Suspension Problems of Mercedes Benz E350 - part 1

Rear crossmember or ( rear subframe frame ) rust and it broke due to corrosion.

See all problems of the 2011 Mercedes Benz E350 🔎.

Brake line is thoroughly corroded, went to a repair shop, when they brought it back down, the subframe collapsed. Mercedes has a 20 yr warranty on the subframe so they will cover that but want another $3k to fix the brake line that was obviously tied to the same mfr issue that the sub frame was in regards to rusting. Dealer won't take any responsibility for anything but the subframe.

See all problems of the 2012 Mercedes Benz E350 🔎.

This vehicle, with 115,000 miles has been discovered to have had the brackets in the subframe for both rear lateral arms rust through and are broken causing a $5,000 repair estimate. The mechanic who found this (42 years as a mechanic) said he has never seen anything like it. This is a car where I had to replace the transmission at 49,000 miles and the control unit at 62,000 miles (over $13,000 in repairs). I saw through ai search that this problem has been reported many times but has not prompted an investigation. This issue should never happen and is a major safety threat.

There was already a recall for my rear subframe that I am now getting done due to rust corroding the metal structure. However, upon the dealers inspection the corrosion is also present on the rear brake lines which cause a safety concern and are charging $4000 to replace the brake lines aside from the warranty repair. It poses a safety hazard if the lines were to fail and have heard of others having the same issue along with rotted rear subframes.

See all problems of the 2013 Mercedes Benz E350 🔎.

The contact owns a 2010 mercedes-benz E350. The contact stated while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's wife was able to stop the vehicle from crashing into a concrete curb. The contact stated a nearby independent mechanic assisted the contact, and the vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with a fractured brake line due to corrosion. The contact was advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured rear brake line due to corrosion. The contact was informed that the rear brake line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that a year ago the rear subframe fractured due to corrosion. The contact stated that the rear subframe was repaired under an unknown recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

See all problems of the 2010 Mercedes Benz E350 🔎.

Rear subframe corrosion and in addition, rear break line corrosion.

The contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz E350. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle overnight, the vehicle failed to start the following morning. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to combels customs - collision repair, auto body shop, where the alternator and the battery were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the speedometer, the clock, and the infotainment system were inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds and turning, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the rear suspension, and the vehicle was swaying. The contact stated that after opening the sunroof, the sunroof failed to close as needed. The contact was able to close the sunroof manually with assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign numbers: 08v303000 (electrical system), 24v874000 (visibility) and 12v264000 (suspension). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact the VIN was not included in the recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

See all problems of the 2008 Mercedes Benz E350 🔎.

1. Brake lines corroded and broke. I see there were numerous reports sent to you and nothing was done. 2. Both driver and passenger seat broke in the same spot. . . Mercedes recognized the issue in their internal bulletins. Nothing was done 3. Both rear springs broke on their own. No accident. Car was really unstable in highway speeds.

When braking the car pulls hard off the road. Inspection showed rear subframe rusted and control arms are not attached securely to frame. Unsafe to drive.

As I went to have my vehicle inspected, the mechanic advised me that it could not be inspected, that the car is totaled because the rear subframe is all rotted and the brackets holding the trailing arms were broke off and said that this was a common problem with these vehicles.

See all problems of the 2014 Mercedes Benz E350 🔎.

Rear subframe rusted,.

Driving on interstate, hit the brakes and noticed the car was swaying hard to the left. After that it progressively got worse. When hitting even the smallest bump or braking I heard a metal on metal ‘thunk’ sound. My daughters were in the car and it was frightening. Upon further inspection by a mercedes mechanic, the secondary frame had rusted and snapped into. After reading forums online I found it’s very common. They rust from the inside out. There was absolutely no previous warning.

Rear subframe rusted and broken apart.

Broken rear sub frame.

Rear subframe has rust perforation causing instability and stopping issues with the vehicle.

Suspension rear sub-frame rusted through, rear lower control arm disconnected from rear sub-frame due to rust/corrosion. It is available for inspection. While braking at highway speeds the car fishtailed and I almost lost control of the vehicle. This has not been confirmed or inspected by any service, insurance or police entity. No warning lights, messages etc. Brakes: rear brake lines are severely corroded in the same area as the rear sub-frame. Electrical system: battery continuously discharges and is dead after 5 hours.

On April 29, 2024, I was driving my 2012 E350 mercedes and the brakes failed upon leaving an appointment. There was less than 10% stopping ability. Fortunately, I was able to use my transmission toggles and emergency brake as back up, if needed. I immediately stopped to pick up brake fluid and filled the reservoir which was virtually empty. Drove the vehicle home, left it parked for two hours and then tried to then drive it again but to no avail. The system had "bled" all over my garage floor and driveway. As such it was taken to the dealership on a flatbed. Estimated repair. . . $1,700 this follows having to replace the cargo springs due to corrosion and breakage, the rear suspension sub assembly currently being replaced due to corrosion which mercedes acknowledged is a problem and is covering under an extended warranty. In my mind, all of this is related and certainly a safety concern, beyond the expensive repair costs already and now currently being incurred. Can you help?.

On my recent visit to my trusted independent service center, which specializes in mercedes-benz, they noticed serious corrosion problems. There were no symptoms to alert me to any problem. Also, I never received the notice from mb so how would I know? my mechanic asked me to sign a waiver (which I never have had to do before) that stated the rear subframe was rotted completely through; needs to be replaced ASAP; and is unsafe to drive. The rear brakes lines also had corrosion. This tells me the car is unsafe to drive, and must be fixed. It seems that mb issued an "extended warranty" to cover the rear subframe, but not the rear brake lines. I contacted mb corporate who said they 'may' offer some assistance. I have an appointment next week with a mb dealer who must provide an estimate of the damage and cost to mb for their approval before doing any work. As a result of learning what's eating my car underneath, I won't take it on any extended trips. I really am afraid of something bad happening. And it has, to many others. No one should ever have to get into a car and worry about these two safety issues. It’s very important that mercedes-benz recognizes its responsibility to not only its customers, but to all the other drivers on the road who can be negatively affected through accidents caused by these corrosion issues.

The contact owns a 2014 mercedes-benz E350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for an oil change, the contact was informed that the rear driver's side control arm was severely corroded and had detached from the sub frame. The contact was also informed that the failure caused premature tire wear on both rear tires. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the sub frame and rear driver's side control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Smell gasoline when tank get filled up. Engine light is on , suspension make a lot of noise , power steering pump also.

Car unexpectedly swerves while driving!!.

On 11/24/23 Mercedes Benz had replaced my subframe which was part of a safety recall. When I arrived home after picking up my vehicle, there was a loud bang from under the vehicle. I immediately called the service department and told them about what happened and also complained that the steering wheel was cocked to the left and pulling in that direction. My service advisor john advised me to bring it back the next day which I did. They never told me what caused the loud bang, but they did say another front end alignment was done. The vehicle still continued to pull and the steering wheel was still off center. On [xxx] I took my car to mr. Tire for a tire rotation because the car continued to sway and jolt when going over bumps. It also made a popping noise when making a sharp turn. Then on [xxx] as I was driving, the car pulled or slid to the left. In order to keep from crashing into another vehicle, I pulled the wheel right causing me to run over the medium and almost crashing into a building. I was extremely shook up and in disbelief. Has this type of thing ever happened to anyone else before after the subframe was replaced? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving at approximately 55mph on the highway, I was required to brake for a merging vehicle who decided to make a lane change at the last second. I used my breaks, and my car did not break correctly. Instead, the car pulled the the right and locked up, it felt as though I had lost control of the car. When I went to my mechanic, I thought it was a break issue. Instead, it turns out the whole rear sub frame had rusted. When researching this issue, I found many other similar experiences. The harm that this part failure lead to was extreme. This could have been deadly. This is a safety issue that the manufacturer does not address.

My vehicle was pulling in the rear when braking. My mechanic informed me that it was a rotted undercarriage. When I called mercedes they informed me that there is a problem with many models of mercedes with this. They told me there is a warranty to cover it. This is a very dangerous condition. There should be a recall on all impacted vehicles. This safety failure and lack of transparency by the company (reportedly known for years) puts owners and motorists at risk. Please investigate. To make matters worse, the dealers are unresponsive and slow to provide service and help. One dealership, mercedes in new london CT has ignored my repeated phone calls and emails trying to clarify and schedule service. I went to another dealership mercedes in warwick ri. They have been more responsive with confirming the issue--but there are delays in getting the vehicle fixed--and no provision of loaner vehicles requiring the renting of vehicles during this time frame. Please investigate and require a recall.

Rear subframe corrosion and failure. Based on my queries this apparently a common issue. I am adding my report to add weight to this common issue. Vehicle is approximately 13 years old, is in good condition, and has not suffered any accidents affecting the rear subframe. Overall only minimal rust or corrosion is found during a visual inspection while on a lift. This vehicle has passed annual inspections as required by virginia state law. The rear subframe has rusted from the inside. This corrosion was not visible from the outside, which is why it was not found in the annual inspections. Due only to this internal corrosion, the left-hand (driver) side of the rear subframe has broken loose where the rear wheel's control arm is attached. This removes one of the rear wheel's primary attachment points, making the vehicle unsafe to drive.

Purchased vehicle may 22, 2023 at direct auto sales of orlando, florida. Approximately two and a half weeks later the subframe broke away from the support arm rendering the vehicle in an inoperable and unsafe condition. A local mechanic said this vehicle should not have been driven. He said we could have been in an accident and suffered severe injuries or even death. Mercedes benz of south orlando inspected the vehicle and reported the subframe, fuel tank, front and rear axles, exhaust system, support arms, motor mounts, etc need replacing. Cost is $30,000. How could anyone fail to see damage this extensive. And not report it.

Rear suspension control arm bracket rusted, broken off from frame of vehicle makes a slight to moderate sound when driving or going off bumps I avoid rough surfaces, I drive at a respectable speed ,I never came across as long I owed this vehicle.

My rear sub frame has major corrosion and is broken on the driver side, the passenger side about to go soon. My vehicle only has 154000 miles on it.

Per the technician: "the rear subframe is rusted out and the lateral strut arm is starting to break away". Because of this issue, the car unknowingly presented a safety risk to occupants and other drivers. A failure of the subframe or connected components could have resulted in a serious accident. Photos are attached. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request. There were no warning indicators to this issue. The issue was found only because the car was being serviced for brake pads. Mercedes benz USA customer care said there was no recall or other warranty covering the issue and said the vehicle was outside their "good will assistance program". The vehicle is no longer able to be driven.

The rear subframe of my vehicle failed at the lower trailing arm mounting point (passenger side). This resulted in the car swerving to the right when I applied pressure to the brake pedal, which was worse at higher speeds. This had been getting progressively worse for a few weeks until I almost spun out on the highway while braking. The next day, I randomly got a flat tire on the rear right side while driving at 30mph near valley street in providence. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure. I immediately replaced the tire and brought it to midas on mineral spring Ave in north providence, ri, so that they could inspect the vehicle. They discovered that the rear subframe was almost completely disconnected at the lower trailing arm mounting point due to excessive rust that had wore a hole in the part from the inside-out, which was not visible at the time of the last inspection. Midas immediately informed me that the car was unsafe to drive more than the distance back to my house. They also informed me that 3 tires needed to be replaced, including the flat, as a result of excessive wear on the inner wall and the inner edge of the tread. None of these three tires had reached the wear bars yet, and midas confirmed they would not have had to be replaced if not for the subframe defect. I had the car towed to mercedes-benz of warwick after midas replaced the 3 tires (rl, rr, fr) because I heard that mercedes had recently extended the warranty period for rear subframes (only months after a class action lawsuit was filed about the issue). Mercedes inspected the vehicle and confirmed the issue, and is currently replacing the rear subframe under the new extended warranty program for rear subframes. However, they refuse to reimburse me for the other issues directly caused by the corroded rear subframe (which they admit liability for when they replace the part free of charge), stating they have been instructed by corporate that related issues are not covered.

Rear subframe has rusted to the point car is no longer safe to drive. This is apparently effecting many mercedes’ vehicles and many unsafe cars are currently on the road.

My 2012 mercedes E350 has rear sub-frame is starting to rust/corrode and I need to replace it within 3 months. This could cause the rear end to break free and forcing the back of the vehicle to swerve while braking. My mercedes authorized repair shop stated that similar problems have been identified in other models using same rear subframe and they have replaced them. I have 143k miles and the car is garaged year round. It will cost $5k to repair. Mercedes USA will not fix this for free while all european mercedes group repair this for free as a defect.

The rear subframe has prematurely rusted. It had a shear failure at speed on the highway when I applied the brakes. The rear end of the car swerved, almost causing me to crash. I did manage to decelerate the car in a controlled fashion. I did not know the rear subframe failed at the time. This was confirmed by an independent mechanic several days later. After research, it looks as though a recall has already been issued for this issue in canada and potentially germany. The mechanic tells me that until the issue is repaired the vehicle is unsafe to drive. My and others safety was put at risk due to the failure of vehicle control at 65 mph on a busy road. The problem was verified by an independent mechanic. No police, insurance provider, or mercedes dealer has inspected the car/damage, only an independent mechanic. No prior indicators were given either directly or indirectly prior to failure. I did keep the part for inspection upon request.

The vehicle was inspected during an alignment at a dealership. The sub-frame has rotted out. The car was swaying to the side. I believe this car is dangerous to drive. The repairs are around $5000. 00 dollars. There should be a recall on this Mercedes Benz e-class 350 sub-frames. It is not safe to be on the road. The dealer is no longer around. The manufacture of this car and so many other Mercedes Benz with the rotten rusted sub-frames should be held responsible to pay for the damages and or replacements. Before someone dies on the road. A recall for this vehicle needs to be done ASAP! please help! I have a picture of the rotted sub-frame and paperwork . Not sure how to upload why are other countries recall for free and not the USA?.

Rear sub-frame rotted out and would not pass state inspection. Repair shop contacted local mercedes dealer and was told they were not aware of a problem. However if you perform an internet search, it is a problem. Dealer had two sub-frames in stock, however they were reserved for scheduled repairs and did not know when they. My repair shop located an after market frame and the car was repaired. In addition, the repair shops opinion is the design of the sub-frame is at fault as it retains water leading to corrosion. I performed my own internet search and it is a very known problem not only with the E350 model but also others.