2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Tires & Wheels Problems

BOUGHT A CPO CAR FROM MB WEST CHESTER, PA AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED FRONT TIRE(S) MAKING THUD SOUND THAT IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT 25-30 MPS; ALTHOUGH AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE THUD SOUND CONTINUES. DEALER SAYS TIRE TREADS ARE ONLY WORN 30%, BUT RECOMMENDED NEW TIRES (WHICH WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE CAR!!). MANUFACTURER SAYS IT SOUNDS LIKE A FLAT SPOT ON THE TIRE. I EVEN PAID FOR EXTRA WARRANTY AND STILL DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE TIRE. VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY BASED ON POSTS OF BLOW-OUTS, ETC. IT'S AMAZING THAT TRUCK TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOR THE SAME REASONS, BUT NOT CAR TIRES. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR ON A MAJOR STREET AND WENT OVER A SMALL POTHOLE. THIS RESULTED IN MAJOR FRACTURES ON BOTH OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEELS. ALL THE EQUIPMENT ON THIS CAR IS ORIGINAL FROM MERCEDES BENZ. THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT IN LATE 2010. RECENTLY, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR AND WENT OVER A SMALL POTHOLE ON THE STREET THAT IS ABOUT 6 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND LESS THAN 2 INCHES IN DEPTH, AND RESULTED IN ANOTHER WHEEL FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT POTHOLE DAMAGE IS A NORMAL PART OF WEAR AND TEAR. BUT THIS IS A MAJOR STREET THAT HAS TRAFFIC COUNT OF 75,000+ CAR PER DAY. IF MY CAR IS THIS EASILY DAMAGED IN A PERIOD OF 1 YEAR, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGING HOW MANY CARS WOULD GET DAMAGED ON THIS STRETCH OF ROAD. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE WHEEL FAILURES SUCH AS THIS AT RELATIVELY AVERAGE SPEED AND SMALL POTHOLES, CAN'T JUST BE A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS EITHER DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR POOR PRODUCT QUALITY CONTROL. IF MY WHEELS GET DAMAGED AT THIS SPEED, I CAN'T IMAGE WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE OR SAFETY ISSUES IT WOULD CAUSE WHEN I'M TRAVELING ON FREEWAY AT HIGHER SPEED. *TR

WE BOUGHT 2009 MB E-350 W/SPORT PACKAGE WHICH HAS AMG WHEELS ON IT. CAR HAS CURRENTLY 3K MILES ON IT. WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, SUDDENLY WHEEL MATERIAL POP-OUT FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE BASE (18" WIDTH) AND CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO TIRE (LIKE HOLE, IMPACT ON THE AREA WHERE WHEEL DAMAGED). WE BELIEVE THAT WHEEL HAS MATERIAL/DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE WHEEL NORMALLY VERY SOLID HARD TO POP-OUT LIKE THIS. EVEN DEALER OR NO-ONE HAS SEEN THIS KIND OF INCIDENT. MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND SHE WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND NOW SHE IS SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO INCIDENT. WE BELIEVE THAT DUE TO SAFETY OF US AND FOR OTHERS WHO ARE USING MB W/AMG WHEELS NEEDS TO BE EXAMINE. IF REQUIRE, I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE WHEEL AND TIRE. *TR