I seem to have stumbled across one of the car industry’s worst-kept safety secrets: several Mercedes-Benz models are prone to corroded and perforated subframes. These essentially attach the axle and suspension to the main frame. So when they fail, they fail big time. In the US, Mercedes has increased the length of its warranty; in the UK it is handing out no-liability “goodwill” payments to cover some repairs.
My 2011 car was found to have a corroded and holed rear subframe six weeks ago, but Mercedes is refusing to fund the repair. It seems outrageous that a well-known safety issue is not being addressed in the UK with a recall or a revised warranty. It will fail its MOT unless I foot a repair of more than £3,000 – roughly half of what the car is worth.
JM, Marcham, Oxon
A corroded subframe can affect steering and control. Last month, drivers in the US launched a class action against Mercedes, alleging it had been aware of the problem since at least 2009, and failed to warn or reimburse owners. According to the lawsuit, eight models from 2010 to 2022 are affected by rusting, which is from the inside out and therefore can be difficult to detect until the damage is substantial.
Mercedes is contesting the suit but extended the subframe warranty in the US from four years and 50,000 miles to 20 years and unlimited mileage. UK drivers have been left unprotected.
Why? Mercedes wouldn’t tell me. It also refused to say how long it has known of the defect, why drivers were not warned and why it has paid for some UK repairs and not others. Instead, it declares: “The Mercedes-Benz brand has always stood for safety and quality … firmly anchored in our company values and defines our day-to-day actions.
“We conduct continuous product and field monitoring and respond accordingly if deviations are detected. In this case, after due consideration, it was decided potential customer complaints would be investigated on a case-by-case basis under goodwill parameters.”
In your case, of course, “goodwill parameters” were arbitrarily refused. Or they were, at first. Within a day of my contact, it decided it would cover your costs, and a repair slot was instantly conjured.
Drivers of older cars will struggle to assert their rights if their warranty has expired since the company is refusing to admit liability.
I suggest they cite the US class action and warranty extension. Prospective purchasers beware: a posh logo and high price tag does not necessarily guarantee reliability.
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