1998 Mercedes-Benz 320 Owner Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE TIRE TREAD DAMAGED THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $6000. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO MAIL THE BRIDGESTONE INSIGNIA,TIRE SIZE 225/60/R16 TO THEM FOR A REFUND; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER RESPONDED VIA MAIL THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES TO HER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ID

10295668

Incident

Nov 14, 2009

Mileage

185,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN ROAD IN 1998 MERCEDEZ E320, JUST EXITED NJ TURNPIKE AT EXIT 2, HEARD LOUD NOISE CAR VEERED TO LEFT AND LARGE SPRING DROPPED OUT FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223203

Incident

Apr 2, 2008

Mileage

115,287 mi

HEAD LAMP COVERS ON THE MERCEDES "E" CLASS TURN FROM CLEAR TO A FOGY TRANSLUCENT OVER TIME. ONCE THE HEAD LIGHT LENS TURNS TRANSLUCENT THE HEAD LIGHT BEAM IS NO LONGER ABLE TO TRANSMIT LIGHT AS FAR DOWN THE ROAD AS THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATION. THE HEAD LAMP IS ALSO NO LONGER CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING LIGHT AS TO THE U.S. DOT STANDARDS. THIS SITUATION LEAD TO AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR ALL DRIVERS OF THE "E" CLASS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172946

Incident

Nov 8, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT SIDE AND SWERVED. THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT AN 18 WHEELER. ONCE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS REGAINED, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE SHOP DETERMINED THAT A SPRING MUST HAVE FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE DEALER'S BODY SHOP SPECIALIST DETERMINED THAT CORROSION MUST HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY SALT. WHEN THE DEALER WAS ASKED HOW OFTEN DEFECTS OF THIS NATURE OCCUR, THE DEALER RESPONSE WAS NEVER. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF THE COST OF THE REPAIR, HOWEVER THE CONTACT WAS NOT CONCERNED ENTIRELY ABOUT THE COST. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED EXTREME CONCERN REGARDING SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE; THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE CONTACT REMAINS UNCOMFORTABLE AND INSISTS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

NHTSA ID

10160370

Incident

Jun 15, 2006

Mileage

109,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH 1998 MERCEDES BENZ. THE SHOCK HOUSING CAME APART FROM THE CHASSIS. THE CHASSIS COLLAPSED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS SITTING ON TOP OF THE WHEEL. THERE WAS NO SUSPENSION ON THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE SHOCK HOUSING. MECHANIC FIXED THE CAR WITH AN ADDITIONAL AFTER MARKET BRACKET. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE CAR. THE MERCEDES BENZ ORGANIZATION CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. CONSUMER DID FILED A COMPLAINT WHILE TALKING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131126

Incident

Jul 25, 2005

Mileage

92,200 mi

ENGINE CONSTANTLY LOOSES OIL, POTENTIAL TO LOCK ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093566

Incident

Sep 10, 2004

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE AN ESSENTIAL PART WAS MISSING. *AK THERE WAS LOW FLUID. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE POWER STEERING CYLINDER LEAKED INTO THE BOOT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10046094

Incident

Oct 30, 2003

Mileage

89,941 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, WHILE DOWNSHIFTING TO CONTROL DOWNHILL SPEED SHIFT LEVER MOVED BETWEEN ALL SHIFT POSITIONS WITHOUT ENGAGING IN ANY GEAR, AND VEHICLE WAS FREEWHEELING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10011321

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, STOPPING ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND FAILING IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. OWNER SAID SHE ALMOST WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT FUEL PUMP WAS THE CAUSE. THIS WAS HER THIRD REPLACEMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8017660

Incident

Aug 24, 2002

SOUTHERN STAR REPAIR SHOP 256-236-5389 HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH SAME PROBLEM IN JUNE, 2002. YOUR DATABASE ODI # 607611 APPEARS TO BE SAME. DEALERSHIP IN MONTGOMERY, AL AND KANSAS CITY, MO, HAVE SEEN SAME PART FAILURE. -- THANK YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID

763750

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

UNDER CARRIAGE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED NOT SALT RELATED. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8012637

Incident

Apr 28, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

760225

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

CAR STARTED BURNING OUT LIGHT BULBS AND HORNS, 25 INCIDENTS, FROM 02/15/1998 TO 03/06/2002. TWO DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. LIGHTS INCLUDED TAIL LIGHTS/ HEADLIGHTS/ FOG LIGHTS/ SIDE MARKERS. I HAVE SEEN OTHER MB E320'S IN THE DEALERS FOR SAME REASON.*AK

NHTSA ID

759770

Incident

Feb 15, 1998

AIRBAG LIGHT ON FOR 1 WEEK. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO FOUND WIRE HARNESS FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONNECTOR SEEMED TO BE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

883211

Incident

Feb 28, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED, LUCKILY THE SHADE WAS CLOSED AND KEPT THE GLASS FROM ENTERING VEHICLE, TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS FREEZING . *SLC

NHTSA ID

880821

Incident

Feb 10, 2001

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TO PARK PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES MOMENTARILY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO BE DIAGNOSED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

865774

Incident

Jun 19, 2000

TRNSMISSION FAILURE. ALSO, REPEATED FAILURE OF WINDOWS AND ELECTRIC SEATS REAR ENTRY AND BRAKE LIGHTS, INDICATE SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. WARRANTY COVERS THE REPAIRS, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSIST. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CAR HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE 1998 320 CLK? WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS?

NHTSA ID

720630

Incident

Jul 7, 1999

AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. IT TOOK 5 FIRE TRUCKS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

851980

Incident

Oct 14, 1999

LAST WEEK I TOOK MY WIFE'S M CLASS IN FOR SERVICE AT OUR MB DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

713790

Incident

Oct 22, 1999

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, HITTING A STONE WALL ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK * MJS

NHTSA ID

844559

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

LEFT TURN SIGNAL. LOCK ON BACK HATCH.

NHTSA ID

609680

Incident

Jan 10, 1998

FUEL LEVEL SENSOR.

NHTSA ID

609656

POWER SEAT COMPLETELY MOVED BACK AND RECLINED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION MAKING IT IMPOSSIBILE FOR ME TO REACH THE PEDALS

NHTSA ID

706092

Incident

Apr 28, 1999

EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE SUNROOF/WINDOWS/LARM MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. CAR IS BECOMING A LEMON. *AK

NHTSA ID

705861

Incident

Apr 18, 1999

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAS BROKEN IN 9 MONTHS. IF YOU OPERATE THE SWITCH ON OR OFF WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS ARE NOT POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD (E.G. A CURVED ROAD), YOU CAN FEEL THE POOR OPERATION OF THIS SWITCH. IT NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED. *AK

NHTSA ID

705006

Incident

Mar 27, 1999