RoadVitals

1999 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.
30
Latest Mar 9, 2014
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 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and seat belts 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

  • Electrical715.6%
  • Engine511.1%
  • Seat belts48.9%
  • Airbags36.7%
  • Brakes36.7%
  • Driver assistance36.7%
  • Steering36.7%
  • Transmission36.7%

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 9, 2014

THIS IS A CORRECTION TO THE SUBMISSION MADE EARLIER THIS MORNING. JUST LIKE THE GM CARS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING RECALLED, MY CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON A LIMITED ACCESS ROAD. FORTUNATELY FOR MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE, AND THERE WAS A WIDE SHOULDER. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR, WHICH HAD TO BE TOWED. THE MECHANIC KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT WAS WRONG, AND THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TO A MERCEDES HE REPAIRED THE WEEK BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568001
Incident
Oct 3, 2012
Mileage
59,463 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 16, 2013

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY AT NIGHT AT AROUND 50 MPH; THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND A SOUND OF METAL BEING THROWN AROUND UNDER THE CAR. THE SOUND CAME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THEN AFTER A LOUD THUMP THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY NOISE. THE CAR DIDN'T FEEL THE SAME AFTER THAT. AFTER PULLING OVER AND CHECKING THE PASSENGER SIDE, YOU COULD SEE THAT THE CAR WAS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND, THE WHEELS TOUCHED THE TOP OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE NEXT MORNING AFTER JACKING THE CAR UP THE SPRING WAS NO LONGER IN THE CAR, AND THE ENTIRE UPPER ASSEMBLY OF THE SPRING SETUP WAS COMPLETELY TORN OFF. AFTER LOOKING CLOSE YOU SEE THAT THERE WAS QUITE A LOT OF RUST WHERE THE METAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT AND WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, AND THAT THE COIL SPRING PERCH WAS POORLY PROTECTED IN MY MODEL OF MERCEDES. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10535730
Incident
Aug 15, 2013
Suspension
Filed Mar 6, 2006

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED TO MY 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320 SEDAN. THE "INCIDENT" INVOLVES THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING PERCH FAILURE. IF IT WERE NOT FOR AN INSPECTION RELATED TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, MY MECHANIC WAS SURE THAT A SERIOUS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GLEEN FROM MERCEDES BENZ OWNER WEBSITES, THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THESE VEHICLES AND YET MB HAS NOT ORDERED A RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10152053
Incident
Mar 6, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 27, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THIS WAS DUE TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WITH THE TURN SIGNAL OR HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE USED. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10151333
Incident
Feb 19, 2006
Mileage
50,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 11, 2005

ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THERE WAS AN EXYREMELY LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WAS JARRED. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THIS IS WHERE THE INFANT SEATS ARE LOCATED BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE MY GRAND CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO RIDE. FORTUNATELY, THEY WERE NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE REPLACED THE BATTERY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10116733
Incident
Apr 9, 2005
Steering
Filed Mar 7, 2005

WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FLUID HOSE CLAMP OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE CAUSE HAS HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10113506
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Mileage
91,448 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 8, 2004

THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FLIES OFF THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. I OWN A MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP. THERE HAVE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF FAILURES AND SOMEONE WILL DIE WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR STEERING.MERCEDES IS NOT COVERING THESE FAILURESOUT OF WARRANTY. IT AFFECTS ALL V-6 ENGINES FROM 96-2003 . CALL ANY DEALER PARTS DEPT. AND ASK HOW OFTEN THEY SELL ONE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10060759
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
55,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK *MR

NHTSA ID
10053593
Incident
Dec 10, 2003
Mileage
51,236 mi

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
1999Viewing300033.0
1998390034.4
1997190038.2
1996140032.4
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.