOTE, MANY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS ARE NOW USING A BRINE MIX, INCLUDING MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, THAT WILL REACT WITH MOISTURE IN THE AIR TO CONTINUE THE CORROSION PROCESS. A RECENT STUDY BY VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS THAT THIS ACCELERATES THE CORROSION PROCESS. IN APRIL OR MAY OF THIS YEAR, I HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON MY CAR REPLACED. ONE FAILED COMPLETELY, THE OTHER WAS SEVERELY CRACKED AND NEARLY THE SAME WAY. THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY MISSING, APPARENTLY FROM CORROSION. WHAT WAS LEFT WAS WHITE POWDER. THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT CORROSION. THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON MY CAR SAID THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND NOT THE FIRST HE HAD SEEN. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. A COMPLETE FAILURE OF MOTOR MOUNTS COULD CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT, WITH WIRING AND OR FUEL LINES BEING SHEARED, AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BREAKAGE WOULD BE LIKELY TO OCCUR UPON ACCELERATION (THINK ABOUT ENTERING AN INTERSECTION) OR WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICES. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT. I AM NOT. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. IT HAS BEEN A FEW MONTHS NOW WITH NO RESPONSE. THIS SITUATION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.