2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Complaint Log

THIS MB E-350( [XXX] )OF 2008 WITH 18" DIAMETER RIMS IS VERY POORLY DESIGNED WHICH IS CAUSING SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD AND MAY LEAD TO DEATHS AS THE ALUMINUM ALLOY RIM ITSELF DAMAGE THE TIRE THEREBY DEVELOPING SLOW LEAK /BUBBLES AND ULTIMATELY A CAUSE FOR SERIOUS ROAD ACCIDENT LEADING TO POSSIBLE DEATHS TIMELY ACTION IS REQUIRED TO BAN 18" DIAMETER RIMS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SMALL POTHOLE HIT. RIM DESTROYED ALONG WITH TIRE. I HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 12 TIRES AND THREE RIMS ON THIS VEHICLE IN TWO YEARS. AFTER A SEARCH I NOW FIND OUT THAT RIM AND TIRE PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON ON THESE CARS. MY WIFE HAS DRIVEN FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A TIRE/RIM PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2008 MERCEDES E350 4MATIC. AFTER A TRIP, WITH THE CAR SITTING AT THE AIRPORT FOR A WEEK IN WARM WEATHER, I ENTERED THE CAR AND NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. I VENTED THE CAR AND DROVE HOME. THE ODOR REMAINED. SUBSEQUENTLY I HAD THE CAR PUT ON A LIFT AND THERE WAS A STAIN COMING DOWN AROUND THE SIDES OF THE GAS TANK. I ALSO REMOVED THE REAR SEAT AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAT FOAM WAS SATURATED WITH A GASOLINE SMELL DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ACCESS PANEL FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. I UNDERSTAND FROM LOCAL MECHANICS THAT THIS MAY BE A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH MB E SERIES CARS. THIS LEADS TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL FIRE/EXPLOSION AS WELL AS EXCESSIVE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. MB USA STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ON TWO SEPARATE OCASSIONS, ABOUT 4 WEEKS APART STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING A NEAR ACCIDENT ON MERCEDES E CLASS. DEALER CLAIMED THIS WAS A RARE OCASSION. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALER SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR REPAIR. THE FIRST TIME I WAS BILLED ABOUT $1,000. I AM GOING TO BE BILLED AGAIN WHEN THE CAR IS REPAIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OVER A POTHOLE THE TIRE EXPLODED. THE TIRE WAS A CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO CONTACT SIZE 245/40R18.93V. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DEVELOPED A BLISTER AND THE RIM WAS NO LONGER ALIGNED. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE LED TO A FATALITY DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN. THE WHEEL RIM ON THE TIRES WAS 18 INCHES AND THE TIRE WAS TWO TO THREE INCHES OFF THE GROUND. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL TIRE AND RIMS THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE REPAIRED THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE DEFECT; YET, THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HIM A FREE TIRE WHICH HE DID NOT RECEIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

MB E-350 2008 IS EQUIPPED WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES CONTIPRO CONTACT 245/40 R 18 THE TIRES CONTACT DISTANCE FROM ROAD SURFACE TO BOTTOM OF RIM IS APP.2 INCH. THE RIM DIAMETER IS APP.19+ INCHES. THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE FURTHER REDUCES THE CONTACT DISTANCE. THE MOMENTUM OF THE CAR AT NORMAL SPEED WHEN COMES ACROSS A SMALL POT WHOLE OR AN OBJECT THE RIM OF THE CAR ITSELF BURST THE TIRE RESULTING INTO TIRE EXPLOSION AND BENDING OF THE RIM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IF NOT CORRECTED IN A TIMELY MANNER MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS INCLUDING DRIVER AND OTHER PASSERS BY INCLUDING ROAD DEATH 2)THIS HAPPENS 2 TIMES. MBUSA ROAD ASSISTANCE CAME 2 TIMES AND INSTALLED DUMMY TIRE CAME WITH THE CAR. 3) MB USA REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND MUST BE REVIEWED AS THE RIM ITSELF MAY EXPLODE THE TIRE AND GET BENT AS WELL. UPDATED IVOQ 01/21/11 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SCRAPING SOUND HEARD WHEN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW WAS ROLLED UP OR DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUNROOF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. CROWN EUROCARS (8302 US HWY 19 N, PINELLAS PARK, FL 33781) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT FAILED AND OVERHEATED. THE SEAT BURNED THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHE NEEDED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE PERFORMED. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE HEATER CIRCUIT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY HOW THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,400.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THREE OF THE FOUR WHEELS WAS BENT AND CRACKED. THEY REPAIRED THE WHEELS PER THE WARRANTY. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IT CONTINUED TO MAKE NOISE BECAUSE THE BENT WHEELS CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS TO OCCUR ON THE AXLE AND TIRES. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM TO CHANGE THE TIRES BUT HE FELLS IT IS THE DEALER RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE THE TIRES AND REPAIR THE AXLE WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350 WITH CONTINENTAL, CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE TIRES WOULD FORM A BLISTER OR BUBBLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED SEVERAL BLOWOUTS WITH THE TIRES. SHE WOULD HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WHENEVER SHE WOULD EXPERIENCE A BLOWOUT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE TIRES WOULD BLOWOUT EASILY BECAUSE THEY WERE LOW COMPOSING TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,786.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A FIRE. VEHICLE WAS A 2008 MERCEDES E350. *TR

2008 MERCEDES E550 RIM PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD TWO FRONT TIRE BLOWOUTS ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FROM HITTING SMALL POT HOLE. THE RIM GETS BENT THEN THE TIRE BLOWS OUT. THE LATEST INCIDENT, A POLICE OFFICER AND I WATCHED MANY VEHICLES DRIVING OVER THE POT HOLE WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE RIMS ARE THE 12 SPOKE THAT COMES STOCK ON THE E550'S. *TR

MERCEDES BENZ 2008 E350. AIRBAG ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN MANHATTAN, NY. *TR

MANY MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. MERCEDES SAYS IT IS DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS. IT IS A NEW PROBLEM WITH NEW MERCEDES E SERIES CARS. A PERSON WROTE "HAVE BEEN IN THE TIRE & WHEEL BUSINESS FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES. MOSTLY WITH AFTER MARKET WHEELS WHERE THE STANDARD WHEEL SIZES REACH ALL THE WAY UP TO 26-INCH DIAMETERS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A DEFECTIVE WHEEL OR TIRE. MERCEDES BENZ HAS DECIDED TO INSTALL LARGER WHEELS ON THEIR VEHICLES SO THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A LARGER FOOTPRINT TO IMPROVE HANDLING AND TO IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF THE CAR. THE PROBLEM WITH INSTALLING A LARGER DIAMETER WHEEL ON ANY CAR IS YOU ARE NOW LEFT WITH A TIRE THAT HAS A VERY SHORT SIDEWALL. FROM 2003 ' 2006 MERCEDES WAS INSTALLING 16 AND 17 INCH DIAMETER WHEELS ON THEIR E-CLASS MODELS. THESE TWO SIZES WOULD GIVE YOU A TIRE WITH A TALLER SIDEWALL FROM 3 TO 4 INCHES. BUT ON THE NEWER E-CLASS VEHICLES, MERCEDES STARTED TO USE AN 18' STAGGERED TIRE AND WHEEL COMBINATION. WHEN YOU INCREASE THE DIAMETER OF A WHEEL, THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE WILL DECREASE.THE 18 INCH WHEEL & TIRE COMBO NOW GIVES YOU A SIDEWALL OF 2 TO 3 INCHES. THE SIDEWALL OF A TIRE IS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE TIRE WHERE IT MEETS THE WHEEL AND WHERE THE TIRE SITS ON THE GROUND THE SIDE SUPPORTS THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MEANS YOU HAVE LESS CUSHION BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE ROAD. SO IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE HARD ENOUGH, YOU WILL BEND A WHEEL OR COLLAPSE THE TIRES SIDEWALL SO MUCH THAT IT WILL BREAK THE STEEL LININGS CAUSING A BUBBLE OR A BLOW OUT." LIVES ARE AT RISK UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED AND RECTIFIED. CURRENTLY, CUSTOMERS INCUR SIGNIFICANT COST TO REPLACE TIRES AND WHEELS. MERCEDES WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT TIRES AND WHEELS UNDER ITS WARRANTY PROGRAM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING 76 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WOULD BRAKE WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE REPAIR DETAILS OR COST WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 38,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES E CLASS WITH 18 INCH RIMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY DEVELOPED A BLISTER ON IT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THREE OF THE RIMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SINCE THEY WERE OUT OF ROUND. THE DEALER REPLACED ONE TIRE, TWO FRONT RIMS, ONE REAR RIM AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT. THE FAILURE DID NOT PERSIST BUT THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ 350E. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM 35 TO 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS IF IT ENGAGED INTO THE NEUTRAL GEAR. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN FULL POWER AND DRIVE TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE COMPONENT AND THE ASSOCIATED PART NUMBER WAS 14027008-61. THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY ADDITIONAL FAILURES SINCE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 04-24-09 *BF UPDATED 04/27/09.*JB

REPEATED REAR SUSPENSION AIR BAG FAILURES CAUSING NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A NEW 2008 E350 MERCEDES WITH CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO CONTACT 265/35 R 18.97V TIRES. AT 6000 I NOTICED A BULGE ON THE SIDEWALL. I WAS TOLD I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD & IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 7000 MILES I NOTICED YESTERDAY 2 MORE BULGES ON THE SIDEWALL OF 2 ADDITIONAL TIRES. I WAS FORCED TO BUY A REPLACEMENT TIRE AT $300. NOW I AM TRYING TO GET COMPENSATION FROM CONTINENTAL OR SOMEONE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. BY THE WAY, THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE WHEELS SO THIS HAS GOT TO BE A DEFECT FROM THE TIRE COMPANY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK WITH HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA POLICE FILED REPORT NUMBER 004869. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63. UPDATED 02-15-08. *KB UPDATED 02/15/08 *TR

BAD PLACEMENT OF CRUISE CONTROL STALK ON 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS. IT CAN BE CONFUSED WITH THE TURN SIGNAL STALK. I HAVE TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN I MEANT TO ACTIVATE THE TURN STALK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIRE BLOWOUTS DUE TO DRIVING OVER ROAD IRREGULARITIES. THE FAILURES WERE EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER 35 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE EQUIPPED WITH LOW PROFILE RIMS. THE BLOWN OUT TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DECELERATING TO 50 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SLID UNDERNEATH THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE RESCUED FROM THE VEHICLE WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOORS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS BACK, ANKLE, NECK, SHOULDER, AND RIGHT HAND. HE IS STILL UNDERGOING MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. A VIDEO AND DOCTOR'S REPORT ARE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS INSURANCE COMPANY INTENDS TO WELD THE VEHICLE BACK TOGETHER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,000. UPDATED 03/04/08. *LJ

WHEN STOPPING MY VEHICLE , YOU HEAR FUEL SLOSHING IN THE FUEL TANK. *TR