2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Suspension

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact son stated while driving at various speeds, the rear of the vehicle would sway while braking. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with needing the subframe to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

Lost control of vehicle while driving on highway. Brought vehicle to have brakes done at Pep Boys who identify the sub frame was corroded and that vehicle was not drivable, after many attempts with Mercedes Benz, from emails to phone calls also following up with customer service line and not been able to even have them look at the vehicle I’ve decided to follow up with a complaint. My car was earlier this year at Mercedes-Benz for another reason and I was never made aware of this issue. I brought vehicle to another European auto shop they just told me that they just did another vehicle same model with same problem. I’ve also read online many complaints. I’m aware that many individuals have no idea on how to file a complaint at this level to hold MBenz responsible. Is time for a recall. My extended warranty company would not take care of the bill which is over $2000 since there is corrosion on the vehicle. Thank you for your assistance

The rear sub-frame of my Mercedes failed and resulted in a dangerous situation due to left rear suspension attachment point breaking free. Braking became uncontrollable. This seems to be a common problem in the 2008-2014 C300 Mercedes based on a quick scan of the internet.

REAR SUBFRAME HAS ROTTED THROUGH. THE CONTROL ARM CONNECTION HAS COME LOOSE. NO OTHER RUST ON THE CAR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011C-CLASS ON I-95 NORTH OF PHILADELPHIA WHEN I HAD TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC. WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR OF THE CAR STARTED FISHTAILING ALMOST CAUSING A MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES OR WORSE. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK SMALLER STREETS TO GET TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAS SERVICED THE CAR SINCE THE MERCEDES EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. UPON INSPECTION HE NOTICED THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED OUT COMPLETELY AND THE TOE ARM WAS NOT ATTACHED. I HAVE OWNED THIS CPO CAR SINCE JUNE 2012. THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND THERE ARE NO OTHER ISSUES OR RUST ON THE CAR. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT AS OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS MODEL HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

WHILE DRIVING, I HIT MY BRAKES AND IT WERE AS IF AN INVISIBLE HAND GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. I NEARLY WENT OVER A MOUNTAIN. I DROVE SLOWLY HOME BUT EACH TIME I WOULD HIT MY BRAKES THE SAME WOULD HAPPEN. LONG STORY SHORT, MY 2011 C300 WITH 80K MILES, BOUGHT FROM THE SHOWROOM AND GARAGE KEPT HAS A RUSTED AND BROKEN SUBFRAME. MY VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION ALSO THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS A TERRIBLE MOLDY ODOR.

Rear suspension is rusted and the arm to the wheel has disconnected. This vehicle can’t be driven and is a major safety issue - per the Mercedes dealership. From Mercedes : The rear sub-frame serves a number of purposes. It adds to the rigidity of the rear body structure and supports the vehicle's cabin and some chassis components. Most importantly, the sub-frame helps to protect occupants in an offset rear impact. In a collision, the sub-frame first helps to absorb some of the impact forces on the side that is hit. It also channels some of the impact forces to the side of the vehicle not involved in the impact. This also helps to absorb some of the forces of the collision before they can reach the passenger cabin Reason A damaged sub frame puts everyone in the vehicle at risk. During a collision the sub-frame is responsible for absorbing and evenly distributing the force from the impact. If damaged the sub frame cannot distribute the impact causing a complete collapse of the vehicle.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND CAR SWERVED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT, AND CAR BODY FELT LIKE IT WAS 'SWIMMING' AROUND ON THE FRAME. CAR FELT VERY UNSTABLE. TOOK CAR TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, AND CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED. TECHNICIAN NOTED WHAT APPEARED TO BE "RUST PROOFING SPRAY ON THE RUSTED AREA". MERCEDES DEALERSHIP QUOTED $4,000 FOR REPAIR. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN CANADA. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF CANADIAN RECALL. AM AWAITING FOLLOW UP CALL FROM MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A RATTLING SOUND, WHILE TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED KEMPTHORN MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER LOCATED AT 1449 CLEVELAND AVE NW, CANTON, OH 44703 AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SIMILAR VEHICLES WERE RECALLED IN CANADA BUT, NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

VEHICLE FAILED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO CORROSION PERFORATION OF REAR SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER, A MAJOR REAR SUSPENSION STRUCTURAL COMPONENT. ALSO REFERRED TO AS REAR SUBFRAME (PART NUMBER 207-350-97-02). THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN DEALER SERVICE BAY WHEN DISCOVERED.

I HAVE A 2011 MERCEDES 80K MILES AND THE REAR CRADLE HAS RUSTED OUT , MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE

RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARM MOUNT BECAME DETACHED FROM SUB FRAME. SHEET METAL ON REAR SUSPENSION SUB FRAME RIPPED / TORE SO THAT REAR TRAILING ARM IS ONLY ATTACHED TO LOWER PART OF MOUNT, AND NOT ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. NO ACCIDENT, BUT VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE TO DRIVE WHEN HEAVY BRAKING COULD OCCUR! VEHICLE VEERS SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT! CONCERN BESIDES INSTABILITY IS THAT LOOSE TRAILING LINK COULD PUNCTURE FUEL TANK LESS THAN AN INCH AWAY. FIRST NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ON I-4 WHEN A VEHICLE CHANGED INTO MY LANE ABRUPTLY, AND I HAD TO FORCEFULLY APPLY BRAKES.