2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE SUSPENSION SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. IN ADDITION, THE 'STOP DRIVING/VEHICLE DRIVING LOW' WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SUSPENSION AIR BAGS FAILED ACTIVATE TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE MESSAGE "STOP CAR, PARK TOO LOW" REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. *TT

AIRMATIC SUSPENSION DROPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. RED LIGHT WARNING FLASHED THAT VEHICLE WAS LOW. TRIED TO RAISE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT RAISE. CAR WAS VERY CLOSE TO GROUND AND WOULD NOT RAISE..BEGAN LOOKING UP, IF OTHER SAME MODELS AS OURS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DO. READ SEVERAL CONSUMERS COMPLIANTS/ CONCERNS WHO ALSO OWN A MERCEDES BENZ THEY SEEM TO HAVE THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AT A DEARLERSHIP. LOOKS LIKE THIS VEHICLE MAY HAVE A PROBLEM/DEFECT WITH THEIR AIRMATIC SUSPENSION AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY UNKNOWING THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS DROPPING TO GROUND.THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR AIRMATIC SUSPENSION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED WHILE DRIVING.

CAR WAS AT A STOP AND BACK END OF CAR WENT DOWN, STOP CAR TOO LOW CAME ON THE DASHBOARD

RED LIGHT CAME ON STATING THAT THE CAR WAS TOO LOW

WE HAD JUST STOPPED THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPACE AT A GRCCERY. AS WE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WERE WALKNG AWAY FROM IT WE HEARD A LOUD POP AS IF A TIRE HAD A BLOWN. WE LOOKED AROUND BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANY LOW TIRE FROM LOSS OF AIR. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING MY WIFE NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS LOWER THAN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE RED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL "STOP, CAR TOO LOW!" I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEE IF THE WHEEL/TIRE WOULD RUB AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL AND IT DID NOT, SO WE DROVE HOME WHICH WAS ONLY ONE MILE. I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. AFTER READING A NMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, IT APPEARS THIS MALFUNCTION SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR A DEFICIENT PART OR ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW FOR THE MALFUNCTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "SUSPENSION IS TOO LOW DO NOT DRIVE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY AIR SUSPENSION IS LOW ON THE CAR. WHEN I LEAVE THE CAR PARKED FOR A DAY OR SO AND COME BACK THE CAR SITS VERY LOW. WHEN I DRIVE IT GOES BACK UP BUT NOW THE CAR WON'T GO BACK UP IT JUST STAYS LOW. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO HAVE MERCEDES BENZ WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

ON MY WAY BACK FROM VIRGINIA, AFTER PARKING MY 2004 E500 BENZ CAR AT THE WELCOME CENTER IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, FOR A BREAK, A BIG POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE, BUT I SAW THE FRONT OF THE CAR LOW (ALMOST TOUCH THE GROUND) THE ONLY THING IS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS NOT AS MUCH LOW AS THE DRIVER SIDE. THEN WHEN I STARTED THE CAR ENGINE, FROM THE CAR CONTROL PANEL, I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING ERROR MESSAGE: "STOP, THE CAR IS TOO LOW TO DRIVE" AS A RESULT, I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME FOR NEARLY $500.00. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS AIR SUSPENSION ISSUE; AND EVERY TIME THAT HAPPENED, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE TWO PREVIOUS TIME THE ISSUE HAPPENED, THE CAR WAS UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY; AND I DID NOT TO PAY ANY OUT OF POCKET MONEY TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED. NOW THAT THE CAR NO LONGER UNDER ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED BY THE DEALER. BASED ON MANY REPORTS I HAVE READ FROM PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, I, AS THEY DO, STRONGLY BELIEVE MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. AS IT IS COMMONLY AGREED, THE CAR IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS CONSTANT HEADACHE THAT COMES WHEN IT WANTS TO WITH NO WARNING. LUCKILY FOR ME, DURING THE TIME OF THIS RECENT INCIDENT, MY CAR WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN. OTHERWISE, I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE CAR WOULD GO OUT OF CONTROL AND THUS CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP TO GET THIS ISSUE ADDRESS BY MERCEDES BENZ COMPANY BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT OR DIE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WARNING MESSAGE: [STOP, CAR TOO LOW] APPEARED IN THE INFORMATION CENTER. WALKED AROUND THE VEHICLE CHECKING ALL WHEELS. DISCOVERED THE FRONT LEFT SIDE NOTICEABLY LOWER THAN FRONT RIGHT SIDE AND THE WHEEL ALMOST TOUCHING THE PLASTIC LINER UNDER THE WHEEL WELL. CHECKED FUSES. PRESSED "RAISE" AND ADS BUTTONS BUT IT DIDN'T REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE HYDROPNEUMATIC SHOCK ABSORBER. *TR

MY RIGHT FRONT AIR STRUT WENT OUT WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND HAD OUR SON IN THE CAR. SHE WAS 120 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND STRANDED. SHE WENT TO MERCEDES BENZ OF BEVERLY HILLS AND THEY WANT 160.00 TO DIAGNOSE AND THEN WOULD PUT HER IN A LOANER. THE ESTIMATE WAS AROUND 1700.00 TO FIX 1 AIR STRUT. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SPEED SHE WAS TRAVELING AT. IM NOT SURE WHY MB HAS NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE FAULTY PARTS. DEFINITELY WOULD BE NICE IF THEY WOULD COVER THIS. *TR

THE CAR LOWERED TO AN UNACCEPTABLE POINT TO WHERE THE CAR IS A VERY ROUGH RIDE AND ANY BUMP IS HIT HARD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY E CLASS HOME FROM WORK MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP AND DISPLAYED "VEHICLE LOW DON'T DRIVE". I WAS AT THE ENTRANCE WAY TO MY HOME AND PROCEEDED TO MY GARAGE. UPON GETTING OUT OF MY VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER WAS LOWERED DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE TIRE. I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE AIR MATIC STRUT ASSEMBLY; WHICH IS A COSTLY REPAIR. MY RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT AT 88,000 MILES. MERCEDES SHOULD ON UP TO THE FLAWS IN THIS SYSTEM AND FIND A CHEAPER FIX FOR THE VEHICLE OWNERS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS MATTER I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES. *TR

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION STRUT ON A 2004 MERCEDES E500 STATION WAGON. THE CAR HAS AN AIR RIDE SYSTEM WHICH MAINTAINS THE RIGHT HEIGHT OF ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY BY MERCEDES SINCE PURCHASE. THE AIR BLADDER INSIDE THE STRUT BLEW OUT WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME. THIS RESULTED IN THE RIDE HEIGHT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR DROPPING IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WARNING TO THE POINT WHERE THE FRAME WAS BARELY 2" ABOVE THE PAVEMENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT SPEED ON A ROUGH ROAD OR ONE WITH CROWN OR AN IRREGULAR SURFACE, OR IN HEAVY SNOW, THE FRAME COULD CONTACT THE GROUND CAUSING ANY NUMBER OF POSSIBLE OUTCOMES INCLUDING SEVERE CHASSIS DAMAGE AND TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55 AMG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE AIR STRUT SUDDENLY EXPLODED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE FENDER WALL. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS FAILED 3 TIMES - FIRST IN MARCH 2010, THEN APRIL 2010, AND NOW MAY 2010. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE FIRST 2 INCIDENTS. THE FIRST TIME, THE CAR DROPPED TO THE GROUND WHILE PARKED, THE SECOND TIME IT WAS SLIGHTLY LOW, AND THEN WHILE DRIVING THE REAR DROPPED AND THE CAR BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. IT IS NOW DROPPING ON THE RIGHT AGAIN, AND PULLS STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT. SERVICE WAS COMPLETED AT THE DEALER. EVEN THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE SYSTEM FAILS, AND FAILS IN A MANNER IN WHICH THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO GO IN A CHAIN REACTION FASHION. *TR

WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPY ROADS THERE IS A LARGE THUMPING AND CRASHING NOISE FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR AND OCCASIONALLY FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR. TAKEN TO DEALERS TWICE AND EXPLAINED IN DETAIL WHAT IS HAPPENING. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, EVERYTHING IS TO SPECIFICATION AND THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE NOISE. *TR

E500 4MATIC SUSPENSION FAILURE - FRONT AIRMATIC SUSPENSION COLLASPED. CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN. *TR

MERCEDES BENZ AIRMATIC RIDE HEIGHT SYSTEM IS FAULTY. I HAVE RESEARCH SEVERAL FORUMS AND NOTICED A CONTINUOUS OF AIR STRUT FAILURE ON VEHICLES UNDER 50,000 MILES. THE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS FAULT CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. ONE AIR STRUT COSTS AROUND $1500.00 AND USUALLY A COMPRESSOR MUST ALSO BE REPLACE FOR AROUND $500.00. *TR

DROVE CAR FINE ALL DAY ON SATURDAY. SUNDAY AM, PUT SON AND WIFE IN CAR, STARTED OUT DRIVE WAY AND CAR GAVE NOTICE THAT CAR WAS TOO LOW. WALKED AROUND EXTERIOR OF CAR AND FOUND THAT RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION MECHANISM HAD LET AIR OUT ITSELF AND TIRE WAS WELL INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. DTB (DAIMLER TECHNICAL BULLETIN) P-B-32.22/15A FEB07 VEHICLE LEVEL DECREASES AT FRONT AXLE. IN EXTREME CASES THE AIRMATIC COMPRESSOR WILL NOT ACTIVATE TO RAISE THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT DEFECTIVE. THE COMPRESSOR IS NOT ACTUATED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT RESIDUAL PRESSURE IN THE SUSPENSION STRUTS. ANY AFFECTED STRUTS WILL BE REPLACED AND THE COMPRESSOR WILL BE ACTUATED WITH STAR DIAGNOSIS. *TR