NHTSA complaint: 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320 — STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SPLAYED OUT AND BENT THE FENDER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE THAT WAS VERY NEARBY. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS HOLLOW AND SEEMED TO BE RUSTING. HE WAS ABLE TO DETECT THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE MAKING AND THAT THE STABILIZER BAR HAD STRESS CRACK. ALL WERE REPLACED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHILE I WAS ON VACATION. THE TOTAL COST WAS SLIGHTLY UNDER $2900. IT WAS A BIT SCARY AND I WAS CERTAINLY GLAD THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST WHEN THIS CATACLYSMIC FAILURE OCCURRED. I THOUGHT THAT MERCEDES SHOULD HEAR ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHEN I RETURNED FROM VACATION, CALLED MY DEALER WHO HAD DONE ALL OF THE MECHANICAL SERVICE AND REPAIRS ON THE CAR SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT. THEY WERE HAVING PHONE AND E-MAIL COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS AND DID NOT CALL BACK FOR QUITE A WHILE. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I LET MBUSA KNOW ABOUT MY CONCERN. I IMMEDIATELY E-MAILED MBUSA. THEY TOOK UNTIL RECENTLY TO REPLY. THEY TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO CURRENT SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT INITIATED A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. I HAVE PICTURES DOCUMENTING THE PROBLEM AND SOME OF THE PARTS IF ANYONE WANTS TO INSPECT THEM. I AM FINE AND DO NOT NEED ANY REIMBURSEMENT. BUT, I WORRY THAT SOME POOR FELLOW IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT 55 MPH AND NOT LIVE TO WRITE TO YOU ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY MY PROBLEM IS EITHER A O
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation