Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 83 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320. 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.
Showing 1–25 of 83 · page 1 of 4
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER, PASSENGER, CEILING, AND BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT OCCURRING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT LEFT A VOICE MESSAGE WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND INJURIES TO THE FACE, NECK, AND SHOULDERS, WHICH REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT UNIVERSAL JOINT AND DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG SENSOR TO ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATE AND DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF GREENWICH, 261 WEST PUTNAM AVE, GREENWICH, CT) WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
8/31/18 IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE (FROM A FIRE BUT NO FLAME WAS SEEN) I HAD TO OPEN ALL WINDOWS TO BREATH AND SEE. MY HOME WAS WITHIN SIGHT SO I DROVE TO THE MIDDLE OF MY LAWN AWAY FROM ANY BUILDING, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT DOWN. I AS QUICKLY AS POSABLE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO SHUT DOWN.
TAKATA RECALL SRS LIGHT ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT
MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL AND THE SMELL OF THE GAS IS REALLY BAD FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. BASED ON THE ANALYSIS OF FUEL TANK LEAKS ON MODEL YEAR 2003-08 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS VEHICLES SHOWS ME THAT THE E-CALLS HAS THIS ISSUE BUT MY CAR IS A 1999. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WAS THE YEAR BASED SOLELY ON THE 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY OR OTHER FACTS ALSO.
1999 E320 RIGHT FRONT UPPER COIL SPRING MOUNT ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM FRAME. THIS PROBLEM IS FREQUENT ON THIS MODEL AND CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL UNDER A FAILURE CONDITION. THE LEFT COIL SPRING CAP IS FINE, AS IT IS IN MOST CASES I'VE RESEARCHED. - I FOUND THIS PROBLEM JUST BEFORE IT BROKE WHILE REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKES, AND THIS PARTS FAILURE REQUIRES REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFECTED AREA AND PARTS. THE REPAIR IS ~$550.00 AND IS A MUST TO USE THE CAR SAFELY. - MERCEDES BENZ CERTAINLY KNOWS ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS FAILED TO AT LEAST NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL THAT USERS EXPECT TO LAST FOR DECADES. THIS IS NOT A "NORMAL" PROBLEM.
I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, GOING ~5 MPH, WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION BY MY HEAD AND THE AIR CURTAINS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SELF-DEPLOYED. AFTER THAT MY HUSBAND, A MECHANIC, DEACTIVATED THE SRS USING THE SWITCH ON THE CONSOLE OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE AIR CURTAINS AND AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SELF-DEPLOYED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THEN ON OR ABOUT JULY 31, 2014, A CLEAR DAY, AROUND 8:30 A.M. WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION, THE SEATBELT RETRACTED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT CAUSED A PAINFUL BLOW TO HIS CHEST AND PINNED HIM INTO THE CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. AT FIRST HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SHOT BECAUSE OF THE NOISE FROM THE EXPLOSION, IT WAS HARD TO BREATHE AND PAINFUL. HOWEVER, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, HE REALIZED IT WAS THE SEATBELT AND STRUGGLED TO RELEASE IT. THE SEATBELT PUT A GASH IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER THROUGH HIS CLOTHES. (WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE GASH.) IN ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS, WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD, WE HAVE NOT BEEN SPEEDING, AND, THEREFORE, DID NOT CALL THE POLICE. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER WORKS, AND DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT THE SEAT BELT WOULD VIOLATE A NEW JERSEY STATUTE. WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE MORE AIRBAGS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF SPONTANEOUSLY SELF-DEPLOYING WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. WE'VE CONTACTED MERCEDES AND WERE TOLD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER AND PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS. WE FEEL THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED BY MERCEDES BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT NEAR THE REAR TIRE. I HAD IT FIXED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. I CURRENTLY HAVE A FUEL LEAK AT THE SAME PLACE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 141,000 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE APPEARED TO BE LOWERED. AFTER TAKING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL OFF THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE WHEEL WELL WAS CORRODED AND THE SUSPENSION WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
MY CAR SKIDDED OF THE ROAD AFTER I TRIED TO BRAKE IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE TWO RIGHT WHEELS OF THE CAR WERE IN A PUDDLE. I COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, AND DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I WAS ON A RAMP APPROACHING HIGHWAY 101, AND I WAS NOT SPEEDING. IT WAS A REALLY SCARY MOMENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, AND THEIR CONCLUSION WAS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE. *JS
JUST LIKE THE GM CARS NOW BEING RECALLED, MY CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO BE REPAIRED---AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE IMMEDIATELY, AS THE MECHANIC HAD DONE TAKEN CAR OF A CAR THAT HAD THE IDENTICAL "PROBLEM" JUST THE WEEK BEFORE. PARTS REPLACED WERE L CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND AIR MASS METER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DEFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE RECOMMENDED AIR PRESSURE WAS ADDED TO THE TIRE. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ALUMINUM WHEEL RIM WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,832. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED AND ALL OF THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CRASH INTO ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320 . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, AN ABNORMAL HISSING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FILLER NECK. AS THE CONTACT REMOVED THE FUEL PUMP HOSE FROM THE FILLER NECK VALVE, FUEL SPEWED FROM THE FILLER NECK ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,011.
AS I WAS ENTERING THE INTERSTATE ON THE ON RAMP MY REAR U JOINT ON FRONT DRIVE SHAFT CAME APART. SUBSEQUENTLY BOTH MY CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS MY DRIVER FRONT DOOR AIR BAG. AS IT WAS CONSIDERED A MECHANICAL FAILURE MY INSURANCE WITH USAA DID NOT COVER ANYTHING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY FORCE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
FRONT SPRING PERCH: THIS COMPONENT IS HEAVILY CORRODED. IT STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY WORK. SPRING IS NOTICIBLY BENT AND TOUCHING THE STRUTS WHICH IS CAUSING GRINDING AND VIBRATION. SPRING IS VERY CLOSE TO FALLING OFF WHICH WILL CAUSE THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TO DROP WHICH I BELIEVE IS VERY DANGEROUS IF THE PART FAILS WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE HAVE MERCEDES BENZ ISSUE A RECALL REGARDING THIS MATTER. I WOULD HATE FOR PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR LIVES IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD'VE BEEN PREVENTED. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED ON THE TIRE WHEN THE SPRING PERCH THAT'S CONNECTED TO THE SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED HE WAS NOT SURE IF HE COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND HE HAD TO ORDER THE REPAIR PARTS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN UPDATED 09/21/11
THE SUSPENSION SPRING PERCH BROKEN AND SPRING COIL FELL OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR THE BRAKES WHEN HE WAS INFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE SPRING PERCH ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE RUST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.
1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320, TRAVELING EASTBOUND IN THE CENTER LANE. UNIT 1 HIT HER BRAKES AND A SMALL DRIVE SHAFT BROKE AND TORE A WIRE LOOSE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CURTAIN SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE BROKEN WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0858-90) UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF
DRIVER SIDE SRS AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. NOT RELATED TO ANY COLLISION OR ACCIDENT. CAR WAS STOPPED, IN PARK, WHEN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BANGING INTO THE DRIVER LEFT SIDE AND ARM. IF THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN STOPPED, THE DRIVER PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISE TO THE LEFT SIDE AND LEFT ARM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOT WHERE IT WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,000. UPDATED 02/23/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AN INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED SOMETHING HAPPENED WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SAY SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT WAS. UPDATED 02/28/11
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR, THE ABS LIGHTS ON AND THE ASR, FUSE NO 2 ON THE K40 MODULE WAS BLOWN AND THERE WERE ALSO CODES INDICATING THAT NO POWER WAS GOING TO THE ASR HYDRAULIC UNIT. THERE WAS NO SIGNAL FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SPEED SENSOR. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED A WIRING HARNESS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER HAD SHORTED WITH THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE AND CREATED A SMALL FIRE THAT BURNED AND DESTROYED THE INSULATING MATERIAL THROUGH APPROX. 7 INCHES OF THE HARNESS. THE SMALL FIRE ALSO BURNED THE INSULATING MATERIAL ON 2 OTHER WIRING HARNESS IN THE VICINITY. THE TECHNICIAN HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE TO BE RELATED TO THE LOCATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS. THE HARNESS WAS PINNED DOWN TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE BY THE AIR CONDITIONING HOSE ADJACENT TO WHERE 2 PARTS OF THE BODY WHERE JOINED TOGETHER. THE POINT WHERE THE TWO PARTS OF THE BODY WERE JOINED TOGETHER CREATED A SHARP EDGE. OVER TIME THE VIBRATION OF THE ENGINE AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE CAUSES THE SHARP EDGE TO CUT INTO THE WIRING HARNESS EVENTUALLY WEARING IT TO BARE WIRE. WHEN THE BARE WIRE SHORTED WITH THE BODY, THE FIRE WAS CREATED THUS BURNING A SECTION TO THE WIRING HARNESS AND THUS CAUSING THE MALFUNCTIONS INDICATED ABOVE. OVERALL, THE TECHNICIAN AND MANY OTHER REPORTS CLAIM THAT THIS WAS MERCEDES BENZ'S DESIGN FLAW AND FAILURE THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PLACED INCONVENIENTLY UNDERNEATH THE REFRIGERANT LINE. WE CAN PROVIDE THE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE IF NECESSARY.
ENGINE JUST STOPS RUNNING/STALLING AFTER FROM 15 - 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED TWICE MIDWAY THROUGH LEFT TURNS. (SCARY!) CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME AND ANY SPEED. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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