1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKING POWER DIMINISHED AND REQUIRED A LOT MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10743372

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015, 4:45 PM, AN ATTENDANT AT SAM'S CLUB GAS PUMPS, TULSA HILLS SHOPPING CENTER, TULSA, OK, OVERFLOWED THE GAS TANK, CREATING A SPILL LARGE ENOUGH THAT ABSORBENT MATERIALS WAS USED TO SOAK UP THE GAS ON THE PAVEMENT (VIDEO AVAILABLE FROM SAM'S). UPON LEAVING, THE ENGINE DIED BEFORE EXITING THE STATION. RESTARTED AND DIED AGAIN AT THE FIRST TRAFFIC LIGHT ABOUT 1/4 MILE AWAY. RESTARTED AND ABNORMAL NOISES WERE HEARD DURING THE NEXT MILE AND WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THERE WAS A LARGE EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD, PRODUCING LOTS OF BLACK SMOKE BUT NO EXTENDED FIRE. LOCAL POLICE HELPED IN REMOVING THE CAR FROM TRAFFIC AND LATER LOADING THE CAR ON A WRECKER. THE DESCRIPTION FROM THE MBZ REPAIR FACILITY GAVE THIS EXPLANATION AND REPAIRED THE CAR AT A COST OF $2,600. THE GAS OVERFLOW CAUSED THE CHARCOAL CANISTER TO FILL UP WITH LIQUID GAS AND WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED THE LIQUID GAS WAS SUCKED INTO THE INPUT MANIFOLD, CAUSING AN UNDETECTED EXPLOSION AND CRACKING THE MANIFOLD. THE EXPLOSIONS GOT LARGER AS THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AND FINALLY AN EXPLOSION BLEW MOST OF ONE END OF THE INPUT MANIFOLD OFF (MANIFOLD AVAILABLE). END *TR

NHTSA ID

10683710

Incident

Jan 21, 2015

Mileage

149,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE'S CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE. AS A RESULT THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO REPORT OF IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10052172

Incident

Dec 26, 2003

Mileage

89,000 mi

1998 MERCEDES E320 AT DIFFERENT TIMES, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS LOCKED BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. IN JUNE OF 2003 THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE CRANKSHAFT DAMPNER WHICH WAS IN PIECES, THE RUBBER DRIVE BELT DAMAGED THE ENGINE FRONT COVER AND ENGINE OIL PAN. IN SEPTEMBER 2003 THE DOORS UNLOCKED BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE CONSUMER DRIVING AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCK THEM MANUALLY, ALSO WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN BY THEMSELVES AND THE DOORS LOCKED BY THEMSELVES. THE RUBBER GASKETS AROUND THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS LEAKED WATER, THE DASH LIGHTS BURNED OUT CONSTANTLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY AND THE VEHICLE BURNED A QUART OF OIL PER MONTH, THE AIR CONDITION WAS REBUILT TWICE, THE STARTER FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. *JB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10042440

Incident

Oct 7, 2003

Mileage

5,000 mi

THE HARMONIC BALANCE, LOCATED IN THE CRANKSHAFT, FAILED AND CAUSED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. ALSO, SUN ROOF FRAME WAS FRACTURED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10044616

Incident

Oct 23, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE SHUTING OFF. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF LEAVING THE CONSUMER WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKE POWER. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10026921

Mileage

58,000 mi

HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED ON MY 1998,MERCEDES BENZ THE DRIVEBELT SHREAD,AND AN OIL LEAK IN THE TIMING CHAIN COVER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10020922

Incident

Aug 18, 2002

Mileage

78,624 mi

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE CAUSING DAMAGES. TS THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE HARMONIC BALANCE FLEW APART, IT HAD TAKEN OFF THE FRONT COVER OF THE MOTOR AND THE OIL PAN. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A FAULTY PART. SCC

NHTSA ID

8021086

Incident

Oct 11, 2002

Mileage

67,000 mi

CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES.ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

842833

Incident

May 28, 1999

CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

842817

Incident

May 28, 1999