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1999 Mercedes Benz 320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
30Owner complaints

Model-year median: 19

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1999 Mercedes Benz 320

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 30 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 7 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 5 reports
  • Power Train: 4 reports
  • Air Bags: 3 reports
  • Seat Belts: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    14
    1996    19
    1997    39
    1998    30
    1999    17
    2000    17
    2001    11
    2002
    Compare all 320 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    7    Engine And Engine Cooling
    5    Power Train
    4    Air Bags
    3    Seat Belts
    3
    All reported categories
    Steering
    3    Vehicle Speed Control
    3    Visibility
    3    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    2    Structure
    2    Suspension
    2    Child Seat
    1    Equipment
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Latches/locks/linkages
    1    Seats
    1    Service Brakes, Air
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    Limited mileage data: 11 of 30 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

    NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

    What to inspect

    Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

    • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

    Electrical System complaints

    7 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2005
    Electrical System

    ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THERE WAS AN EXYREMELY LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WAS JARRED. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THIS IS WHERE THE INFANT SEATS ARE LOCATED BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE MY GRAND CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO RIDE. FORTUNATELY, THEY WERE NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. EMERGENCY ROAD SE…

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    ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THERE WAS AN EXYREMELY LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WAS JARRED. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THIS IS WHERE THE INFANT SEATS ARE LOCATED BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE MY GRAND CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO RIDE. FORTUNATELY, THEY WERE NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE REPLACED THE BATTERY.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #10116733

    55,000 miles · Jan 20, 2004
    Electrical SystemFire

    WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED SMOKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THEN TWO MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10055363

    24,000 miles · Jun 20, 2003
    Electrical System

    WHILE IN PARK, THE BATTERY EXPLODED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *MR WHILE PARKED, THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE HOPPECKE BATTERY UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS CRACKED AND BROKEN AND SETTING IN A POOL OF ACID WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR THE ACID SME…

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    WHILE IN PARK, THE BATTERY EXPLODED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *MR WHILE PARKED, THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE HOPPECKE BATTERY UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS CRACKED AND BROKEN AND SETTING IN A POOL OF ACID WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR THE ACID SMELL AT THE TIME OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR. *SCC *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10022524

    Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2003
    Air BagsElectrical System

    THE BATTERY AND AIR BAG EXPLODED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. (LAWYER, TREVOR GRIMM, ON BEHALF OF CLIENT). *AK *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10010019

    Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
    Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

    VEHICLE STALLS WHEN VEHICLE HITS BUMPS IN THE ROAD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, INFORMING OWNER TO NOT PUT ANY KEYS IN THE IGNITION. CONSUMER REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS SUBJECT. *YC

    NHTSA ODI #843257

    Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 1999
    Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

    VEHCLE RECEIVES 0 FUEL PRESSURE DUE TO A FAILED FUEL PUMP. ALSO, THE STARTER RELAY INTERMITTENTLY MISREADS THE KEY CODE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #838856

    Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1999
    Electrical System

    REF: OWNERS MANUAL, TRAILER TOWING PGS 96-99. BENZ REFUSES TO HELP RESOLVE PROBLEM! FACTORY WIRING HAS PROVIDED +12V (HOT) TO THE BRAKE CONTROLLER WIRE WHEN EVER BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED (ORANGE BRAKE SIGNAL WIRE PG98). CONVENTIONAL (AFTER MARKET BRAKE CONTROLLERS WORK BY MODULATING THIS LINE VOLTAGE - THIS IS WHY I CANNOT CONNE…

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    REF: OWNERS MANUAL, TRAILER TOWING PGS 96-99. BENZ REFUSES TO HELP RESOLVE PROBLEM! FACTORY WIRING HAS PROVIDED +12V (HOT) TO THE BRAKE CONTROLLER WIRE WHEN EVER BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED (ORANGE BRAKE SIGNAL WIRE PG98). CONVENTIONAL (AFTER MARKET BRAKE CONTROLLERS WORK BY MODULATING THIS LINE VOLTAGE - THIS IS WHY I CANNOT CONNECT A BRAKE CONTROLLER. THE VEHICLE IS WIRED WRONG. IF AN OWNER OF A ML320 PLUGS A TRAILER WITH ELECTRIC BRAKES TO THE FACTORY INSTALLED HARNESS PLUG - THE TRAILER BRAKES OVERHEAT RAPIDLY. I HAVE TRIED REPEATEDLY TO GET BENZ TO INVESTIGATE - THEY SAY OWNER'S PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP!- DON'T LET SOME INNOCENT FAMILY LOOSE CONTROLL OF THEIR BOAT OR CAMPER BECAUSE BENZ REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE THEIR WIRING ERROR!

    NHTSA ODI #706072

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.