2000 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

MY 2000 E320 HAS EXCESSIVE RUST ISSUES THROUGH OUT THE ENTIRE BODY. I WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE USE OF A NEW WATER BASED PAINT USED BETWEEN 1997-2002 BUT BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE CAR IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD THEY CAN NOT HELP ME OR OFFER ME ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE WITH THE ISSUE. I HAVE LOCATED ONLINE FORUMS WITH CONSUMERS WHO OWN THE SAME CAR AS MYSELF AND HAVE THE SAME EXACT ISSUES IN THE SAME PLACES AND RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION FROM MBUSA. THE WORST AREAS ARE IN EVERY WHEEL WELL CAUSING THE WHEEL WHEELS TO BUCKLE AND CHIP INTO THE SUSPENSION AND BREAK AREA AND IT HAS CAUSE THE FRAME OF THE CAR TO SEVERELY WEAKEN, IN ADDITION MY REAR TRUNK KEY HOLE AREA IS RUSTING THROUGH AND I WAS ADVISED IT WILL RUST THROUGH AND AT THAT POINT THE LOCKING MECHANISM WILL COME OFF AND I WILL AT THAT POINT NEED TO REPLACE THE TRUNK LID POSSIBLY CAUSING THE TRUNK TO INVOLUNTARY OPEN WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SPRING TOWER HAD FRACTURED. HE ALSO NOTICED CORROSION ON THE SPRING TOWER. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2000 E320. I HAVE BEEN HAVING CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH HEADLAMPS, FOG LIGHTS, AND BRAKE LAMPS GOING OUT VERY FREQUENTLY. OFTEN, I RECEIVE AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE "LAMPS ARE INOPERABLE", AFTER CHECKING ALL BULBS, I FIND THIS IS NOT THE CASE, MERCEDES MAY NOT ADMIT TO THIS, BUT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR CARS. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY (TWO DAYS AGO) HAD MY PASSENGER SIDE BULB HOUSING MELT AWAY. DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT BEEN HAPPENING. I BELIEVE I AM LUCKY THAT THE CAR HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE AS OF YET WITH ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE ONLY GOOD NEWS I HAVE ABOUT THESE CONSTANT PROBLEMS IS, THE BODY REPAIR COMPANY FOR MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ATLANTA (GA), WILL SEE ME ON MONDAY TO SEE IF THEY CAN REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS HOUSING, PROVIDED THEY HAVE ONE IN STOCK. SO, "WISH ME LUCK" AND PRAY FOR MERCEDES TO DO THE RIGHT THING BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS...... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES E 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY PANEL ON THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE CONTACTS PERSONAL MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE POSSIBLY WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHIN A YEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THE CAUSE OF THE RUST, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS INFORMATION ONLINE SUGGESTING THAT THE MANUFACTURER MAY HAVE USED WATER BASED PAINT ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

FAULTY CAM AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAUSED ENGINE TO DIE (STALL) IN THE MID TRAFFIC ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS. DEALER REPLACED CAM POSITION SENSOR 003-153-28-28 AND SENDER UNIT 004-153-69-28, INDICATING THE CAUSE AS AN INTERNAL FAULT. DEALER'S SERVICE REP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR