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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.

About this comparison →
30Owner complaints

Model-year median: 19

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
14
199619
199739
199830
199917
200017
200111
2002
Compare all 320 years →

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

What owners reported most

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

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.