2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 Owner Complaints

Unknown, the car filled with smoke from within the dashboard on driver side.

NHTSA ID

11459312

Incident

Apr 2, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SUFFERED INJURIES. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AFTER THE FAILURE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF BELLEVUE (11850 BEL-RED RD, BELLEVUE, WA 98005) WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD CONTACT HIM TO DISCUSS THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 231,000.

NHTSA ID

11389752

Incident

Jan 23, 2021

Mileage

231,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF SEAL DISINTEGRATED AND CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS 2008 MODEL VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE 2001 VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED MERCEDES-BENZ OF FORT LAUDERDALE LOCATED AT 2411 S FEDERAL HWY, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33316; (954) 949-0623) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME HOWEVER, THE 2001 MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 360,000.*LN*JB

NHTSA ID

11377432

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

360,000 mi

SRS LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. CAR WAS CHECKED IN A REPAIR SHOP. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE A CODE WHICH HAD RECALL ISSUES. I CALLED A MERCEDES DEALER TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS. WHAT IS TO BE DONE WHEN AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!

NHTSA ID

11183309

Incident

Dec 26, 2018

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY. COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE IN 10-15 MINUTES. FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT INDUCED THE FIRE BUT UNABLE TO BE SURE. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE CAR WAS IN GOOD MAINTENANCE, NO ENGINE WORK HAD BEEN DONE RECENTLY. LAST REPAIR WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACEMENT AFTER REPAIRING A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK IN EARLY DECEMBER 2018

NHTSA ID

11174621

Incident

Jan 26, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

IGNITION AND KEY DEFECTS CAUSES CAR TO STOP RUNNING AND STALL. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

10915715

Incident

Oct 7, 2016

Mileage

153,769 mi

WHEN VEH. IS STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR JUST IN A PARKING LOT, IT STALLS OR WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY. EVENTUALLY IT STARTS AND AWAY WE GO. NEVER A WARNING WHATSOEVER. ALL FLUIDS ARE FULL AND BATTERY IS GOOD. REC. FUEL(GAS) IS ALWAYS USED.

NHTSA ID

10824424

Incident

Feb 4, 2016

DEFECTIVE INSULATION ON THE WIRING FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM IS CATALYZED BY HEAT. INSULATION CRUMBLES AND LEAVE BARE WIRE EXPOSED, CAUSING SHORTAGE AND FAILURE/MELTING OF LIGHT SOCKET. OBVIOUSLY, MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA REALIZED ISSUE BUT S NOT COMPELLED TO MAKE REPAIRS!

NHTSA ID

10749075

Incident

Aug 17, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR WATER FROM A CUP IN THE CUPHOLDER DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CENTER CONSOLE WHERE THE GEAR SHIFTER IS LOCATED SPILLED AND SEEPED DOWN INTO AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BOARD THAT WAS LOCATED BENEATH THE CUP HOLDER. THE CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND WAS INOPERABLE. THE CIRCUIT BOARD SHORT CIRCUITED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED WHERE LIQUID WAS SPILLED AND SEEPED INTO THE CIRCUIT BOARD. I SUSPECT THAT THE LOCATION OF THE CIRCUIT WOULD BE THE SAME FOR SEVERAL MODEL YEARS AND IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THAT IT MAKES NO SENSE TO LOCATE A CIRCUIT BOARD IN A PLACE WHERE LIQUID IS LIKELY TO BE SPILLED AND CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT RENDERS THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT LEFT THE CAR INOPERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WERE EXPOSED TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR BEING STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY OR STRUCK BY A VEHICLE TRYING TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND SEEK SAFETY ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583902

Incident

Feb 4, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE WIRING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS IS COMING OFF LEAVING EXPOSED COPPER WIRES THAT SHORT OUT CAUSING HEADLIGHTS, ETC. TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563714

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

167,000 mi

2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND DISCOVERED THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, HE TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS NOT WORKING EITHER. WITH GREAT EFFORT, HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, RE-STARTED IT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON. THE BRAKES AND STEERING ALSO RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION.

NHTSA ID

10557787

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOW BEAM HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING. WE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULB, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WE NOTED THAT THE SOCKET FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM APPEARED BURNT. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO REWIRED THE RIGHT FRONT LOW BEAM LIGHT SOCKET AND WIRE HARNESS. AFTER THIS INITIAL PROBLEM, THE DRIVER SIDE HIGH BEAM HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING. WE REPLACED THE LAMP BULB. WE NOTED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HIGH BEAM HEADLAMP SOCKET APPEARED BURNT. WE DID NOT REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE HIGH BEAM HEADLAMP SOCKET. SO IT DOES NOT WORK. AFTER THE ABOVE TWO PROBLEMS, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE, TAIL, AND PARKING LAMP STOPPED WORKING. WE CHANGED THE LAMP BULB, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE, TAIL, AND PARKING LAMP SOCKET DID NOT APPEAR BURNT. INSTEAD THE LAMP WAS LOSE AND COULD NOT BE TIGHTENED. WE USED BLACK ELECTRIC TAPE TO HOLD THE LAMP IN PLACE, WHICH HAS WORKED. HOWEVER, WE MUST PERIODICALLY RE-TAPE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557183

Incident

Nov 7, 2011

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACIAL, CHIN, KNEE, SHOULDER, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10509475

Incident

Apr 7, 2013

Mileage

135,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR HEAD ON COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 40 MPH WITH SECONDARY VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROX. 50 MPH. SECONDARY VEHICLE IMPACTED THE MERCEDES NEARLY HEAD ON. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE MERCEDES. THE MERCEDES WILL PROBABLY BE A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10495974

Incident

Jan 26, 2013

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL AT WORK AND ABOUT TO COME TO A STAND STILL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED JUMPED THE CURB AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS LEAKAGE OF RADIATOR FLUID ON THE GROUND. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM WAS APPARENTLY FIXED BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AGAIN WITHIN 24 HRS OF THE FIRST REPAIR SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY. THIS TIME THE CAR WAS KEPT FOR 5 DAYS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF . THE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR VACUUM LEAKS BUT NONE WAS FOUND. THE REPORT FROM THE DEALER READ THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD A 113 PART NUMBER BUT SHOULD BE 112 PART NUMBER. REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW WITH 113 TEST AND THEN FOUND TO BE OKAY. ROAD TEST OKAY .NO CODES RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO MY HOME ON 11/16/12. I DROVE IT ON TWO OCCASIONS BEFORE12/1/12 AND IT DROVE FINE WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487599

Incident

Dec 1, 2012

Mileage

42,400 mi

2001 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COMPLAINT CONCERNING CLOUDING OF THE HEADLIGHTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $450 TO REPLACE TWO POLYCARBONATE HEADLIGHT COVERS. THE CONSUMER FOUND ANOTHER COMPANY TO REPLACE THEM FOR $100. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A LARGE SUM OF MONEY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10430929

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ 320E. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING THE RESULTS FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10416491

Incident

Jul 30, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320. FRONT SPRING PERCH SURROUNDING PERCH STRUCTURE IS RUSTING THROUGH UNDERNEATH THE FACTORY UNDERCOATING. WE HAVE A 2" RUST THROUGH RIGHT NEXT TO THE SPRING PERCH. SURROUND PERIMTETER OF AROUND 5" RADIUS SHOW EXTENSIVE RUST OF VARIOUS DEGREE. THE RUST IS SO EXTENSIVE THAT IT COMPROMISES THE VEHICLE SAFETY. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IS VERY POSSIBLE. THIS RUST AROUND FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING PERCH IS PREVALENT IN EARLIER W210 BODY CHASSIS FROM 1996 TO 2002. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS MADE MB DO A RECALL SERVICE. UNITED KINGDOM ALSO HAVE MASSIVE ISSUES WITH THE SPRING PERCH. SINCE THESE CARS ARE AT LEAST 9 YEARS OLD AND AS OLD AS 15 YEARS OLD... THE RUST HAS GOTTEN TO CERTAIN POINT IN VARIOUS DEGREE FROM CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO IMPENDING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. YOU NEED TO SCRAPE SUSPECT FLAKING UNDERCOATING TO REVEAL THE EXTENSIVE RUST BEHIND IT. OTHERWISE, THE UNDERCOATING MASKS THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413656

Incident

Jul 19, 2011

Mileage

93,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CUP HOLDER WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE GEAR SHIFT AND WHEN LIQUID SPILLS INTO THE GEAR SHIFT, IT SHUTS THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT SHORTED OUT THE CONTROLS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL IT DRIED OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; HOWEVER, HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136000.

NHTSA ID

10372208

Incident

Jun 9, 2010

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW COLLAPSED INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE THE GLASS FROM THE DOOR PANEL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,479. UPDATED 10/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10*JB

NHTSA ID

10347467

Incident

Jul 20, 2010

Mileage

38,479 mi

2001 MERCEDES E-320. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH HEADLIGHT COVERS AND REQUESTS MONEY TO REPLACE THEM. *TGW SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEN THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SQUEAL, WHICH THE LOCAL DEALER INSISTED WAS THE AC FAN, BUT IT WAS NOT. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS WERE COMPLETELY OPAQUE. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS WERE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO BECOME DIM.*JB

NHTSA ID

10319796

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

ON MARCH 10, 2009, I WAS PARKING MY 2001 E320 MERCEDES AT THE CITADEL MILITARY CAMPUS, WHEN SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE I WAS PARKING AND THEN THE CAR WAS ENGULFED INTO FLAMES.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267308

Incident

Mar 10, 2009

Mileage

86,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH ON A SMOOTH STRAIGHT ROAD, RIGHT FRONT UPPER COIL SPRING PERCH BROKE FREE FROM CHASSIS DUE TO RUST FAILURE OF SPRING PERCH CAUSING A LOAD NOISE AND THE CAR SLUMPED TO ONE SIDE. TIRES WERE CHANGED JUST TWO WEEKS EARLIER WITH NO SIGN OF TROUBLE. CAR IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP WAITING FOR ESTIMATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253106

Incident

Dec 28, 2008

Mileage

140,385 mi

TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT TURN OFF. MAKING A LEFT TURN CAUSES THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL TO TURN ON AND VICE VERSA. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184101

Incident

Feb 28, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNSW A 2001 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN SHE STARTED TO SMELL FUMES. THE CONTACT COULD NOT FIND WHERE THE FUMES WERE COMING FROM. SHE THEN CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FUMES AND HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THEN, THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTALED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTION AND HAVE YET TO FULLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10180855

Incident

Jan 16, 2007

Mileage

49,000 mi