2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Suspension

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage and turned off, the entire rear end of the vehicle inadvertently lowered to the ground. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V264000 (Suspension) however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and the dealer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. The consumer stated the rear air suspension is functioning as designed. Upon restarting the vehicle the air compressor was recharged.

I WISH TO REPORT AN ISSUE WITH THE AIR-MATIC SUSPENSION ON MY 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E550. I HAD THE AIR STRUTS REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO WITH MERCEDES BENZ PARTS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MILES SINCE REPLACEMENT WITHOUT ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS 36,000 MILES CURRENTLY AND IS DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY IN TOWN, ON PAVED ROADS, AND GARAGED AT HOME. ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 THE STRUT ON THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT AS THE FRONT LEFT DROPPED VIOLENTLY. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA TO REPORT THIS ISSUE FOR THEIR INVESTIGATION. MY CURRENT INFORMATION IS THE STRUT EXPERIENCED AN INTERNAL FAILURE AS REPORTED BY THE MECHANIC, BUT WOULD NEED FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE EXACT ROOT CAUSE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS PART FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND IF I WERE NOT TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH), THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE. I FEEL THAT GIVEN THE LOW MILES, NEWNESS OF THE PART, AND SUDDEN FAILURE, THIS COULD BE AN INDICATION OF A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE WITH MANUFACTURE OF THIS COMPONENT AND SHOULD BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WAS LOW AND A "TOO LOW" EMERGENCY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT DETERMINED TO BE PART INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V264000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

MERCEDES RECALLED 100% OF E350 WAGON DUE TO A FAULTY SIGNAL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN UNSAFE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. MY MECHANIC TODAY VERIFIED THIS SIGNAL FAILURE WHILE TRYING TO DIAGNOSE A STIFF UNFORGIVING SUSPENSION IN THE REAR AXEL. MY CALLS TO BOTH MERCEDES AND NHTSA SHOW NO OPEN RECALL. MERCEDES SAYS IT HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY FIXED. PLEASE INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN THE 100% TO WHICH IT BELONGS AND RECALL IT. IT'S REALLY DUBIOUS WHEN CONSUMER HAS TO DO SO MUCH RESEARCH AND LEG WORK I WAS ABOUT TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS UNJUSTIFIABLE!! RECALL WAS ON ALL WAGONS 2007-2009 MINE IS A 2007 WAGON WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL. WHAT AM I MISSING HERE? PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP. I DRIVE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL DAILY ON THE FREEWAY IN THIS MY ONLY CAR. THANK YOU! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FELT UNSTEADY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CONNECTING RODS FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V264000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY 54, MO ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 70MPH. NEXT TO ELDON EXIT, ON A STRAIGHT PART OF THE HIGHWAY, ALL OF SUDDEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING BROKE WITH A VERY LOUD BANG. AFTER INVESTIGATION, THE SPRING BROKE AT THE FIRST LOWER WINDING (THE END OF PLASTIC COVER, WHERE IT STARTS THE SECOND WINDING). AT THE BROKEN LOCATION AND ONLY AT THAT LOCATION, SURFACE RUST (30-40MM LONG) COULD BE SEEN. THE SPRING ON THE OTHER SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) WAS OKAY BUT I COULD SEE THAT THERE IS NO PAINT (ABOUT 20MM LONG) AT EXACT SAME LOCATION AND IT STARTED TO RUST ON A VERY SMALL SPOT (1-3MM). *TR

AIR SUSPENSION FAILED THE SAME DAY THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR