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1997 Mercedes Benz 420

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 12 of 22 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

22 reports
102,000 miles · Mar 8, 2006
Suspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED TO 5 MPH AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE COIL SPRING ONTO THE FRAME HAD DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OF…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED TO 5 MPH AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE COIL SPRING ONTO THE FRAME HAD DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OFF. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER STATED THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR IF DONE BY THEIR BODY SHOP. THE REPAIR WAS $2600. THE CONTACT WANTED THE REPAIRS DONE LOCALLY AND OPTED FOR THE DEAL. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THAT THIS INDICATED THAT MERCEDES TOOK SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10152198

123,000 miles · Aug 23, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

I RECENTLY HAD A GAS TANK PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 1997 E MODEL MERCEDES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE INTERIOR OF THE GAS TANK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RETURN LINES INSIDE THE TANK HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TANK PRESSURE, LEAKAGE, AND /OR IMPROPER EMISSION SYSTEM SENSOR READOUTS. THE TANK HAS NO…

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I RECENTLY HAD A GAS TANK PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 1997 E MODEL MERCEDES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE INTERIOR OF THE GAS TANK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RETURN LINES INSIDE THE TANK HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TANK PRESSURE, LEAKAGE, AND /OR IMPROPER EMISSION SYSTEM SENSOR READOUTS. THE TANK HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO MPACT SO THE DISCONNECTED LINE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN OR ENGINEERING DEFECT. IN ADDITION, THE IMPROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE RETURN LINE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAS A MAJOR IMPACT ON GAS MILEAGE. THE DEFECTIVE RETURN LINES REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TOTAL GAS TANK AS A REPAIR MEASURE AT A COST OF OVER $800. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE TANK. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS

NHTSA ODI #10133880

80,000 miles · Jul 26, 2004
StructureSuspension

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING HARD. THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRAME WELL WAS BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB METAL ON FRAME WELL WAS REPLACED DUE TO FATIGUE. ALSO, FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BY CONSUMER IN AN AUCTIO…

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WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING HARD. THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRAME WELL WAS BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB METAL ON FRAME WELL WAS REPLACED DUE TO FATIGUE. ALSO, FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BY CONSUMER IN AN AUCTION. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10080293

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2004
Suspension

WHILE VEHICLE SAT IDLING, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM ITS WELDED POSITION. (NAR) *PH *CB

NHTSA ODI #10061781

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2001
Seats

DRIVERS SIDE SEATBACK IS STUCK IN RECLINING POSITION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE CONSUMER CAN HARDLY SEE OUT WINDOW, AND THIS IS UNSAFE WAY TO DRIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #883049

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2001
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN ISUZU TROOPER PASSENGER FRONT HIT PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL OF MERCEDES AND PASSENGER DOOR WITH DRIVER SIDE FRONT. DURING IMPACT, FRONT SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER. ALSO, CAUSED DRIVER'S BREAST IMPLANTS TO RUPTURE. OTHER PASSENGER FAILED TO WEAR SEAT BELT. BUT, AIR BAG …

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WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN ISUZU TROOPER PASSENGER FRONT HIT PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL OF MERCEDES AND PASSENGER DOOR WITH DRIVER SIDE FRONT. DURING IMPACT, FRONT SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER. ALSO, CAUSED DRIVER'S BREAST IMPLANTS TO RUPTURE. OTHER PASSENGER FAILED TO WEAR SEAT BELT. BUT, AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878390

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE FUSES WERE CHECKED. A CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO REPAIR UNIT FREE IF OWNER LEFET THE DEFECTED PART. *AK

NHTSA ODI #869342

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE GAS TANK ON MY MERCEDES BENZ E420 COLLAPSED. IT LOOKED LIKE A GIANT STEPPED ON IT. PRIOR TO THE TANK COLLAPSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL EVAPORATION SYSTEM REPAIRED. I TOOK THE CAR TO BERBERIAN EUROPEAN MOTORS (A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER) IN STOCKTON CA. FOR REPAIR. THIS FAILURE IS SUPPOSED…

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THE GAS TANK ON MY MERCEDES BENZ E420 COLLAPSED. IT LOOKED LIKE A GIANT STEPPED ON IT. PRIOR TO THE TANK COLLAPSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL EVAPORATION SYSTEM REPAIRED. I TOOK THE CAR TO BERBERIAN EUROPEAN MOTORS (A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER) IN STOCKTON CA. FOR REPAIR. THIS FAILURE IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED BY MY CALIFORINA EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY. THE MERCEDES BENZ FACTORY REP. SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER THE WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIRS MYSELF. MY POINT IN CONTACTING YOU IS THAT A GAS TANK THAT JUST CRUMPELS UP BY ITSELF SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO. THE OTHER QUESTION IS, WHY IS MERCEDES BENZ NOT INTRESTED IN TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM UNDER THE EMISSION WARRANTY?

NHTSA ODI #714366

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1999
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. IT WOULD GET STUCK IN THE GEARS AND MAY RESULT A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842832

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1997
Latches/locks/linkagesSeat Belts

REAR SEAT BELT RESTRAINT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605143

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.