10 of the 29 complaints about the 1999 Mercedes Benz E430 are about the suspension — 34% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 119,000 miles.
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SUSPENSION
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN SPRING CAME OUT AND LOST CONTROL OF CAR PUT CAR IN SHOP COST ME 1400 FOR REPAIRS SOMEONE NEED TO HELP PAY FOR IT AND THIS SHOULD BE S RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10761131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A SUSPENSION SPRING FRACTURED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPRING COIL TOWER FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10679314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPRING PERCH FRACTURED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WELDED ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/30/11
NHTSA complaint #10425082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E430. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.
NHTSA complaint #10403809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING SUPPORT AND THE COIL SPRING FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. BECAUSE OF THAT FAILURE, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO SOMEONE'S YARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COIL SPRING REPAIR BUT HE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE REIMBURSEMENT WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,996. UPDATED 03/24/10 *BF UPDATED 06/28/10
NHTSA complaint #10312239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I OWN AND DRIVE A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. IT HAS APPROX. 133000 MILES. THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED OFF THE CAR AS I WAS DRIVING IT AT APPROX. 35 MPH. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR DRIVING ON ROUTE 516 OLD BRIDGE, NJ ABOUT 3 MILES FROM MY HOME. I WAS NOT INJURED JUST BADLY SHAKEN UP. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND IS AT OLD BRIDGE COLLISION ON ENGLISHTOWN ROAD, OLD BRIDGE NJ. I HAVE NOTED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS. PLEASE NOTE MY COMPLAINT AND ADVISE ASAP.
NHTSA complaint #10293676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430 CONCERNING FRONT SPRING PERCHES. DATE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED 9/22/2009. FAILURE TO THE PASSENGER FRONT SPRING PERCH RESULTING IN THE SPRING TO DISLOCATE. FORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT DRIVING SPEED RATHER OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT UNFORTUNATELY THE SECOND INCIDENT WITHIN 5 YEARS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SPRING PERCH DISLOCATED AND THE SPRING EJECTED ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE FRONT END DROPPED TO THE WHEEL. NO INJURIES OR CASUALTIES OCCURRED. THE DRIVER SIDE PERCH WAS REPAIRED AND A VISUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND NO APPARENT DAMAGE WAS NOTED, HOWEVER, NOW THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I BELIEVE A 10 YEAR OLD VEHICLE MANUFACTURED BY A PRESTIGE AUTOMOBILE COMPANY SHOULD NOT FAIL IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES.
NHTSA complaint #10286566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430 RH FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE FROM ITS MOUNT DURING DRIVING AND JAMMED INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS. CAR HAS 65,400 MILES. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION STEPS HAVE HAPPENED SO FAR.
NHTSA complaint #10231289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE UPPER COIL SPRING HAD RUSTED OFF. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10151644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 72S AND SUDDENLY MY DRIVER FRONT SIDE COLLASPED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT OF BEEN THE TIRE WAS BLOWN, BUT AFTER TAKING A LOOK I SAW FROM UNDERNEATH THAT A SPRING WAS HANGING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH IT MYSELF. THE UPPER SPRING MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND WAS TEARING AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. THIS IS A 1999 MERCEDES E430 SO IT IS FAIRLY A NEW VEHICLE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE RECALL FOR THE FRONT SPRING TOWERS ON E CLASS MODELS DATING FROM 97-2000. IT ALSO IS COMMON AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. I HAD TALK TO MERCEDES AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE SO THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK. BUT THEY ARE TELLING THAT THERE WAS NEVER SUCH A RECALL. SO AT THIS MOMENT MY VEHICLE IS SITTING AT THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10068295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.