1997 Mercedes-Benz 420 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Suspension

  WELD BROKE AND DISLODGED THE SPRINGS.. *TR

  Oct 4, 2013 · 212,000 miles
• Power train

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD POP NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND SAW THAT METAL WAS HANGING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN BUT WAS UNSAFE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

  Jun 13, 2012 · 140,000 miles
• Suspension

  I AM FILING A COMPLAINT REGARDING AFTER WARRANTY SUPPORT FOR THE ABOVE REFERENCED VEHICLE. THE SPRING SEAT DETACHED FROM THE BODY OF THE AUTOMOBILE CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO FAIL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 45 MPH ON A DOWNHILL GRADE. AS THE SUSPENSION DETACHED FROM THE CAR, THE LEFT FRONT SIDE DRAGGED ON THE ROAD CAUSING THE RIGHT REAR TO SLIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. IMPACT FROM AN APPROACHING VEHICLE WAS NARROWLY ADVERTED. FURTHER, LARGE PIECES OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE COIL SPRING WHERE LEFT IN THE ROAD CAUSING A HAZARD. MY MECHANIC AND THE FACILITY THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE. FURTHER, A INTERNET…

  Jun 28, 2011 · 163,000 miles
• Suspension › Front

  I AM A VICTIM OF A DANGEROUS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW IN MY 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. LAST WEEK, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON A LOCAL STREET NEAR OUR HOME, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FLEW OUT OF THE CAR, RESULTING IN HER COMPLETELY LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS - NO SOUNDS, RATTLES, ETC. LUCKILY, SHE WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED OF 35MPH AND THAT THE CARS AROUND HER STOPPED, ALLOWING HER TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, SHE AVOIDED ANY ACCIDENT AND WAS NOT HURT. THE COIL SPRINGS SUPPORT THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE CAR, AND WHEN THE SPRING FLEW OUT OF THE CAR, THE CAR COLLAPSED ONTO THE TIRE UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT. THE…

  Jul 12, 2011 · 200,150 miles
• Suspension › Front

  1997 MERCEDES E420 DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING PERCH FAILURE. *TR

  Feb 8, 2009 · 172,000 miles
• Exterior lightingFire

  HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING, AND LOOKS IDENTICAL TO PICTURES SENT TO NHTSA BY OTHER OWNERS AND IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT IS UNDETECTABLE UNTIL SHORTS OR FIRES DEVELOP. THE INSULATION IS LITERALLY FALLING APART, AND THIS CREATES GREAT POTENTIAL FOR UNSAFE OPERATION, SHORTCIRCUITS, BREAKDOWN AND IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR

  Nov 21, 2008 · 111,111 miles
• Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs

  I HAVE A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. THE SPRING PERCHES HAVE FAILED ON BOTH FRONT SIDES OF THIS CAR. THE DRIVE SIDE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND HAD TO BE WELDED AND REPAIRED. I CAUGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE BEFORE ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE OCCURRED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE AND HAS BEEN RECALLED IN CANADA FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT NOT IN THE USA. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO THE VERY REAL PROBABILITY OF INJURY OR DEATH FROM THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR

  Jul 15, 2006
• Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ 420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS CRACKED. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RUST ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE THE COIL SPRING CRACKED. HE INSPECTED THE COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT TOO HAS RUST, BUT IT IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE AS THE DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING. THE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $666. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,300.

  Aug 28, 2007 · 88,300 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.