2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Suspension Problems

The rear subframe rusted out and failed at the driver side trailing arm mount. It is available for inspection. My pregnant wife was driving it when it failed, luckily it failed an 1/8th mile from our house on a 25mph back road. The problem with these subframes has been well documented in later models and the subject of a class action lawsuit. Nobody has inspected it. There were no symptoms prior to the failure.

Suddenly started driving badly on the highway. It would swerve side to side after hitting a bump. The rear sits about two inches lower than the front. My trusty independent mechanic said I should check the rear subframe and refrain from driving the car. KBB lists a safety recall for this issue, stating that the rear subframe wasn't sufficiently rustproofed. Mercedes and NHTSA do not list this recall, and my local dealer says the repair will cost around $3,000. May have to scrap the car with 81,000 miles on it.

THIS IS A C230 KOMPRESSOR COUPE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THEN LOCKED UP AFTER BEING DRIVEN SLOWLY TO A SHOP. IT WAS LATER LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE EARLY 2002 C CLASS CARS BUT AS USUAL, THERE IS NO RECALL. I CONTACTED MBUSA AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THIS CAR HAS ALSO RECENTLY SHOWN EVIDENCE OF RUSTING. I CONTACTED MBUSA ABOUT THAT AND LEARNED THAT THE MB CORROSION PROTECTION IN THE U.S. IS MERELY FOUR YEARS. I ALSO FOUND THAT MOST OF THE OTHER GERMAN LUXURY AUTOMAKERS HAVE USED GALVINIZED STEEL FOR DECADES, UNLIKE THE MANUFACTURING PRACTICES OF MB. OVERALL, BETWEEN BUILT-IN MECHANICAL FAILURES AND THE RUST, AND THE FACT THAT MBUSA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES, I WILL CERTAINLY STEER CLEAR OF MERCEDES IN THE FUTURE. *TR

I JUST HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH MY MB DEALER ABOUT REPLACING A MALFUNCTIONING YAW RATE SENSOR ON MY 2000 C230K. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS IS CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT IS RANDOMLY ENGAGING MY BRAKES AT ALL SPEEDS WHEN IT THINKS THE CAR IS OUT OF CONTROL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C CLASS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OR HIGHER, THE ESP INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED ONCE BEFORE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT ORDER THE PARTS AND MAKE THE REPAIR AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 09/23/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED IN BRAKING MODE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S55. WHILE DRIVING 95 MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUDDENLY DROPPED AND RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,575.

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED ONTO THE FRONT TIRE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SUSPENSION THE BOLT CONNECTING THE WHEEL HUB TO THE UPPER PART OF THE MCPHERSON STRUT WAS MISSING. THIS ALLOWED THE STRUT TO FLEX SIDEWAYS WHICH CAUSED THE BOTTOM BRACKET OF THE STRUT CRACK AND FAIL. THIS ALLOWED THE ENTIRE CAR TO FALL ONTO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS ALSO INSPECTED AND THE SAME BOLT WAS FOUND TO BE APPROXIMATELY 2/3 LOOSENED. BOTH FRONT STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER SHE WAS ONLY DOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AS SHE HAD JUST MADE A TURN. *NM

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO A RAMP. THE VEHICLE SLID WHICH CAUSED THE ESP (ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM)TO ENGAGE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE HITTING INTO THE CURVE AND DAMAGING THE FRONT AND REAR LEFT VEHICLE SUSPENSION. TS THERE IS A GLITCH IN THE ESP SYSTEM. WHEN BRAKING THE ESP KICKS IN AS IF THE VEHICLE IS SLIDING WHEN IT IS NOT. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CURB INSTEAD OF BRAKING AS INTENDED. *JG

VEHICLE WOULD WANDER TO RIGHT WHEN DRIVEN. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED ONE FLAT TIRE AND ONE BLOWOUT, NO TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH. *SLC

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE THERE IS CONSTANT VIBRATION UNTIL VEHICLE HAS HEATED UP APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, MECHANIC HAS NOT FOUND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WHILE IN REPAIR DEALER PROVIDED SEVERAL RENTAL CARS TO CONSUMER, AND ALL OF THE RENTAL CARS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK