RoadVitals

2005 Mercedes-Benz E320 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
231
Latest Feb 19, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
14
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Aug 18, 2004

What this page shows

Our database holds 231 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 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.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 231 · page 1 of 10

Brakes
Filed Feb 19, 2025

There has not been an incident report, however, my brakes failed while driving and I pulled over. This is the fault the SBC System which has an Extended 25 year warranty. I brought it into Mercedes prior to complete failure, but they only replace the Pressure Reservoir. It must be returned to Mercedes for the SBC UNIT replacement.

NHTSA ID
11643797
Incident
Feb 3, 2025
Visibility
Filed Jan 26, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V954000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated she had trapped her finger in the sunroof. The contact stated that the sunroof was loose. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11568069
Incident
Dec 23, 2022
Brakes
Filed Nov 15, 2023
Crash reported

A warning in Red came up on the dashboard which said something like "catastrophic break failure" ..I was going slow about to stop at the Red light and the brakes did not work and I hit a mini van

NHTSA ID
11555325
Incident
Nov 10, 2023
Brakes
Filed Aug 29, 2023

car break looses 70% of its pressure and only left with 30% break. It happened 3-4 times already. break booster malfunction sign comes up. When i restart the car, malfunction sign goes away and it run ok for few days till it happen again. I am not driving it right now. it can cause serious accident at high speed

NHTSA ID
11541370
Incident
Aug 15, 2023
Brakes
Filed Aug 20, 2023

Break booster malfunction sign popped up 3-4 time while driving and I lost 70% of the break. Luckily it happened on local road at speed under 30mph. It is very dangerous and can result in an accident

NHTSA ID
11539618
Incident
Aug 17, 2023
Brakes
Filed May 9, 2023

While driving in highway, SBC brake failure warning and failure. Fortunate to be able to come to a stop without crashing into a car ahead since had plenty of time and distance to slowly come to a stop even with reduced braking power. If traveling in rush hour would likely have rear ended a stopped car in front and potentially causing serious injury and damage! This is a known issue with Mercedes, and there is an extended 25 year warranty on the vehicle but for some reason, my vehicle was not included in the recall: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 04V296000 2005 Mercedes e320 automatic sedan. I had the dealer replace parts of the the SBA brake unit once, but it has since reappeared on an intermittent basis usually during cold start and then it goes away in a few seconds while pulling out of a driveway, but this time it occurred after having driven for awhile on a freeway Please investigate to include additionally affected vehicles!!!

NHTSA ID
11521089
Incident
May 7, 2023
Brakes
Filed Feb 18, 2023

Brake warning lights flashed and brakes failed

NHTSA ID
11507993
Incident
Feb 18, 2023
Brakes
Filed Dec 15, 2022

Please see this discussion... 2005 Mercedes E320 SBC brake system should be recalled. Thanks for considering!

NHTSA ID
11497658
Incident
Dec 15, 2022
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 7, 2022

INSTRUMENT PANEL NOT WORKING FOR LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS OR LONGER DID NOT DRIVE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE

NHTSA ID
11455595
Incident
Mar 7, 2022
Visibility
Filed Sep 10, 2021

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V918000 (Visibility) however, the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11432490
Incident
Sep 10, 2021
Fuel system
Filed Aug 18, 2021

The passenger compartment smells like gasoline. This is due to an issue that was already investigated by nhtsa however the warranty that was extended is expired by two years. I just purchased this vehicle used and it is unsafe to drive. It did not smell like gas a few weeks ago when it was purchased. The odor is very strong in the passenger compartment.

NHTSA ID
11429673
Incident
Aug 17, 2021
Fuel system
Filed Jan 29, 2021

FILLED UP GAS TANK AND HAD FUEL ODOR INSIDE CAR AND FUEL LEAKING OUTSIDE THE CAR UNTIL FUEL LEVEL WAS AROUND 3/4 OF A TANK. I BELIEVE THAT MINE FALLS UNDER ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS LISTED FOR FUEL LEAKS FOR OTHER W211 MERCEDES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS WAS ONLY ALLOWED FOR ORIGINAL OWNERS AND NOT FOR ANYONE THAT PURCHASED USED.

NHTSA ID
11390601
Incident
Jan 22, 2021
Visibility
Filed Aug 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11351849
Incident
Dec 28, 2019
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jul 14, 2020

SRS WARNING LIGHT ON. REPLACED SEAT CONTROL A 211 870 05 26. NO HELP. SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SERVICE DECIDED TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT FRAME AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $2,800 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. SRS CODE WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND JUST STARTED IN ENCLOSED PARKING SPACE WITH DOOR OPEN.

NHTSA ID
11339398
Incident
Jul 6, 2020
Mileage
126,240 mi
Visibility
Filed May 20, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER SEAL AROUND THE SUNROOF SHIFTED OUT OF PLACE AND ALLOWED RAIN WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER ALSO ENTERED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CAUSED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. THE CARPET WAS ALSO SOAKED FROM THE WATER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE CONTACT PLACED TAPE AROUND THE SUNROOF TO PREVENT FURTHER WATER INTRUSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID
11325300
Incident
Dec 11, 2019
Mileage
190,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 5, 2020

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND RED WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND NO BRAKES

NHTSA ID
11316477
Incident
Mar 2, 2020
Mileage
153,000 mi
Filed Jan 9, 2020

I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MERCEDES OF LITTLE ROCK AND REFERENCED MFG RECALL # 2019120012 AND NHTSA RECALL # 19V918. WHEN I SHOWED UP THIS MORNING AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TO SHOW THEM THE WEBPAGE INFORMATION WITH MY PHONE AND THEY SAID IF IT DOESN'T SHOW UNDER THEIR VIN LOOKUP, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IS THERE A WAY TO APPEAL OR OTHER RECOURSE? THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
11298084
Incident
Jan 9, 2019
Mileage
125,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 2, 2020

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT (LUCKILY) AND MY CAR STARTED ROLLING FORWARD. I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARDER AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR CONTINUED ROLLING FORWARD. I THREW THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNED ON MY HAZARDS. THE POLICE SHOWED UP. HE TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD BUT IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. MY HUSBAND SHOWED UP, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED TO A CLOSE PARKING LOT. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND CODES (C233D, C22BC, C23BD, C223C, C26DE, C25D5) FOR PRESSURE SYSTEM FAILURE AND PRESSURE FAILURE TO ALL FOUR TIRES AT THE SAME TIME. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED BEFORE ANY SENSOTRONIC WARRANTY WORK WOULD BE REIMBURSED. SO WE PAID $465.99 TO HAVE THEM FLUSHED AND WERE TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WAS RETESTED AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. I WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, BRAKE EARLY AND PRESS THE BRAKES REALLY HARD. IF WE GET A DIFFERENT CODE NEXT TIME, THEY WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MERCEDES AND THEY HAVE REFERRED US BACK TO THE EXPERTISE OF THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID
11292586
Incident
Dec 19, 2019
Mileage
89,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 7, 2019

TAKATA RECALL: THE SRS LIGHT IN MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. IT JUST HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WITHOUT ANY REASON. MY CONCERN IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT, WOULD THE AIR BAGS STILL WORK. I'M WONDERING IF THIS ISSUE COMES FROM THE MANUFACTURE BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF SOME OF THE BENZ FROM THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME ISSUE

NHTSA ID
11206150
Incident
Aug 15, 2018
Airbags
Filed Apr 29, 2019

CAR WAS ELEVATED ON A 2 POST CAR LIFT AND WE WERE WORKING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY. 2 SHARP BLOWS WERE STRUCK ON A BOLT HEAD ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WITH A HAMMER IN AN EFFORT TO LOOSEN THE BOLT. AFTER THE SECOND BLOW, THE DRIVERS SIDE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION.

NHTSA ID
11204302
Incident
Apr 28, 2019
Mileage
309,015 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 1, 2019
Crash reportedFire reported

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE SWITCHED LANES INTO THE PATH OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A CURB TO AVOID THE OTHER VEHICLE. SOME OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SMOKE APPEARED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11183455
Incident
Feb 23, 2019
Brakes
Filed Nov 2, 2018

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT (BRAKE WORKING AT THIS TIME) ON TO A CITY STREET. THIS WAS A DIVIDED MULTIPLE LANE ROAD, WITH THE CAR TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CAR COULD NOT BE SLOWED OR STOPPED. AN INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS AHEAD, WITH MULTIPLE CARS IN FRONT. SWITCHED OFF THE IGNITIOM OF THE CAR TO SLOW IT DOWN. TOOK A TURN OFF AT THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR RAN OVER THE CURB AND CAME TO REST NEXT TO A GAS STATION.

NHTSA ID
11144893
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Mileage
135,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 29, 2018
Fire reported

CAR SHUT OFF RANDOMLY BY GOING SAFE MODE WHILE DRIVING, CONSTANT BREAK WARNING IN BRIGHT RED " BREAK VISIT WORKSHOP" I WENT TO MULTIPLE SHOPS AND A CONSISTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT, PROBLEM TO BE DETERMINED, CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE I PURCHASED IT FROM THE USED CAR DEALER WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. THE CAR HAS HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES, BOTH BATTERIES TWICE, ONE SHORT WAS FOUND IN FAULTY WIRING HARNESS IN TRUCK BEING PINCHED. THE DEALER WOULD DENY SBC UNIT RECALL EVERY TIME I CALLED FLETCHER JONES, AND ONLY GAVE ME THE OPTION TO PAY THEM FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THEN THEY WILL DETERMINE IF ITS FAULTY INSTEAD OF MY LIFE BEING RISKED AS WELL AS THOSE AROUND ME I FINALLY TRACKED DOWN THE NUMBER FOR CORPORATE AND I GOT CONFORMATION FROM MERCEDES CORPORATE SAY MY VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE LIST. THE CAR WOULD LEAVE ME WITHOUT BREAKS, POWER STEERING MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALWAYS WITHOUT NOTICE OCCURRING MOSTLY ON THE FREEWAY. THE SBC UNIT WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED BY A SUPPOSED AUTHORIZED SHOP AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REIMBURSEMENT AND THEN THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR. THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAD DRAINED THE BATTERIES YET AGAIN SO THE CAR WAS GARAGED AT MY PARENTS WHERE IT EVENTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE IN THAT LOCATION WHICH MAKES THIS WHOLE ORDEAL EVEN MORE OUTRAGEOUS DUE TO MERCEDES MAJOR LACK OF CONCERN WITH THIS AND THEY STILL WANT ME TO PAY THEM TO FIX IT BEFORE THEY WILL EVEN DECIDE TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE MANY DIFFERENT QUARTERLY REPORT PRINT OUTS AS WELL, OUT OF THE 100S OF 1000S DOCUMENTED TO POSSIBLE 2 MILLION TOTAL FAULTY CARS , MY CAR HAD ALMOST ALL OF DIFFERENT SAFETY ISSUES REPORTED. BOUGHT CAR @ 73K MI, CAUGHT FIRE, BLEW HOLE IN MANIFOLD @ 123K, JUST ISN'T RIGHT, SEEMS THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER UP TRUE AMOUNT OF FAULTY CARS IN US BY ASKING CONFIDENTIALITY BY NHTSA GRANTED BLACKED FILES ILLEGIBLE

NHTSA ID
11143924
Incident
Mar 2, 2018
Mileage
12,300 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 11, 2018

I WAS DRIVING AND MY BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH. I WAS ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AND HAD TO IMMEDIATELY GET TO EDGE OF ROAD AND TURN MY CAR OFF AND THE RESTART.. TOOK TO A AOTO SHOP. FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE SBC ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL

NHTSA ID
11139645
Incident
Jul 10, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 9, 2018
Fire reported

BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON SO IT WAS CHARGED THEN RECONNECTED, EVERYTHING GOOD, TURN KEY TO ON POSITION EVERYTHING GOOD, TURN KEY TO START AND BANG! LOUD BANG AND WHITE SMOKE EVERYWHERE, ENGINE CONTINUED TO SMOKE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER EXPLOSION, HOLE IN FRONT OF ENGINE

NHTSA ID
11128362
Incident
Sep 9, 2018
Mileage
123,000 mi

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.

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