RoadVitals

1996 Mercedes-Benz 320

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Aug 10, 2012
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz 320, most frequently naming the engine, interior & seats and electrical categories.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine215.4%
  • Interior & seats215.4%
  • Electrical215.4%
  • Other / unspecified17.7%
  • Seat belts17.7%
  • Transmission17.7%
  • Airbags17.7%
  • Visibility17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 14
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 10, 2012

CAR WENT COMPLETED "DEAD" AT STOP SIGN. COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE. CALLED MECHANIC AND WIRES WITHIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO WIRE INSULATION CRACKING AND BREAKING OFF AND SHORTING WITH OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. MECHANIC STRIPPED OUT WIRE AND SPLICED IT. STATED THE WIRES ARE IN BAD SHAPE DUE TO THE TYPE OF INSULATION MERCEDES USED FROM 1991 TO 1997. HE STATED I SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AS IT WOULD CONTINUE TO SHORT OUT COMPONENTS AND WOULD BE NOT ONLY A DRIVING HAZARD BUT ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10470163
Incident
Jul 20, 2012
Mileage
108,921 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2008

CRACKED WIRING HARNESS. DISCOVERED WHEN REAR LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10224829
Incident
Jan 15, 2007
Mileage
54,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 20, 2008
Fire reported1 injury reported

MY 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S320 CAUGHT ON FIRE 3/16/08 DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HARNESS WIRING THAT CAUSE BURNED WIRES IN THE CONSOLE, UNDER THE SEAT, THE DOOR PANELS, DAMAGED THE VACUUM LINES, SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND POTENTIALLY THE CONTROL UNITS. YOUR NHTSA HAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES VEHICLES [EARLY 1990 MODELS]. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AT MERCEDES HEADQUARTERS TWO OF THEM DENIED A PROBLEM WITH WIRING CATCHING ON FIRE AND TWO DEALERSHIPS SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY CASES INVOLVING FAULTY WIRING. THE MECHANIC THAT SPOKE HONESTLY SAID THAT THERE ARE AS MANY AS 30,000 VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT MERCEDES IS IN DENIAL AND ARE AVOIDING A MAJOR RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN AMONG DEALERS AND MECHANICS WHO ARE TRAINED TO REPAIR MERCEDES VEHICLES. I WANT MY COMPLAINT ADDED TO THE OTHERS THAT ARE ON YOUR LIST AND COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS THE NHTSA SAYING ABOUT THIS MERCEDES PROBLEM AND WHAT IS THE NEXT MOVE TO DEAL WITH A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM THAT ENDANGERS OUR LIVES ON THE HIGHWAY. MY VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING IN BURNING WHILE ENROUTE TO ALBANY, GA FROM AMERICUS, GA. THE EXPERIENCE WAS FRIGHTENING AND IT COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF LIFE. I AM A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN AND I HOPE YOUR ADMINISTRATION CAN GET MERCEDES TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM LIKE SO MANY OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE DONE. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10221826
Incident
Mar 16, 2008
Mileage
139,044 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 11, 2002

SRS DID NOT DEPLOY UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8007457
Incident
Apr 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Oct 22, 1997

ELECTRONIC SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604408
Incident
Jun 30, 1996
Visibility
Filed Sep 22, 1997

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605151
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 18, 1997

TWO RIMS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
515704
Seat belts
Filed Feb 24, 1997

REAR SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
602613
Incident
May 1, 1996

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 320 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002110025.7
2001170031.8
2000170041.2
1999300033.0
1998390034.4
1997190038.2
1996Viewing140032.4
1995290044.2
1994491049.1

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.