IllustrationPERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE MAIN ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. THE INSULATION ON INDIVIDUAL WIRES HAD ROTTED OFF, LEAVING EXPOSED WIRING. I NOTICED ARCHING WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *TR
1996 Mercedes Benz E Class
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all E Class years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 10 of 16 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
16 reportsAFTER SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ABNORMALITIES, I EXAMINED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, LOOKS AS NEW. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THE WIRING AT THE GLOW PLUG RELAY WAS DETERIORATED AND BARE. I ALSO NOTED THAT ALL THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS BRITTLE TO THE POINT THAT ANY MANIPULATION, NO MATTER HOW…
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AFTER SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ABNORMALITIES, I EXAMINED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, LOOKS AS NEW. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THE WIRING AT THE GLOW PLUG RELAY WAS DETERIORATED AND BARE. I ALSO NOTED THAT ALL THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS BRITTLE TO THE POINT THAT ANY MANIPULATION, NO MATTER HOW SLIGHT,. WOULD CAUSE THE INSULATION TO FALL AWAY. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE PARKED THE CAR, AND REMOVED THE BATTERY, SINCE I FEEL IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO EVEN PARK IN THE YARD. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY & LOST POWER, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I ALMOST GOT KILLED, I FINALLY PULLED ON THE SHOULDER& EASED TO SERVICE ROAD & I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED, THE A/C WAS RUNNING ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I TRIED TO REV ENGINE UP BY MOVING TH…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY & LOST POWER, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I ALMOST GOT KILLED, I FINALLY PULLED ON THE SHOULDER& EASED TO SERVICE ROAD & I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED, THE A/C WAS RUNNING ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I TRIED TO REV ENGINE UP BY MOVING THE CABLE LEVER MANUALLY; THE ENGINE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE IDLE, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO EWING MERCEDES BENZ THEY HAD TO ORDER THE WHOLE ENGINE HARNESS. IT WILL COST ME $1100 OR MORE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THIS WIRING HARNESS IS IN POOR SHAPE ON THESE CAR THE INSULATION BECOME BRITTLE AND FALLS APART. *TR
THIS IS NOT A FAILURE YET, BUT A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE A 96 MERCEDES E300D, AND THIS PARTICULAR MODEL THE SO CALLED W210 MODEL HAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE FRONT SPRING PERCHES. THEY ARE WELDED ON AND TEND TO RUST OUT AND FAIL, MEANING THAT THE CAR WILL DROP TO THE GROUND. THIS COULD CAUSE MAJOR AND SERIOUS DAMAGE IF THE CO…
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THIS IS NOT A FAILURE YET, BUT A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE A 96 MERCEDES E300D, AND THIS PARTICULAR MODEL THE SO CALLED W210 MODEL HAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE FRONT SPRING PERCHES. THEY ARE WELDED ON AND TEND TO RUST OUT AND FAIL, MEANING THAT THE CAR WILL DROP TO THE GROUND. THIS COULD CAUSE MAJOR AND SERIOUS DAMAGE IF THE COLLAPSE OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY CAR AT THIS TIME IS NOT TOO BAD, BUT IN THE FUTURE THIS MIGHT BECOME AN ISSUE. PLEASE VISTI THIS THREAD TO SEE WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS FROM A FORUM THAT I USE TO WORK ON MY MERCEDES VEHICLES. HTTP://WWW.PEACHPARTS.COM/SHOPFORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=95228 THIS LINK WILL SHOW THE COMPLAINT THAT OWNERS LIKE MYSELF HAVE ABOUT THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THIS MODEL. MERCEDES HAS REPLACED THIS ON SOME MODELS, BUT THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT ON ALL VEHICLES THEY SOLD. *TR
I OWN A 1996 MERCEDES 300D THE FRONT SPRING RETAINER RUSTED OUT AND THE FRONT RIGHT CAR COLLAPSED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 1996 1997 1998 MERCEDES THE PART IS PART OF THE UNIBODY. THE RUST CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE HUMAN EYE BECAUSE IT RUST BEHIND THE RETAINER. IF I HAD RIDING 60 MILES A HOUR I THINK THE CAR WOULD ROLL OVE…
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I OWN A 1996 MERCEDES 300D THE FRONT SPRING RETAINER RUSTED OUT AND THE FRONT RIGHT CAR COLLAPSED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 1996 1997 1998 MERCEDES THE PART IS PART OF THE UNIBODY. THE RUST CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE HUMAN EYE BECAUSE IT RUST BEHIND THE RETAINER. IF I HAD RIDING 60 MILES A HOUR I THINK THE CAR WOULD ROLL OVER. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IT HAS 103 THOUSAND MILES AND IS GARAGE KEPT. IT COST ME $571.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I ASKED THE DEALER TO REPAY ME FOR THE COST THEY REFUSED. THIS HAS HAPPEN BEFORE ON OTHER SUCH MODELS. *TR
UPON MECHANICAL INSPECTION I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT SPRING PERCH WAS CORRODED FROM THE INNER FENDER, IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED THE FRONT SUSPENSION WILL COLLAPSE. I HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL E300D OWNERS (96 AND NEWER) HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME ISSUE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL FOR THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE IN CANADA…
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UPON MECHANICAL INSPECTION I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT SPRING PERCH WAS CORRODED FROM THE INNER FENDER, IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED THE FRONT SUSPENSION WILL COLLAPSE. I HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL E300D OWNERS (96 AND NEWER) HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME ISSUE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL FOR THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE IN CANADA. IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO HAVE IT COMPLETED IN THE US SINCE THERE ARE MANY 96 TO 02 300'S ON THE ROAD. *TR
ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. AFTER TOWING, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS HAD VIRTUALLY DISINTEGRATED. PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR APPROX. $1000. FILING NOW ONLY BECAUSE I JUST FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES AROUND MY YEAR (1996). *TR
WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUIT. *JB
I STOPPED THE CAR A FEW MINUTS AGO WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING PERCH BROKE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING OTHERWISE I COULD POSSIBLY INJURED OR DEAD. *AK
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION BREAKING DOWN CAUSING SHORTS AND OTHER PROBLEMS. IT CAUSED MY GLOW PLUG TO BLOW CAUSING AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *NM
Official recalls
196V058000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Apr 4, 1996
THE DRIVE BELT PULLEY ON THE ENGINE CAN DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE METAL AND BREAK. IF THE DRIVE PULLEY BREAKS, THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE COOLING, BATTERY CHARGING, AND/OR POWER STEERING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF THESE SYSTEMS CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO OVER HEAT, LOSE POWER FROM THE BATTERY, AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT DAMPER-PULLEY ON THESE VEHICLES.
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
1PE07021 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Ejection
Opened Apr 19, 2007 · Closed Aug 9, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
ODI HAS FOCUSED THIS INVESTIGATION ON ASSESSING THE RISKS POSED BY A SEPARATED SPRING AS (1) A ROAD HAZARD AND (2) THE POTENTIAL FOR VEHICLE CONTROL TO BE COMPROMISED AFTER THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IN THE VEHICLE.BOTH RISKS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CORROSION, FLEXING, AND FRACTURE OF THE UPPER FRONT SUSPENSION MOUNTING BRACKET.TIME-IN-SERVICE FAILURE RATES ARE NOTABLY HIGHER IN SALT BELT STATES SINCE CORROSION IS A PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FAILURE MODE.SINCE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, ODI IS SKEPTICAL THAT OWNERS CAN ALWAYS DETECT THE SUBTLE SIDE TO SIDE DIFFERENCE IN RIDE HEIGHT AND/OR INSPECT OR NOTICE THAT THE UPPER SUSPENSION BRACKET HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY CORROSION.(1) ROAD HAZARD - ALTHOUGH THE (APPROX. 7 LB.) FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING THAT MAY BE EJECTED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD POSE A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD TO PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES, THE OCCURRENCE RATE HAS BEEN LOW (.03% BASED ON 51 REPORTED INCIDENTS OCCURRING AND AN INITIAL POPULATION OF 172,781 VEHICLES AFTER 9 - 12 YEARS OF USE / EXPOSURE) AND THERE ARE NO KNOWN INJURIES, FATALITIES, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE REPORTS DUE TO AN EJECTED SPRING.ALSO, MANY OF THE 51 INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OR PARKED.(2) VEHICLE CONTROL - VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL COULD BE AFFECTED BY THE FRACTURE OF THE UPPER SUSPENSION MOUNT AND/OR THE ASSOCIATED SPRING EJECTION.ODI FIRST IDENTIFIED ITS CONCERN ABOUT CORROSION IN THE UPPER SUSPENSION BRACKET OF SUBJECT VEHICLES IN 2002, AT WHICH TIME MERCEDES PROVIDED A VIDEO THAT SHOWED THAT A VEHICLE COULD BE STEERED, STOPPED, AND CONTROLLED THROUGH VARIOUS MANEUVERS AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH A FRONT COIL SPRING COMPLETELY MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. DURING PE07-021, IN ADDITION TO REVIEWING THE 2002 VIDEO-TAPE, ODI ENGINEERS DROVE AN EXEMPLAR VEHICLE WITH THE SPRING REMOVED AND SIMULATED VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF STEERING ANGLES TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE WERE ANY POSSIBLE CONDITIONS / DISPLACEMENTS IN WHICH THE SEPARATED SPRING MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE WHEELS. IN A VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT SPRING REMOVED, THE TOP OF THE WHEEL CAN LIGHTLY CONTACT THE BOTTOM AREA OF THE WHEEL FENDER DURING HIGH ANGLE TURNS TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SLOWER SPEED MANEUVERS SUCH AS CITY DRIVING. THE LIGHT TIRE CONTACT GENERATED AN OBVIOUS GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD LIKELY ABRADE OR BEND THE EDGE OF THE FENDER WITH CONTINUED USE.HOWEVER, THE EXTENT OF THE INTERFERENCE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO AFFECT VEHICLE STEERING AND DOES NOT OCCUR AT SMALLER TURNING ANGLES ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHWAY DRIVING.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING THAT A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.