1997 Mercedes-Benz E320 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.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

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

Recent owner complaints

• Structure › Body

  * Left front substrate to which the Coil Spring Perch mounts is badly rusted and the spring is about to come off under pressure of the cars weight, thereby endangering myself and the general public. The car was towed to Feldmann Imports, a Mercedes-Benz dealer at 4901 American Blvd west, Bloomington , MN 55437 (952) -641-7908 and can be inspected there. * If the spring perch loosens any further, the coil spring would shoot off and likely interfere with the steering system, fuel lines and any number of other components on the vehicle, also there have been reports of the spring going out of the car under pressure and hitting other objects. * Yes, My car was in for another matter at LaMettry's…

  Nov 1, 2023
• Seat belts

  Driver seatbelt exploded while buckled up as the car was going about 30 mph on a 4 lane street. No warning and was very traumatic. I had to pull over when I smelled something burning. When I released seatbelt to get out of the car it would not buckle up when I tried to get back in the seat. Had to drive home without seatbelt on Christmas Eve. The same thing happened a month later to the passenger seatbelt when I was a passenger in my car. This was very traumatic while driving down a 4 lane Avenue.

  Dec 24, 2022
• Air bags2 injuries

  1997 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAGS MALFUNCTION. *SMD CONSUMER STATED THAT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DEFECTIVELY FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 5MPH. CONSUMER STATED THAT CONTENTS FROM THE AIRBAG INFLATOR DID NOT GO INTO AIRBAG BUT INSTEAD HIT HIMSELF AND A PASSENGER IN THE TORSO AREA. *CN

  Sep 29, 2014
• Seat belts

  WAS DRIVING SLOW LIKE 10 MPH AND PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AS THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT SLAMMED INTO THE STERNUM OF MY 73 YEAR OLD MOTHER, WHO ALMOST HAD AN EPISODE OF CARDIAC ARREST, BOTH FROM THE IMPACT OF THE BELT PUSHING ON HER HEART AND THE EXPLOSION. ONE WEEK LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DID THE SAME THING . I HAD NOT USED THE DRIVERS SIDE BELT ON THE DAY OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, OR ANY DAY SINCE. BUT THEY ARE EXPLODING ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT THE DRIVERS BELT WAS PUT IN USE AFTER THE PASSENGER BELT INCIDENT. THE SAME SLOW RIGHT TURN, WHILE BRAKING INTO A THE TURN,…

  Nov 25, 2017 · 146,000 miles
• Seat belts

  WHILE PROCEEDING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET, AT ABOUT 30 MPH, DURING THE DAY, WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, I HEARD A METALLIC EXPLOSION INSIDE OUR 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320 SEDAN. THE SEAT BELT IMMEDIATELY AND PAINFULLY PINNED ME BACK INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT, RENDERING ME BREATHLESS AND DISORIENTATED. I FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN SHOT, AND I LOOKED AROUND OUTSIDE THE CAR FOR THE SOURCE. I TURNED OFF THE STREET AND PARKED. I WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE SEATBELT, BUT IT DID NOT RETRACT. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND INSPECTED ITS EXTERIOR. THERE WAS NOTHING TO NOTE. I SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN AUTHORIZED INSPECTION AND EVALUATION. I LEARNED THAT THE SEATBELT…

  Dec 22, 2016 · 137,000 miles
• Suspension

  LEFT FRONT SPRING CUP ASSEMBLY RUSTED AND BROKE AWAY FROM BODY. RESULTED IN DROPPED FRONT END. PART REPLACED AND AREA REPAIRED.

  Dec 28, 2016 · 113,400 miles
• Electrical systemFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY DUE TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

  Nov 26, 2016 · 170,000 miles
• Suspension

  WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ON A MAJOR STREET I HEARD A LOUD POP AND PULLED OVER TO SEE IF I RAN OVER SOMETHING, BUT NOTHING WAS IN THE ROAD. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND BEGAN DRIVING I NOTICED THE SUSPENSION WAS MAKING NOISES. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING PERCH SEPARATED FROM THE BODY AND THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THEY QUOTED ME $1500.00 TO REPAIR.

  Aug 26, 2016 · 150,000 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

• FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING EJECTIONClosed

  ODI HAS FOCUSED THIS INVESTIGATION ON ASSESSING THE RISKS POSED BY A SEPARATED SPRING AS (1) A ROAD HAZARD AND (2) THE POTENTIAL FOR VEHICLE CONTROL TO BE COMPROMISED AFTER THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IN THE VEHICLE.BOTH RISKS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CORROSION, FLEXING, AND FRACTURE OF THE UPPER FRONT SUSPENSION MOUNTING BRACKET.TIME-IN-SERVICE FAILURE RATES ARE NOTABLY HIGHER IN SALT BELT STATES SINCE CORROSION IS A PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FAILURE MODE.SINCE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, ODI IS SKEPTICAL THAT OWNERS CAN ALWAYS DETECT THE SUBTLE SIDE TO SIDE DIFFERENCE IN RIDE HEIGHT AND/OR INSPECT OR NOTICE THAT THE UPPER SUSPENSION BRACKET HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY CORROSION.(1) ROAD HAZARD - ALTHOUGH THE (APPROX. 7 LB.) FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING THAT MAY BE EJECTED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD POSE A SERIOUS ROAD…

  PE07021 · opened Apr 19, 2007 · closed Aug 9, 2007