The contact owns a 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact stated that the vehicle was being serviced for the brakes when he was informed by the independent mechanic that the spring perch on the frame of the vehicle was rusted. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired for the rust. The current and failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

- Sinking Spring, PA, USA

Spring perch broke off due to rust.the front of the car fell down on to the wheel and was undrivable.

- Woodbury, NJ, USA

I own a 1999 Mercedes Benz E55 amg (W210). After parking the car while grocery shopping, I returned and found the front of the vehicle much lower than normal. Upon further inspection, the driver's side front coil spring and two other parts were found lying under the vehicle. I moved the vehicle slightly to look for additional broken parts and was able to drive home at 15 mph, making only very minor turns (for approximately 1/4 mile). Upon inspection with the wheel off, the upper spring perch had become almost completely separated from the frame rail, severed the ABS sensor wire (which caused several warning codes related to the ABS, bas and esp braking systems), and had also chipped the inner rim of the wheel and put a very large slash near the bead of the tire. I had just inspected the passenger side the week prior while changing a flat tire, and witnessed no corrosion/rust whatsoever. Vehicle has 90,000 miles, has not been driven in the winter, and the only rust on the vehicle is where the spring perch tore away from the frame rail. The rest of the car, body and undercarriage, is rust free. I contacted my local Mercedes Benz dealer and was offered no help, and strongly discouraged against there being anything that would be done for me, as if they were reading a script relating to the age of the car and location/climate. I immediately contacted mb usa, who is currently investigating the claim.

- Hartland, WI, USA

1999 Mercedes-Benz E-300 and E-430 anti-noise capsule fell off** suddenly without warning the right front wheel leaped into the air with a loud bang. The consumer assumed that the right front tire had blown out. The consumer lost control of the vehicle momentarily then moved slowly off the road. Upon inspection the consumer saw that none of the tires had blown out but that the underside of the front end of the vehicle had dropped to the ground. The same part came off the consumer E430 ten days ago. On the E430 model the part is called a cooling pan.

- Diamondhead, MS, USA

Purchased a used 1999 Mercedes Benz E300 turbo diesel end of Feb 2006 with 92,494 miles from a Jaguar/Land Rover dealer. Traded in a 1985 Mercedes Benz 300 turbo diesel. Brought car to the mechanic that does all my work to have all fluids changed and the car checked. Mechanic called to recommend I not drive the car until the left front spring cap was replaced. I visited the mechanic and viewed the left front spring cap. When the mechanic put his finger on the left front spring cap his finger nail chipped off flakes of metal it was enough to convince me not to drive the car until it was repaired. My concern was that the left front wheel would come off and caused a serious accident including possible deaths if the spring cap parted and the spring came off at highway speeds. I paid my mechanic to install a new front spring cap to prevent a failure. I did not bring this to the Jaguar/Land Rover's dealer or Mercedes Benz's attention because to my knowledge the car was not under warranty and I needed the car repaired so I could use it. Latter review of the Mercedes Benz club of America web site forums showed that this is a common problem with the E300/320 Mercedes Benz as the body is the same (Mercedes body designation is W210).

- Midland, VA, USA