Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The sunroof has a recall due to the fact that it has a bad seal, which could fly off due to this issue. I know the seal is bad because the whole roof leaked a few years ago and fried all the electronic; e.g. lights, sunroof controls, trunk light controls, side door controls. I went to the dealership and they said they would not fix it because they could not open the sunroof to see the manufacturer date on it.
The glue around front windshield has deteriorated and has caused major damage to my interior lights, electrical essemblys , interior damage to seats , dash board and flooring. Including the trunk seal is also deteriorated and causing the battery to stop working and has made my car non drivable.
The TRUNK will not open. It is supposed to open by pressing the button on the key fob or taking the thin key out of the key fob and manually open the truck with the keyed lock. Neither method works. There is absolutely no way to open the trunk otherwise (i.e. inside button or lever). When the key fob button and the thin key do not work there is absolutely no way to open the truck. There is no way to access the lock from the trunk lid rear and there is no way to access the trunk from behind the back seat cushions. It is a very bad situation and dangerous.
October 26, 2022 my 2004 Mercedes model E320 W211 VIN # [XXX] dash pop out warning " Brake Wearing visit workshop" October 27, 2022 I had the brake pads and wear sensors both replaced and test drive verified car running normal for 30 minutes then dash pop out RED warning "Brake malfunction stop vehicle" plus transmission shifter stick to parking port can not be shift to other position, so can not drive and car being forced to stop on the road, I managed to press the lock off so can shift out of parking but there has no brake function when driving, I called MB USA and being advised that my car qualified to 25 years extended warranty for SBC hydraulic pump repair, 2005070007 2005110001 but when I tow my car to Mercedes dealer they said it only repair the Recall: 2020040011 - Sliding Roof Bonding - Phase 2, but the SBC Hydraulic pump may be at additional service charges, Please help investigate why Mercedes USA said it is under 25 years extended warranty while dealer said it might not qualify? car can not drive because of the SBC hydraulic pump problem and defected the driving safety? Best Regards/[XXX] email: [XXX] tel: [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The vehicle will flood after being exposed to rain which has caused all sorts of electrical issues. I have read online where several others have filed lawsuits regarding E class Mercedes for similar issues. The car’s interior will take on water and since there’s several electrical components running along the floor board of the car they will become damaged and cause the car’s computers and electrical system to go crazy. I picked up my car from having the oil changed at a local service shop a few days after it was repaired and I was driving back home after the service pick up and the car completely lost power. I got out of the car and opened the trunk in which I had to do so by using the key inside of the key fob. When I opened the trunk, I noticed that there was a little bit of water in the trunk which led me to open the back door and to my surprise there was standing water behind the driver seat. I checked the driver floor and it was soaked as well. I had the car towed back to the shop where I had the oil changed and the owner did not have the available equipment to test the car. I dried the car out over the next several days and drove to a local Mercedes dealership where they told me to do a full diagnostic on the car it would cost upwards of $19k. Are you kidding me? Now I know from reading others stories that this isn’t an unknown issue. So, what do I do now…file an insurance claim? I guess that would be the next step but they’ll turn around and get the money right back out of me by raising my policy rates. This is terrible. My car is a 2004 E320 with just under 65k miles on it.
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR DEALER SUPPLIED PART FAILED ON REPLACEMENT RESULTING IN SUDDEN STALLING IN MOVING TRAFFIC FOLLOWING MAKING LEFT TURN
REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS ON MY CAR. THE INSULATION ON THE 2 WIRES TO THE BULB CRUMBLED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN I TOUCHED THE WIRES. WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE WIRES COULD TOUCH CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW AND CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
REFERENCE!!! PE 12001. HAVING PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT STRONG ODOR OF GAS FROM CAR WHEN IN GARAGE AND ALSO KIDS COMPLAIN OF STRONG FUME ODOR ESPECIALLY IN BACKSEAT DRIVERS SIDE!!! NOW HAVING PROBLEMS W THE SEAL OF GAS CAP!?! SOME RESEARCH SHOWED THAT A FUEL LEAK WILL MAKE CAR REPORT GAS CAP LOOSE--( WHEN IT'S NOT). HAPPENS DAILY NOW'!! PLEAS CREATE A RECALL-- BLOGS LIKE CRAZY ABOUT OTHER E CLASS OWNERS EXPERIENCING SAME EXACT PROBLEMS'!!! *TR
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE WASHINGTON DC BELTWAY IN THE FAST LANE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN LEAVING US STRANDED IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS WAS A VERY PRECARIOUS POSITION. FORTUNATELY, POLICE ASSISTANCE ARRIVED AND CALLED A TOWING SERVICE AND GOT US OUT OF HARM'S WAY. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THIS RESULTS IN THE COMPUTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION CREATING AN OBVIOUSLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I REPORTED THIS TO MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THEY'RE REACTION WAS THAT THIS OCCURS INFREQUENTLY, BUT THEY WERE AWARE THAT IT DOES HAPPEN. SO I AM NOTIFYING YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION. *TR
THE SUNROOF LEAKS CAUSING ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. I RARELY USE THE SUNROOF. MAYBE I HAVE USED THE SUNROOF 5X. THE SUNROOF SHOULD NOT LEAK AFTER RARE USE. THE ELECTRICAL SHOULD NOT BE DAMAGED. APPARENTLY, THE DRAINS IN THE SUNROOF GET CLOGGED AND THE WATER DRAINS INTO TRUNK. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I NOTICE THE SAME ISSUE WITH MANY OTHERS ON LINE. THANK YOU. *TR
DRIVING SOUTH ON I95 NEAR SAVANNAH THE DASH LIGHTS INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHT LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN DECELERATING. APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STARTED BUT COULD NOT GET FROM PARK INTO A GEAR OR EVEN NEUTRAL. ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE FROZEN AND SO GETTING THE CAR ON TO THE TOW TRUCK WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. WERE TOWED TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SBC SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THIS TOOK OVER NIGHT AS THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. BESIDES BEING GREATLY INCONVENIENCED - WE HAD TO SPEND A NIGHT IN A HOTEL, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED BY MERCEDES SINCE PURCHASE NEW IN 2004. THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED DURING A SERVICE CALL, THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS A RECALL THAT WAS KEPT QUIET. NOT INFORMING THE OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUES IS A MAJOR NEGLIGENCE ON MERCEDES PART. *TR
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED ON MY 2004 MERCEDES E320 WAGON WHICH ONLY HAD 85K MILES. IF IT HAD FAILED AND JUST WOULD NOT WORK, THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCH AN ISSUE, HOWEVER, WHEN IT FAILED IT LEFT THE ENGINE ON REQUIRING ME TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET THE CAR TO SHUT DOWN. STEPS TO REPRODUCE: 1) PUT ELECTRONIC KEY IN CAR 2) TURN KEY TO FULLY ON AND START CAR 3) TURN KEY TO OFF POSITION AND REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION ENTIRELY NOTE CAR IS STILL ON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF EVEN AFTER AN HOUR. *TR
DT: CONTACT STATED WHEN STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THIS CAUSED A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THIS ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED OR WAS CLOSE TO STOPPING. THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED UP. THERE WAS NO INDICATION AS TO WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR. IT HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 30 TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ONCE, BUT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED PERIODICALLY THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FELT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE COULD BE THE DRIVE- BY -WIRE OR COMPUTER SYSTEM. *AK THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THIS OCCURRED AFTER THE BRAKE HAD BEEN REPROGRAMMED. ON COLD MORNING THE GPS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS PEELING. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD PLAY IN IT. THE REAR ALIGNMENT WAS OFF SLIGHTLY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 62 MPH. *NM ON AUGUST 22, 2005 WHILE DRIVING A LOANER MERCEDES BENZ E350 FROM THE DEALER THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME INTERMITTENT HESITATION ON ACCELERATION AS HE HAD WITH HIS OWN 2004 E350. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS HESITATION PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO VEHICLE. *NM
DT: PURCHASED A NEW MERCEDES BENZ , 320E 2004 MODEL. ON 2 OCCASIONS ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AT ONCE AND WILL NOT CRANK WHEN ENGINE HAS BEEN TRIED TO START AGAIN. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALER EXPLAINED HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. THOUGHT THIS MAY BE THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR. MADE REPAIRS AND REPLACED PARTS. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTERWARDS THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. TOOK BACK TO DEALER, AND THIS WAS CORRECTED. HOWEVER, WAS AFRAID THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. HOWEVER, HAS NOT HAPPENED 2-3 MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIRS. *AK THE CONTROL MODULE FAILED. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING SYSTEM. *TT *NM
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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