Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
19
Latest Apr 3, 2012
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.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Mar 21, 1997
What this page shows
Our database holds 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz 320. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–19 of 19
Suspension
Filed Apr 3, 2012
4/3/2012 FOR 2 DAYS RATTLE FROM LEFT FRONT END. HAD IT CHECKED AT INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER. SAID STRUT BUSHING DRY. LUBED IT. A FEW HOURS LATER NOSE INTENSIFIED AND SPRING AND OTHER PIECES FELL ONTO ROAD AS I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO CONDO DRIVEWAY. HAVING IT TOWED TO DEALER. HAD I BEEN AT SPEED AND/OR IN TRAFFIC THINGS COULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY BAD. ALL 97 E320'S SHOULD HAVE THIS AREA INSPECTED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10454019
Incident
Apr 3, 2012
Body & structure
Filed Jan 9, 2007
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES 320. THE CONTACT'S SPRING PERCH THAT HOLDS THE SPRING IN FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION WELL TIP BROKE AND CAME APART FROM THE FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MILES PER HOUR. PER THE CONTACT, IT SEEMD TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM BY MERCEDES AND A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED OF THE RISK AND DANGER INVOLVED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MERCEDES WILL REPAIR SOME BUT NOT ALL OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL MERCEDES. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THEREWAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACTWAS AWARE OF THE DESIGN FLAW OF THE WELD STRUCTURAL PART OF THE FRAME WHICH CAME APART.
NHTSA ID
10178233
Incident
Nov 26, 2006
Mileage
190,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 1, 2004
THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE CORRODED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT END WILL COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA ID
10099146
Incident
Sep 13, 2004
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 11, 2003
"BLACK ELECTRICAL JUNCTION/HARNESS BOX" WAS FOUND WITH A STRONG ELECTRICAL SMELL OF ELECTRICITY BURNING THROUGH PART OF THE BOX.*AK. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK.*JB *TS
NHTSA ID
10015312
Incident
Jan 30, 2003
Airbags
Filed Apr 6, 2001
Crash reported
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH FRONTAL DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ID
885240
Suspension
Filed Mar 12, 2001
SINCE PURCHASE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PULLING TO RIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER 4- 5 TIMES, DID WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND CHANGED TIRES. VEHICLE WILL NOT RETAIN A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, CONSTANTLY PULLS TO RIGHT. *AK
NHTSA ID
882723
Incident
Apr 1, 1997
Interior & seatsTransmission
Filed Jan 20, 2000
MBZ REPLACED TRANSMISSION & ELECTRONIC SENDING UNIT AT WHICH POINT I BECAME AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAD HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS AND IT JUST SEEMED TO BE ESCALATING. I TURNED THE CAR IN FOR VOLUNTARY REPOSSESSION AND PAID A $15,000 PENALTY.
NHTSA ID
717607
Incident
Dec 30, 1998
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jan 20, 2000
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
717604
Incident
Sep 17, 1998
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Jan 20, 2000
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
717603
Incident
Apr 28, 1997
Airbags
Filed Nov 10, 1999
FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DEPLOYED.VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING AT THE TIME. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
852750
Incident
Nov 8, 1999
Suspension
Filed Sep 27, 1999
WHEN DRIVING AT 40 THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING AND THE RUBBER IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
848785
Incident
Sep 13, 1999
Visibility
Filed Apr 27, 1999
POOR PERFORMANCE OF WINDSHILED CAUSES LACK OF VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHILED WHEN IT RAINS.
NHTSA ID
545233
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 1, 1999
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED. *YC
NHTSA ID
608639
Incident
Feb 1, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999
HATCH DOOR RELEASE FAILED.
NHTSA ID
607609
Airbags
Filed Jun 7, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT 20 MPH.
NHTSA ID
536702
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Visibility
Filed Oct 28, 1997
DESIGN PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER; THE SINGLE BLADE DOES NOT KEEP UP WITH THE HEAVY RAIN FALL, CAUSING CONTINUOUS INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ROAD VISIBILITY. *AK *JB
NHTSA ID
817784
Heating & air conditioningTransmission
Filed Oct 15, 1997
A/C FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
523807
Incident
Oct 7, 1997
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 2, 1997
Fire reported
VISUAL SYSTEMS: DOUBLE PANE WINDOW,REAR WINDSHIELD,REAR VIEW MIRRORS: BLURRED IMAGES,CAN'T TELL HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE COMING UP BESIDES DRIVER, DISTORTED HEADLIGHTS. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM ,BUT IT CAN BE A HAZARD. *AK
NHTSA ID
810605
Suspension
Filed Mar 21, 1997
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE PULLS VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT, CANNOT KEEP VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK
NHTSA ID
804771
Incident
Nov 6, 1996
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.