2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine526.3%
- Fuel system421.1%
- Transmission315.8%
- Electrical210.5%
- Powertrain (other)210.5%
- Driver assistance15.3%
- Exterior lighting15.3%
- Brakes15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
OIL COOLER SEAL LEAKING GASKET CAUSING FIRE HAZARD
WHILE TRYING TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC (I94 IN MICHIGAN) I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO GAIN SPEED TO MERGE ONLY TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE LACKED ANY POWER, THE RPMS ROSE SLOWLY BUT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO ACCELERATION. I WAS TOLD (BY MERCEDES DEALER) THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IN THIS CASE IT ALMOST CAUSED MY DEATH. IF THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WHY ARE OUR LIVES BEING PUT AT RISK BECAUSE OF A POORLY DESIGNED PART?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Noticed strong smell of diesel fuel by left rear tire, in several days a leak was under left tire, had fuel tank sending unit gasket replaced, no visible leaks but fumes are still present 1 year after repair. When repair was made all related parts were cleaned of residential fuel. Want to know if MB has dealt with splits or cracks in fuel tanks.
Fuel tank leak at the top of the tank. MB has well documented gasoline leaks for MB model 211 years 2003-2008. Notices were sent to owners of gas powered auto's but none were sent to DIESEL auto owners. The exact same procedure and parts are needed to repair DIESEL tanks as gasoline tanks. Either this is a oversight by MB or the problem was ignored. My DIESEL tank is leaking exactly as other documented gasoline MB vehicles model 211.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE GEAR SHIFTER JERKED AND COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 4/2/12 *CN UPDATED 05/07/12
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS HAS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AND IS SITTING IN A PILE OF BITS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, LITERALLY LEAVING COMPLETELY BARE WIRES LEADING UP TO THE HEADLAMP SOCKETS. IF THESE WIRES WERE TO TOUCH AND SHORT OUT IT COULD RESULT IN COMPLETE LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE A BURNED OUT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB. OTHER SUCH WIRING IN THE VEHICLE MIGHT ALSO HAVE DETERIORATED OR DISINTEGRATED BUT NOT YET BEEN DISCOVERED, WITH ATTENDANT RISKS OF DAMAGE TO OTHER EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE PARTS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, OR RISK OF FIRE OR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
MY 1994 E320 WIRING HARNESS HAS TOTALLY DRIED UP AND CRACKED IN NUMEROUS PLACES. RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND MONEY SPENT ON TROUBLE SHOOTING. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
HIGHWAY DRIVING, CRUISE CONTROL SET. CRUISE CONTROL BEEPED, DISENGAGED. CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY UNTIL I HAD TO STOP FOR A LIGHT. WHEN LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN, THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE - HAD NO POWER, EVEN THOUGH THE RPMS SHOWED THE ENGINE RUNNING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NEAR A GAS STATION AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY HAZARDOUS HAD IT OCCURRED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.... I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE. BUT THIS CAR BASICALLY LEFT ME SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN APPROACHING ME FROM THE REAR, OR IT WAS IN THE INTERSECTION AT THE TIME.
TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY DOWNSHIFT SEVERAL GEARS WITHOUT WARNING .THIS CAUSES SKIDDING, THROWING OCCUPANTS VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE WIND SHIELD THIS HAPPENS WHEN AUTO IS IN DRIVE WITH SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-45 MPH. THIS UNEXPECTED LURCHING CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET AND DRY PAVEMENT. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MERCEDES BENZ WITH NO CORRECTIVE ACTION OFFERED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, NORMAL ACCELERATION LAGGED MORE THAN USUAL. WHEN I SUBMITTED CAR FOR SERVICE, I WAS TOLD FOAM AROUND INJECTORS HAS MELTED INTO THE INJECTORS. THIS DAMAGED THREE INJECTORS ON ONE SIDE TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE REPLACEMENT (APPROXIMATELY $800 EACH). I WAS TOLD I CAUGHT THIS SITUATION EARLY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT CAR NEW AND LOVE IT. BUT LAST WEEK THE RIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILED. I HAD LEFT AND RIGHT H7 STANDARD LOW BEAM HALOGEN BULBS CHANGED SINCE THE FRONT BUMPER HAS TO BE REMOVED. LATER THAT DAY THE NEW LEFT SIDE H7 FAILED. SO MY MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE HELLA LIGHT FIXTURE SEEN IN MB, BMW, ETC.. COMMONLY HAVE PREMATURE DISINTEGRATION OF WIRING INSULATION. THEY PULLED BOTH LIGHT FIXTURES, SHOWING ME THE BARE WIRES INSIDE BOTH FIXTURES. THE MB WIRING HARNESS WAS UNAFFECTED. FOR THE COST OF ABOUT $1200 I REPLACED BOTH HELLA HEADLIGHT FIXTURES. I REVIEWED BMW AND MB FORUMS ONLINE AND IN BOTH THERE ARE SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HELLA WIRE INSULATION FAILURE IN HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE ISSUE. FROM THE FORUMS IT SEEMS THAT FIRES HAVE OCCURRED. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AUTO ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED WHEN NIGHT LIGHTING HAS FAILED. AT A MINIMUM THERE HAVE BEEN MANY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL. I DID NOT CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A GLOBAL PROBLEM WITH A AUTOMOTIVE PARTS SUPPLIER AND NOT SPECIFIC TO MB OR THE E CLASS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .