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Rusted subframe 2011 e350. Make sure to check at inspection
Hi all. Ran in t a big issue with our 2011 e350. 80k garage kept.
while I found some info here I thought I would share ours.
in brief a hard stop at 50mph and the rear end started “dog walking/shifting left. Control was hard but no one hurt. Take in to check brakes (???) turns out the rear subframe failed. not a cheap repair and am pushing on Mercedes but doubt will have any joy. Pics say it all.
Last edited by iainldwill; Sep 16, 2022 at 10:38 AM.
Hi, yes. From the inside out, this car passed inspection 8 months ago (gonna look in to that part) but apparently once it breaks through it just fails out
We are in VA, we get snow but I always get a wash after a rare storm. The is a fabrication issue. Big problem for c class as part are on endless back order, I was lucky to get it for the E so quickly ( benefits a having a great mechanic). This was unexpected for me.
I laid in to MB customer service as it is a well known issue (not to me). I handed this car down to my son, had I known!!!!!
anyway, she’s back from the shop (silver star motors, Vienna va for any NOVA folks) and is handled letter perfect, I am out $4600 for the whole job, including SF replace, a wrecked CV joint (possibly due to strain from the main issue but regular all the same), alignment and they weather coated everything including the brake lines (which apparently have some issues too), and a full service which was coming due..
have a case number with MB, they seem willing to discuss. Will see how that works out
2014 GL350 - gone 2014 E350 - gone. I now own a new Volvo and BMW. Goodbye for now Mercedes!
Originally Posted by iainldwill
Hi all. Ran in t a big issue with our 2011 e350. 80k garage kept.
while I found some info here I thought I would share ours.
in brief a hard stop at 50mph and the rear end started “dog walking/shifting left. Control was hard but no one hurt. Take in to check brakes (???) turns out the rear subframe failed. not a cheap repair and am pushing on Mercedes but doubt will have any joy. Pics say it all.
I just received this news about my 2014 E350 w/60k miles. Has anyone been successful getting Mercedes to pay for this?
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Hmm... I have a car I purchased from Pittsburgh CPO at 28k miles. I've had it up on the lift many times but need to look closer next time. I also should hose it down after one of our rare snow storms.
That car must of come from a salt belt somewhere, I'm on the east side of Cleveland and it's nasty here with 70 plus inches of snow and mine is still ok.
i looked at my car last year, and it's OK in these areas. I washed the "trouble" areas out anyway. If I ever get around to it, I might try to POR-15 what I can reach, or possibly even take it down and do it "right". I think that this might be doable with a quickjack, trans jack, and floor jack.
I would also suggest filing a complaint with the NHTSA. Make sure you emphasize how it was hard to control the car and how you narrowly avoided an accident. If they get enough complaints, maybe they'll open an investigation and if there's a recall or some other action by Mercedes later, save your receipts and maybe you'll get reimbursed later.
Wanted to reach out to you and let you know that the rear subframe has been added with an extended warranty from the factory. Standard warranty was 4yr / 50,000 miles and has been extended to 20 years / unlimited miles.
You can possibly be reimbursed for this repair you paid for yourself. You should receive a notification in the mail from MBUSA on this. Once you do see your local dealer on how and if they can process a credit for this now covered repair.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) has extended the warranty for the rear subframe on the vehicles listed below, from the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 4 years/50,000 miles to 20 years/unlimited miles, and applies to the vehicle regardless of ownership.
This warranty extension applies to the replacement of the rear subframe under the standard warranty terms and conditions in the event the subframe experiences corrosion with perforation (holes). The extended warranty is applicable to the following vehicles:
I just happened to look at the frame through the wheel well this weekend, and it has "light surface rust" in spots where severe corrosion is in the top of thread photos. Now I'm torn between cleaning it up and putting POR-15 on everything or just letting nature take its course.
Wow, literally have my 2011 e350 in the shop for this issue
Amazing that this TSB came out now. My car is at my favorite Indy shop right now. Just had them order the parts!
Any advice about whether I should continue with the ship or take the (short and slow!) drive over to the dealer?
Sheared rear subframe, got pretty squirrley at the back end when it snapped.
Last edited by mattthemountain; Feb 10, 2023 at 07:57 PM.
I just happened to look at the frame through the wheel well this weekend, and it has "light surface rust" in spots where severe corrosion is in the top of thread photos. Now I'm torn between cleaning it up and putting POR-15 on everything or just letting nature take its course.
Well entropy is the natural order of the universe. You probably have at least 7-12 years before the warranty expires so I'd just keep an eye on it. When it gets close to getting bad, you could take it to the dealer and see what they think. You probably need holes before they'd replace it though.
Originally Posted by mattthemountain
Amazing that this TSB came out now. My car is at my favorite Indy shop right now. Just had them order the parts!
Any advice about whether I should continue with the ship or take the (short and slow!) drive over to the dealer?
Usually MB will reimburse you if you got it done before the warranty. In this case that it just came out, it's a little murky. You could call MBUSA and see if they will cover it at the current indy or they just might require that you take it to the dealership in order to have it covered and then because it's so new, they might give you a hard time. If you take it to the dealership, at least you won't be out anything out of pocket and you won't have to wait to find out if you'll be reimbursed or not and of course even work done under MB's dime usually still qualifies for a free rental. Sometimes you have to reserve it to make sure there's a rental available when you show up.
Wow, now I'm nervous. I just bought my first MB - 2011 E350 CDI 4Matic. I looked under it on a lift before buying and it looked fine, BUT so did some other folks' cars here. Does anyone know if Europe is also going to warranty it? I'm in Slovakia (EU member).
Interesting question since the models listed in the notice are discontinued; therefore, no need to make additional spare parts. That becomes the market for OEM suppliers at that point.
The extent of models the notice covers is wide, and spans up 12 years. Manufacturing issues? or poor material selection at design stage?
From where is MB going to source that many parts? New design, or order from OEM and use whatever is available? I place my bets they will rely on OEM parts already in the market. From I have read, MB has been fixing rear sub-frames in Europe w/o putting too much of a fight (https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post8586615)
Fingers crossed all ends up well, and nobody gets into an accident due to a broken rear subframe.
