1995 Mercedes-Benz 320 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 320, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1647.1%
- Airbags411.8%
- Engine411.8%
- Transmission25.9%
- Visibility25.9%
- Powertrain (other)12.9%
- Seat belts12.9%
- Suspension12.9%
- Driver assistance12.9%
- Brakes12.9%
- Body & structure12.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR WAS CRUISING AT 10MPH BEFORE GETTING INTO OUR HOUSE DRIVEWAY, WHEN SMOG CAME UNDER THE HOOD, OPEN HOOD IMMEDIATELY AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS MELTING DOWN, SHUT OFF ENGINE AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. *TR
DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, MISSING INSULATION WAS DISCOVERED ON WIRING TO A SENSOR IN THE AIR TUBE, VISIBLE OUTSIDE OF TAPE WRAP. I MADE SURE THAT WIRES WERE NOT TOUCHING AND INSULATED THE EXPOSED AREAS AT THE CLIP-ON CONNECTOR TO THE SENSOR. ENGINE MISSFIRE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO FUEL DELIVERY AND INJECTOR CLEANER WAS ADDED TO TANK. DRIVEABILTY CONTINUED TO WORSEN, AS ENGINE MISSFIRE BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN. I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF THE WIRING ISSUES, SO I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE TAPE WRAP ON THE LEAD TO THE SENSOR. THE ENTIRE LENGTH THAT I EXPOSED, HAS CRACKED AND MISSING INSULATION. I THEN STOPPED, AS DISTURBING ANY ADDITIONAL WIRING WILL WORSEN THE PROBLEM. I CHECKED WITH MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TOWARD FIXING THE DEFECTIVE WIRING, AND THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE DISPOSED OF THEIR VEHICLES OR JUST QUIT DRIVING THEM RATHER THAN SPEND THE MONEY TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. DUE TO THE RISK OF FIRE, NOW IT JUST SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I DECIDE IF I WANT TO HAVE IT HAULED AWAY. *TR
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND TRANSMISSION GEAR CONSOLE CAME APART. DRIVER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IF NOTHING WAS HIT.*AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING A FOUR VEHICLE COLLISION, RESULTING IN A FATALITY AND INJURY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR CUTS OFF AT VERY HIGH SPEED WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC. *JB
I CONTACTED TWO DEALERS AND THREE INDEPENDENT MERCEDES MECHANICS AND THEY ALL REPORTED THE SAME THING. MERCEDES USED A NEW TYPE OF GASKET MATERIAL ON THE MERCEDES IN-LINE SIX ENGINE AND THERE HAS BEEN REPEATED FAILURES WITH THERE GASKETS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND TRANSMISSION GEAR CONSOLE CAME APART. DRIVER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IF NOTHING WAS HIT.*AK
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY.
EGG ODOR BEING SMELLED WHILE DRIVING, DEALER SAID ALL 320 MODELS SMELL LIKE THAT. TT CONSUMER STATESVEHICLE HAD THIS PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING, CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO BRING VEHICLE IN FOR CORRECTION FOUR TIMES, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT IT, ALSO MIRROR ON RIGHT SIDE DOOR DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ALIGNED PROPERLY, CONSUMER WAS ALSO ADVISED TO CHANGE FUEL BUT THAT DID NOT HELP AND ALSO HEWAS TOLD THAT BY REPLACING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD HELP THE SITUATION BUT DID NOT HELP EITHER.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH THE SWAY BAR AND LOWER CONTROL ARM, LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
BAD SEAT BELT CONTACT CAUSES SRS LIGHT TOO STAY ON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. QCAW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH THE SWAY BAR AND LOWER CONTROL ARM, LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS BRAKES FAILED. ALSO, ELECTRIC SHORT, CAUSING BATTERY/HEADLIGHTS/RADIO/POWER LOCK AND INSTRUMENT PANEL TO FAIL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE'S BODY DID NOT SHIELD WELL DURING AN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN DEATH AND INJURY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .