Model year record
2001 Mercedes-Benz 320 recalls & problems
The 2001 Mercedes-Benz 320 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 17 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (8 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz 320.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Ignition | 8 | 39,000 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingCooling system; Exhaust system | 5 | 39,000 mi |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages | 4 | — |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections | 4 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights | 4 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal › Sensor/control module | 2 | — |
| Seats | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch | 1 | — |
| Power trainManual transmission | 1 | — |
| Seat belts | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Seats
MERCEDES 2001 C 320. POWER SEAT CONTROL MODULE FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DRAIN THE BATTERY TO A EXTENT THAT CAR CAN NOT BE STARTED UP. NEW BATTERY!!!!!!!!!! *TR
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
ONE OF THE FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLES OF MY 2001 MB E320 JUST STOPPED WORKING. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE WIRE INSULATION HAD VANISHED - SIMPLY DISAPPEARED - AND THERE WERE BARE WIRES COMING IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. I TRIED WRAPPING THE WIRE WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE, AND THIS WORKED FOR A WHILE, BUT THE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING AFTER A FEW WEEKS. THIS CAR WAS IN A REPAIR SHOP FOR A REAR END COLLISION RECENTLY, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER NOTICED THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT HE USED TO WORK FOR MERCEDES-BENZ, AND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. APPARENTLY, IT GETS SO HOT THAT THE WIRE INSULATION ACTUALLY DISINTEGRATES AND LEAVES THE WIRES BARE. AND, EVEN MORE SURPRISINGLY,…
- Electrical system
CAR IS A 2001 C320 MERCEDES. BATTERY KEEPS DYING DESPITE REPLACING WITH BRAND NEW BATTERIES ON 2 OCCASIONS, ONLY 2 WEEKS APART. DEALER SAYS IT'S THE SEAT MODULE DRAINING THE BATTERY. MY CAR WILL NOT START IF I DON'T DRIVE IT FOR A DAY OR LONGER. THESE MODULES ARE A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. FIX IS TO DISCONNECT SEAT POWER, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
- Seats
CAR IS A 2001 C320 MERCEDES. BATTERY KEEPS DYING DESPITE REPLACING WITH BRAND NEW BATTERIES ON 2 OCCASIONS, ONLY 1 MONTH APART. DEALER SAYS IT'S THE SEAT MODULE DRAINING THE BATTERY. MY CAR WILL NOT START IF I DON'T DRIVE IT FOR A DAY OR LONGER. THESE MODULES ARE A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
- Electrical system
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL, HEATING AND COOLING, SUSPENSION, POWER STEERING, LIGHTING, AND PURGE VALVE SYSTEMS. SPENT 7K IN LAST 3 YEARS ALONE. HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM WAS REMOVED AND REINSTALLED TWICE AND STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. STRUTS AND STEERING SYSTEM COMPLETELY BRAKES DOWN EVERY 6 MONTHS. I AM IN THE REPAIR SHOP EVERY 2-3 MONTHS! AVERAGE OUT OF POCKET (AFTER EXTENDED WARRANTY) $500... OUTRAGEOUS (X4 OR 5 PER YEAR!). WARRANTY KICKS IN ANOTHER 4K PER YEAR. MY RECORDS SHOW 14 VISITS TO MERCEDES REPAIR SHOPS SINCE NOVEMBER 2004... INSANE. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST MERCEDES! EVEN MY SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME TO GET A LEXUS OR ACURA! *CN
- Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module
WE WERE ON AN EXTENDED TRIP WHEN THE "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ALONG WITH "SRS" CAME ON AND STAYED ON. AFTER WE RETURNED, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY INDICATED THAT THE "BABY SENSOR" IN THE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED. WE DO NOT HAVE A BABY AND WOULD NOT HAVE NEED FOR THIS SENSOR. OUR CONCERN IS THAT IF THE SENSOR CAN FAIL ON IT'S OWN AND IF THE AIRBAGS ARE DEACTIVATED IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY MAY OCCUR. WE HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK TO BACKUP THIS SITUATION. *JB
- Electrical system
THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE GETS DRAINED OUT DUE TO THE COMPONENTS OF THE MEMORY SEATS BEING SHORTED. *JB
- Tires
WHEN I WENT TO PICK MY BABY SITTER LAST NIGHT AROUND 8.30 PM, I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE REAR WHEEL OF MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C320. I REPLACED THE FLAT TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE. AFTER I REPLACED SPARE TIRE, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE.*AK I CALLED MERCEDES ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE WHERE I LEARNED, FOR THE FIRST TIME, ABOUT THE "SPECIAL" NUTS. LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT THE NUTS WERE NOT WITH THE REST OF THE SPARE TIRE REPAIR KIT. NO WARNING OR ANY OTHER PRECAUTION (I.E., MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE ORIGINAL NUTS ON THE SPARE TIRE) TAKEN TO INSURE THAT SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A CERTIFIED MERCEDES MECHANIC COULD PERFORM THE SIMPLE TASK OF CHANGING A FLAT TIRE WITHOUT CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO VERY EXPENSIVE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.