Sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, the corrosion perforation warranty is the same as the car's original basic warranty: 48 months/50,000 miles. As for their claim that the rust issue must have occurred within the last 9 months is laughable and they know it. Sadly, I don't think that there is much recourse you have. But older Mercedes weren't any better. They rusted and fell apart like anything else. I had a super nice 300SEL that couldn't be put on a lift because it would break in half from all the rust, but you'd never know anything by just looking at it

 

I usually get an under car wash a few times during the winter to get rid of rust, but you still get rust. MB tends to go overboard on the rust issue. A little surface rust and they freak out over it. Get a second opinion from an indy. Will probably last you several more years. I got an estimate of several thousand dollars to replace some steering lines because they were rusted 5 years ago. 5 years later everything is still fine. You're going to get a certain amount of surface rust. Have them show you the actual holes.

 

You're in the wrong forum. W211 has aluminum subframes. W212 cheaper out with stamped steel.

 

I know it's frustrating but there are plenty of subframes on ebay. Cost is reasonable. Given that w212 are reliable, I'd get that fixed by sourcing all the parts, get indy to repaint the subframe and rust proof before installation. Believe it or not, hard brake lines are a DYI item... Regardless, it's upto you how you proceed.
About W211, it was a pleasant surprise for me to see so much chasis made of aluminum.

 

Does anyone have a quote on the sub frame replacement from an Indy?

 

My independent gave me an estimate of about $3,500. There is a lot of labor involved. Look at Utube to watch someone replacing a Mercedes rear sub frame. It is not for the faint of heart. I am still trying to determine whether of not to replace.

 

Quite

 

I’m late lol but I’m currently going through it myself I found a sub frame off eBay rust free $430 & I’m in just under 2k with bushing replacements aswell

 

I bought a Certified used 2011 E350 from a dealership in Maryland in 2014 and the car is a lemon. It has been serviced at the same dealership as purchased every 7-10k miles and currently has 80k. My brakes failed and I was just told the Subframe is Rusted Through. The car was serviced in November where the technician supposedly checked the entire car including brake lines and subframe.

They claim that the Rust must have happened in the last 9 months because the tech would have noticed it! REALLY???

We had no snow last year, so no salt on the roads and the car is garage kept. Sounds to me like MB isn't making cars like they used to! I checked my Subaru and they offer a 10-year corrosion warranty STANDARD! And the extended warranty that MB sold me won't cover the brake lines because of rust(sounds like Continental knows more about MB then me) "corrosion warranty"

Now I am stuck with a car that is "too dangerous to drive" and the dealership with its hand in my pocket. Any others out there with a similar problem?

Hi I have a E220d salon 2012 that is less than 9 years old that has now failed the not for corrosive rear sub frame..I have checked other sites and people are asking for a recall..some dealers are repairing them free of charge.. 8 and half year old car and it's failure is very embarrassing for mercedes this is starting to circulate.so keep spreading the word

 

Mine just fails too! Only 73000 miles. Called MBUSA NO HELP! Say warranty only 4 years. I filed a complaint with NHSTA! Sad for a Benz
Tink

 

Seems fairly common for W212s driven in winter climates with harsh chemicals and salts... Doesn't help, the front attachment point has a large gaping hole (not covered by the wheel well liner) and just sends water/salt into the subframe.

Any black "e-coat" parts on these cars just don't survive.... to bad, as my '95 E320 has about the same or less corrosion than our 2011.

Less paint, more environmentally friendly materials, poorer plating on hardware.... The one good thing is the full underbody shielding. If they combined that, with the hardware and finishes of the W124 era... you'd have a car go 20+ with minimal corrosion.

That said, how many people keep a car 10 years? Usually its the second owner complaining when they buy the car second hand and wants it to go another 10 years.

 

Did the major facelift improve this problem for 2014-2016 models?

 

When I was buying my W212 I looked at a much better loaded car in Pennsylvania that had only a few more miles, for less money. A BIG RED FLAG on Carfax was that both of the rear springs were replaced. A little digging revealed why: they break from RUST. Those are also "E-coated" AFAIK. I figured that the frame wasn't far behind.

I bought my car from a PA dealer but the car was originally from NYC and they had underside pix on the selling website; looked pretty much like new. The original owner might have not driven it much in winter, never mind, at all. I congratulated the dealer for showing undercarriage pix, and he told me that no one in their right mind would spend more than 5K for a 8+ year old used car from PA without looking under it.

 

Springs wear out from time. I also replaced my rear springs but not because of rust, they sagged and the tires wore funny and that was in the 100k+ range. There are stories of them breaking though, they just don't make them like the used to.

 

I don't know why they don't sort these things out properly when there's a problem.

 

The cost! Massive!

 

Was this still a problem with the facelift models? I have a 2016 E350 and this worries me as it came from South Dakota before I bought it

 

Just bought a 2016 six months ago. Love the car, even more than my 2019 Lexus LS500. After reading about so much troubles with MB, I'm sure I will be sorry. Spotless car, rides great, Glad they changed out those no-flat tires. Hate those tires on my Lexus.

 

Anyone???

 

I too have this issue. My 2010 model E350 have a cracked sub frame and the dealer in MD Germany quoted me 3600+ to fix it. Plus the rotors and brakes for all four wheels, I have to pay about 6K to get it fixed. The service manager I spoke to told me he have been seeing this issue pretty common on a lot of C and E series. I cannot believe MB will have a broken subframe due to corrision. This is not the expected MB quality. = (

 

Hi, it’s a long story but E,C class and SLKs have massive subframe corrosion problems! And MB knows this full well! Just before Christmas when I had my car checked for the MOT they discovered my 2010 E class subframe was rusted to the guts! It could fail at any time! I was told not to drive it! The repair cost would be horrific! Eventually I contacted my local MB dealer who said I should bring it in for inspection! They said it was the worst they had seen! 70k only! Luckily I was told the MB would cough up! I have just got the car back all done, no cost other than having the car taken there and taxi to collect it! It’s a serious problem! The day before I found out I drove 100 miles on the motorway, and could well have had a fatal accident! MB UK are about to get one of my special letters! This is going to cost them zillions! I gather they changed the paint spec at some stage! Watch this space! Mercs have a 30 year corrosion warrant! Get you car checked now if it’s over about 6 or 8 years old! I did not receive any advisory notice at all despite them having my contact details! The cost is about £3K! Not good!

 

Unfortunately, MBUSA coverage is 4 years/50,000 whichever comes first (initial factory warranty period).

 

That’s a bummer! I guess in some states its not much of a problem due to the climate! Salted roads don’t help forcsure!

 

I bought a Certified used 2011 E350 from a dealership in Maryland in 2014 and the car is a lemon. It has been serviced at the same dealership as purchased every 7-10k miles and currently has 80k. My brakes failed and I was just told the Subframe is Rusted Through. The car was serviced in November where the technician supposedly checked the entire car including brake lines and subframe.

They claim that the Rust must have happened in the last 9 months because the tech would have noticed it! REALLY???

We had no snow last year, so no salt on the roads and the car is garage kept. Sounds to me like MB isn't making cars like they used to! I checked my Subaru and they offer a 10-year corrosion warranty STANDARD! And the extended warranty that MB sold me won't cover the brake lines because of rust(sounds like Continental knows more about MB then me) "corrosion warranty"

Now I am stuck with a car that is "too dangerous to drive" and the dealership with its hand in my pocket. Any others out there with a similar problem?

I discovered my subframe was rusted to bits just before Christmas, but there was no mention of a problem at its previous MOT inspection a year before! I’m told the problem is due to a change of paint specification! I was told mine was the worst the MB mechanics had seen! Scary and it a massive problem for MB, but to date no notification or recall!

 

I have read that Mercedes Benz corrosion warranty cover is for 30 years on some models . I know of owners that have had these sub frames replaced for free. Get down to the Main Mercedes ASAP dealers and squeal blue murder . Your not the first ,,and not the last .

 

Some owners, like me, have had the work done for free, but not everyone by any means! I don’t know the reason for that, but mine was in a very bad state! I have written to MB UK but have not had a reply yet! From a safety point of view its a VERY serious issue!

 

As i said.

 

Get the media involved . See where other owners have had theirs repaired for free , and talk to that garage dealer .You need to shout blue murder over this,, even to head office in Germany . If you dont you will have to foot the bill or scrap it .

 

Action is being taken, but has t o be done correctly! MB UK heed to be given the chance to respond to my letter! If there is no reply, I will ramp things up! I have contacts in the press!

 

SUBFRAME RUSTING LETTER TO MB UPDATE! I have just received a reply to my letter to the CEO of MBUK! It was a bit ironic as I was just about to send them a letter noting their lack of a reply!! Anyway, a very nice and polite email, that basically said there is NO ISSUE with the subframes on my model as noted here! -- On review of your chassis, there is no commonly listed faults with the sub-frame of your specific car or our 212 series Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars. They say there is no need at the moment for a recall! However, they have given me the details of various organizations to which I can refer the matter! I have to say I am very disappointed with their reply but perhaps not surprised! I intend to inform them of my thoughts and that I will indeed continue with my action! With the potential for a massive rear-end failure, I cannot see how they can dismiss the problem! Watch this space! Be careful out there!

 

UPDATE. 33/2/22 - In reply to MBs email I have sent them an email expressing my great disappointment at their continued denial that there is a problem! I also told them that I know that they have been well aware of the issue for some time, and that their failure to issue a notification or recall is appalling, and that I intend to bring the matter to the attention of various agencies and the media! It’s too damn dangerous to ignore! Watch this space again!

 

That is incredible that there is so much problem with the subframe. It sure is a different Daimler from the one I met 40 years ago. But then on my R129 I am finding some critical parts unobtanium now. Recently had the upper shock mount break and the bilstein, with nothing but the hood to stop it, put a small dimple in. Not available at the dealer anymore and even the highest-rated Chinese made replacement, Corteco, is not available.

I will be coming into possession of my late fathers 2011 E350 and am trying to decide which to keep - my 2000 E430 or the E350.

 

Good day guys. Well I have had a reply from the DVSA, The vehicle safety agency! It looks promising, although it would seems they did not fully read and understand my original email! The problem in getting them to take action would appear to be technical aspects! I’m quite good at technical matters! So, Watch this space again! NB. I have now filled in and sent off a form to the DVSA outlining the problem! However, it seems it all depends on various technical aspects! I’ve done my best!

 

Help!!!

 

Any recourse for a 2011 e550. 4matic pristine mechanical and overall condition. 90k rear drivers side subframe clean break no rust no explanation From anyone why this point in subframe only. Dealer wants 3000 plus labor and tires breaks 6k total give or take. Help!?

unsafe to drive and progressive won’t cover subframes no recalls and it’s like I need to know what caused the random clean break only on drivers rear no rust nothing anywhere wtf???

 

I have a 2011 E350 that I bought from the dealership in 2012. The car is garage kept and spotless. I was driving on RT 80 with my wife and children when a deer ran across the highway. I hit the brakes to avoid a collision and the car took a vicious left turn. It took serious counter steering to get the car back under control and avoid a major accident.

I brought the car to the local Mercedes Repair shop. They told me that the subframe and brake lines were rotted and that this is a common issue with Mercedes. I asked if there was a recall and was told that there isn't yet but if there was a class action suit there would likely be a recall.

I am going to contact Mercedes and the transportation safety board with this issue.

Hopefully no one gets seriously injured because of this issue.

 

I have a 2011 E350 that I bought from the dealership in 2012. The car is garage kept and spotless. I was driving on RT 80 with my wife and children when a deer ran across the highway. I hit the brakes to avoid a collision and the car took a vicious left turn. It took serious counter steering to get the car back under control and avoid a major accident.

I brought the car to the local Mercedes Repair shop. They told me that the subframe and brake lines were rotted and that this is a common issue with Mercedes. I asked if there was a recall and was told that there isn't yet but if there was a class action suit there would likely be a recall.

I am going to contact Mercedes and the transportation safety board with this issue.

Hopefully no one gets seriously injured because of this issue.

I bought a 2011 e550 4matic in march of 2020 from a dealership and it had a clean car fax basically everything was super clean and about 15000 miles into the 89000 on it a year later the subframe completely cracked on the rear driver side only , no rust no accident, nobody can tell me why this happened. My insurance won’t cover it because it was not due to an accident and I can’t pinpoint what or when it actually cracked. Mercedes told me that it is common and there is no recall. It began very u safe and took a toll on my tires and brakes now it is at local Mercedes’ dealership and the damage was $3150 for the subframe installed, they wanted 1000 for the rear brake rotors and pads and 900 for the front as well as 1000 for 4 tires installed also telling me that I need a new gasket around my oil filter $1205 , new trans and eng mounts 2985 installed and a basically having all of it done would cost more than I paid for the car. The subframe seems to be a common problem Mercedes’ dosent like to hear about it is about a days straight of labor and not a hard job but tedious and ties up service dept. Any suggestions on what I should do ?

 

Here is the estimate just for tires pads rotors and subframe mind you their labor rate is 150 an hr