RoadVitals

2001 Mercedes-Benz E Class Owner Complaints

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.
15
Latest Sep 14, 2009
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
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 May 28, 2002

What this page shows

Our database holds 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz E Class. 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 1–15 of 15

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Sep 14, 2009

THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, WHICH ACTIVATES THE STOP LAMPS, ANT-LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL MECHANISMS, ON MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320 HAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 5 YEARS. THE PART NUMBER THAT CONTINUALLY GOES BAD IS 001-545-64-09. THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT WAS 09-12-09. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283940
Incident
Sep 12, 2009
Mileage
128,431 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 10, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE TO THE SPARE, THE CONTACT DID NOT USE THE SPECIAL SPARE NUTS. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENTER ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE MOUNTS IN THE WHEEL LOCKED AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE. THERE WAS NO PRECAUTIONARY WARNING LABEL ON THE SPARE TIRE TO PREVENT THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE NUTS AND BOLTS, REAR HUBS AND AXLE, BRAKE ROTORS, SHOES, CALIPERS, DRIVESHAFT, SPRINGS, SHACKLES, AND TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE READ THE INFORMATION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL PRIOR TO CHANGING THE TIRE. THEY REFUSED TO ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,485. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SECOND BLOWOUT. UPDATED 10/15/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10241731
Incident
Sep 3, 2008
Mileage
99,485 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 27, 2008

DURING SCHEDULED TIRE ROTATION AT SEARS AUTO SHOP, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A LARGE PIECE (APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH IN DIAMETER) OF THE TIRE WAS MISSING. THE MISSING PIECE WAS FROM THE PART OF THE TIRE THAT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE STREET. THE SEARS MANAGER, INFORMED ME THAT THE TIRE IS UNSAFE TO RE-INSTALLED. HE ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE AND OFFERED TO REPLACE IT AT 30% OF THE CURRENT PRICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10225846
Incident
May 18, 2006
Mileage
62,000 mi
Filed Nov 4, 2007

WE DRIVING ALONG ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY WIFE BUMPED A CUP OF COFFEE IN THE CUP HOLDER THAT CAUSED A SMALL AMOUNT OF COFFEE TO SPLASH OUT OF THE CUP AND ONTO THE CONSOLE. IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES A NUMBER OF THINGS HAPPENED, FIRST THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLANK, SPEEDOMETER, TACK, ETC, AND ALL VEHICLE ALARMS CAME ON, SECOND THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED INTO HIGH GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT. I NOTICED WHEN I CAME TO A SMALL RISE IN THE ROAD THE CAR WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT SO I LOST POWER. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT TRANSMISSION IN PARK, IT LOCKED IN THAT POSITION AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR AND WOULD HARDLY START. I FOUND THIS TO BE UNSAFE CONSEQUENCE OF SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF COFFEE TO BE SPLASHED ONTO THE CONSOLE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A MODULE IN THAT AREA THAT AFFECTED NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF THE CAR. THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE 60 ALARM CODES IN THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THE BILL WAS $725. THIS IS A FREIGHTING THING TO HAPPEN AT 70 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID
10207882
Incident
Sep 28, 2007
Mileage
69,600 mi
Transmission
Filed May 16, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. THE CUP HOLDER LOCATED NEAR THE GEAR SHIFT WHEN HOLDING COLD SUBSTANCES SWEATS AND THE LIQUID LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRONICS OF THE GEAR SHIFT. WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE LEAKING IN THE CUP HOLDER BLEW OUT THE BRAINS OF THE TRANSMISSION AND LOCKED THE BACK WHEELS ON MAY 16, 2007. THE ENGINE WILL START; HOWEVER, WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD (ACCELERATE). THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED SUDDENLY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE SIZE IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 69000.

NHTSA ID
10190965
Incident
May 15, 2007
Mileage
69,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 5, 2007

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY HAS MALFUNCTIONED ON MY 2001 MERCEDES E320. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED IN ALMOST EVERY MARCEDES. THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10187120
Incident
Sep 1, 2006
Mileage
30,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 7, 2006

DID A SMOG CHECK ON MY MERCEDES E320 AND FAILED BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NOT BE ON. CHECKED THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, JUST FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT. I SAW THERE IS A RECALL FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MERCEDES S-CLASS, AND WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT PROBLEM ALSO EXIST IN E-CLASS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10175507
Incident
Dec 4, 2006
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+4 more
Filed May 4, 2006

2001 BENZ E320 WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVABLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BEARINGS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND A NEW LEFT SPINDLE, ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (3 TIMES), FUEL LEVEL SENSOR, OIL LEVEL SENSOR, A/C CONTROL AND REGULATORS ( 3 TIMES), STEERING LOCK AND KEY, RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR. ALL THESE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
10157340
Incident
May 1, 2006
Visibility
Filed Nov 10, 2005

POWER WINDOW NOT WORKING, ONE BY ONE EACH POWER WINDOW STOP WORKING. I REPLACE THE MOTOR, THAN 4 MONTHS LATER REPLACED THE WINDOW ASSEMBLY. THIS APPLIES TO THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10142400
Incident
Jul 7, 2005
Brakes
Filed Oct 7, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. NO ONE WAS INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10095449
Incident
Oct 2, 2004
BrakesDriver assistanceInterior & seats+2 more
Filed May 7, 2004

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320 SR. (NAR) *MR THE RADIO DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE TELEPHONE DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM (BAS) DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION ON MOST OCCASIONS. *NM *CB

NHTSA ID
10073329
Incident
Mar 10, 2004
Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2003

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10051799
Incident
Dec 18, 2003
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jul 3, 2003

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 MERCEDES E320. *AK THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE WASHER TUBE CAME OFF AND CAUSED WASHER FLUID TO LEAK. THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED WHICH CAUSED IT TO READ INCORRECTLY. THE HEAD REST MOTOR FAILED. *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID
10022108
Incident
May 27, 2003
Airbags
Filed Mar 4, 2003

THE AIR BAGS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SOMETHING PROBABLY HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED AND CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10009814
Incident
Dec 21, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed May 28, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR ARE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FOWARD AND CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A BUILDING, THE DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE PEDAL POSITIONS AND TRAVEL WERE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS.(MERCEDES E320 2001)*JB

NHTSA ID
565863

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .