Model year record
1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 recalls & problems
The 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 37 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (8 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320.
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
E320 Sedan
| City / highway | 18 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel
E320 Sedan
| City / highway | 18 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
E320 Wagon
| City / highway | 17 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
E320 Wagon
| City / highway | 18 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
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
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline | 8 | 67,000 mi |
| SuspensionFront | 7 | 143,681 mi |
| StructureFrame and members; Body | 5 | 151,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 4 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 4 | — |
| VisibilityPower window devices and controls; Rearview mirrors/devices | 4 | — |
| Exterior lightingFog lights; Headlights › Concealment devices | 3 | — |
| Air bags | 3 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines; Automatic transmission | 2 | — |
| TiresSidewall | 2 | — |
| Engine | 2 | — |
| Steering | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Unknown or other
THIS SILVER MERCEDES (NOT SURE THE YEAR) CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FOR OVER TWO WEEKS, NO SIGNS OF IT BEING MOVED AT ALL. 16329 CHATSWORTH STREET DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AND I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY NEIGHBORS PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS VEHICLE, FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN IT EVER BE PARKED HERE. POSSIBLE STOLEN CAR AND JUST LEFT THERE, PLEASE CHECK ON VEHICLE AND HAVE IT TOWED AWAY.
- Wheels
I HAVE PRIMEWELL VALERA TOURING 2 TIRES AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DEVELOPED A SIDEWALL BULGE WHEN I WAS REVERSING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE SAME FAMILY OF TIRES HAVE A RECALL, AND WHILE MY SET ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, I HAVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IT APPEARS THAT THE BULGE WAS DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT (PER MY MECHANIC) AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE IS UNSAFE TO RIDE ON, SO I AM USING THE FULL SPARE AT THE MOMENT. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER , GITI TIRES, AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE TIRE IS PRIMEWELL VALERA TOURING 2, 215/55/16, DOT NUMBER IS Y9JM CLHX 1515.
- Suspension
PASSENGER COIL SPRING SEAT BROKE , CAR IN GARAGE LAST 15 YEARS , NOT EVEN 100000 MILES YET
- Air bags
YOUR WEB SITE STATES "INVALID REQUEST" WHEN I PLACE VIN NUMBER IN. CORRECT CHARACTERS WERE USED. *TR
- Suspension
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFINC EAST ALONG HADDONFIELD BERLIN ROAD IN CHERRY HILL NJ, I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT EVSHAM ROAD. AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND GRINDING SOUND FROM THE FRONT END THAT ENDED WITH A LOUD CLANK ON THE GROUND. AFTER WHICH I SAW THE SPRING FROM MY DRIVER'S SIDE ON THE ROAD BEHIND ME IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. DRIVING WAS NOT AFFECTED, NOT WAS STEERING. HOWEVER WE CAME TO FIND THAT THE PANEL CONTAINING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING PERCH HAD RUSTED AND THEN TORN AWAY FROM THE BOD, THUS RELEASING THE FRONT SPRING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MBUSA, BUT NOT A RECALL ISSUE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS…
- Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKING POWER DIMINISHED AND REQUIRED A LOT MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Fuel/propulsion system
ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015, 4:45 PM, AN ATTENDANT AT SAM'S CLUB GAS PUMPS, TULSA HILLS SHOPPING CENTER, TULSA, OK, OVERFLOWED THE GAS TANK, CREATING A SPILL LARGE ENOUGH THAT ABSORBENT MATERIALS WAS USED TO SOAK UP THE GAS ON THE PAVEMENT (VIDEO AVAILABLE FROM SAM'S). UPON LEAVING, THE ENGINE DIED BEFORE EXITING THE STATION. RESTARTED AND DIED AGAIN AT THE FIRST TRAFFIC LIGHT ABOUT 1/4 MILE AWAY. RESTARTED AND ABNORMAL NOISES WERE HEARD DURING THE NEXT MILE AND WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THERE WAS A LARGE EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD, PRODUCING LOTS OF BLACK SMOKE BUT NO EXTENDED FIRE. LOCAL POLICE HELPED IN REMOVING THE CAR FROM TRAFFIC AND LATER LOADING THE CAR ON A WRECKER. THE…
- Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 160,322.
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…
- ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILUREClosed
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE…