I spent some time this morning searching the NHTSA website. It is not easy to search for complaints on the W210 spring perch issue, but it is possible.

The reason it is hard is because they break the complaints up into models and classes, so you have to search under E class and 300,320 and 420 models to see all of the complaints. Also the complaint categories can be confusing, and I didn't have time to search them all, but if you got to the NHTSA site and search under 1997 E class complaints, then go to suspension:front:springs:coils springs you will see 6 complaints filed of failures taking place from May of 2000 through March of 2005. There are also complaints under "front suspension" category. Same for 1996 and 1998. Clearly the problem exists. If NHTSA has 6 complaints on file for one year's model that should be a red-flag.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz