2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 Airbags Problems

REPORT NUMBER: CAL-03-07 NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST

NHTSA ID

11534246

Incident

Jul 25, 2023

System restraint malfunction seems like it the passenger side airbag won’t let you no if on or of

NHTSA ID

11492801

Incident

Nov 4, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HIT A POT HOLE WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MERCEDES-BENZ OF ATLANTA SOUTH (3775 ROYAL S PKWY, ATLANTA, GA 30349) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN AN AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF CONSUMER STATED SINCE THE INCIDENT, MANUFACTURE SENT A LETTER STATING THERE WAS A RECALL WITH THE AIRBAGS.*JB

NHTSA ID

11331129

Incident

Mar 15, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND TORSO INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.

NHTSA ID

11166086

Incident

Dec 3, 2018

Mileage

193,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR CEILING AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT A CRACK IN THE RIM CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 06/21/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10862243

Incident

Feb 26, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

VEHICLE PRESENTED WITH RED LIGHT INDICATING TO TAKE VEHICLE TO WORKSHOP IN RED. BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, SRS SYSTEM STALLED THE VEHICLE, EMERGENCY MODE WAS ACTIVITED,WE WERE UNABLE, AT FIRST TO TURN ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS IF IT WAS PARALYZED. WE FINALLY GOT THE VEHICLE TO RUN AND TURNED VEHICLE INTO MB DEALERSHIP. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE SBC UNIT WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, WE WERE BESET WITH 1,800.00 REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED FOR LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES, THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND MYSELF NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR ADEQUATE BRAKING DISTANCE. FUEL: UPON FUELING VEHICLE, THE FUEL HANDLE WILL STOP AND IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF FUEL WILL SPURT OUT FROM FUEL TANK. THERE IS ALSO A SMELL OF GAS/FUEL IN THE CABIN AFTER FILL UP. THIS CREATES A HUGE SPILL AND NOTIFICATION TO ATTENDANT. TAKES UP A GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME TO FILL UP TANK. SURPRISINGLY WE HAVEN'T BEEN CHARGED FOR FUEL SPILLS. SRS: LIGHT ON FOR SAFETY RESPONSE SYSTEM, SHORTLY AFTER VISIT AT MB DEALERSHIP. HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO MB DEALERSHIP FOR FEAR OF ANOTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10721468

Incident

Nov 22, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS RELAYED IN THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006.I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2007 AS A USED VEHICLE WITH APROX. 40,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT BEEN SENT ANYTHING FROM MBENZ NOTIFYING OF THIS ISSUE.VEHICLE PUT IN SHOP 4-16-20015 AT MERCEDES. DIAGNOSIS WAS FAULTY SBC PUMP SYSTEM AT A COST FOR REPAIR $2400.00. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.LASTLY, PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. KNOWN AS THE SRS SYSTEM.THIS ISSUE IS SPELLED OUT AS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN IN MERCEDES E CLASS OPERATOR'S MANUAL, TOLD BY MERCEDES SERVICE DEPT,THIS IS A $800.00 BILL TO HAVE REPAIRED. QUESTION,, DOES SOMETHING TRAGIC HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE, MERCEDES BENZ LIVE UP TO THEIR OBLIGATION OF KEEPING THOSE WHO PURCHASE THEIR VEHICLE,,,,,SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706233

Incident

Apr 9, 2015

Mileage

85,000 mi

THERE IS A SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT IS DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TO TURN OFF, EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS PROPERLY SEATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576038

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID

10439747

Incident

Dec 13, 2011

Mileage

123,000 mi

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 100 MPH. COLLISION AND AM NOT SURE BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE.THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVERS FACE SMASHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE AND BREAKING HIS NOSE. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10425096

Incident

Sep 3, 2011

Mileage

1,152,780 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON I94 THRU NORTH DAKOTA MY SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH BOARD TOLD ME TO VISIT A REPAIR SHOP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER THE LIGHT WENT OUT. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHILE SLOWING TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR A FUEL STOP. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOR ABOUT 5 OR TEN MINUTES. THIS PATTERN OF NORMAL ENGINE STARTS AND THEN INTERMITTENT SRS WARNINGS CONTINUES. I HAVE READ IN THE MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS FORUM THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION : PE10017 THAT APPEARS TO REFLECT THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

10420610

Incident

Jul 30, 2011

Mileage

73,454 mi

E 320 MERCEDES 2003 CAR FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SRS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD APPEARED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1,000 TO ASSESS AND CORRECT PROBLEM. AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED AND HAVE NEVER BEEN USED. I NEVER FIXED THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD FALL UNDER MERCEDES CARE. THIS IS OF CONCERN SINCE IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DEPLOY MY PASSENGER MAY BE CRITICALLY HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373617

Incident

Mar 6, 2008

Mileage

95,000 mi

ON-BOARD COMPUTER GIVES AN "SRS MALFUNCTION - VISIT WORKSHOP!" MESSAGE, DESPITE BEING EVALUATED AND RESET BY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PROBLEM APPEARS TO EXIST FOR MANY OWNERS OF THIS MAKE/MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348260

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SRS SENSOR FAILED. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SENSOR AT THE COST OF $857. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10238704

Incident

Jul 14, 2008

Mileage

48,000 mi

SRS LIGHT CAME AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT AFTER FOUR DAYS AGAIN THE LIGHT AND WARNING CAME ON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154809

Incident

Apr 7, 2006

Mileage

31,800 mi

I WAS PARKING MY VEHICLE (2003 MERCEDES E 320) BETWEEN 2 CARS IN A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY ON THE PARKING SPOT (AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN TO ENTER THE SPOT ... WHILE THE FEET WERE ON THE BREAK PEDAL) WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION THAT MADE THE VEHICLE RACE OFF AND HIT THE CONCRETE WALL ABOUT TWO FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER, HOOD, HEAD LIGHTS. THE FRONT DOORS WERE JAMMED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO USE THE PASSENGER DOORS FOR EXITING THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS BURNING SMELL (BUT NO SMOKE) IN THE CAR SOON AFTER THE IMPACT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUFFERED SEVERE NECK, CHEST AND ABDOMINAL PAIN. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THIS MODEL IN 2004. THIS AS ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER (RALLYE MORORS, ROSLYN, NY) .*JB

NHTSA ID

10137018

Incident

Sep 2, 2005

THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY UPON IMPACT. *NM ON AUG 2004 THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE SLID UNDER THE REAR OF A FORD EXCURSION. THE CONSUMERS STOMACH HIT THE STEERING WHEEL BRANDING HER STOMACH WITH THE MERCEDES EMBLEM SCALDING HER LEFT ARM. THE CONSUMER HAD TO GET ASSISTANCE GETTING OUT OF THE SEAT BELT. REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THE SRS SYSTEM IN DEC 2002. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TC

NHTSA ID

10095507

Incident

Aug 28, 2004

MERCEDES E320-ANOTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE SRS-RESTRAINT LIGHT-GATEWAY. MERCEDES CLAIMS REAR AIRBAG PROBLEM, CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BUT IF YOU DIDN'T BUY IT FROM SERVICING DEALER, NO LOANER! MB VEHICLE MOTOR INQUIRY INDICATED CAR WAS NAV PRE-WIRED. PLANNED INSTALLATION WHEN AVAILABLE, NO PREPAY, NOW I'M STUCK WITHOUT NAV, REASON I BOUGHT MB *LA

NHTSA ID

10043369

Incident

Oct 13, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE VEHICLES AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012026

Incident

Oct 14, 2002

Mileage

9,000 mi