IllustrationSPRING PERCH BROKE OFF DUE TO RUST .THE FRONT OF THE CAR FELL DOWN ON TO THE WHEEL AND WAS UNDRIVABLE. *TR
1999 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
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: 9 of 13 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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 1 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
Structure complaints
4 reportsI OWN A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E55 AMG (W210). AFTER PARKING THE CAR WHILE GROCERY SHOPPING, I RETURNED AND FOUND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE MUCH LOWER THAN NORMAL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING AND TWO OTHER PARTS WERE FOUND LYING UNDER THE VEHICLE. I MOVED THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL …
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I OWN A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E55 AMG (W210). AFTER PARKING THE CAR WHILE GROCERY SHOPPING, I RETURNED AND FOUND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE MUCH LOWER THAN NORMAL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING AND TWO OTHER PARTS WERE FOUND LYING UNDER THE VEHICLE. I MOVED THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL BROKEN PARTS AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AT 15 MPH, MAKING ONLY VERY MINOR TURNS (FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE). UPON INSPECTION WITH THE WHEEL OFF, THE UPPER SPRING PERCH HAD BECOME ALMOST COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME RAIL, SEVERED THE ABS SENSOR WIRE (WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL WARNING CODES RELATED TO THE ABS, BAS AND ESP BRAKING SYSTEMS), AND HAD ALSO CHIPPED THE INNER RIM OF THE WHEEL AND PUT A VERY LARGE SLASH NEAR THE BEAD OF THE TIRE. I HAD JUST INSPECTED THE PASSENGER SIDE THE WEEK PRIOR WHILE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE, AND WITNESSED NO CORROSION/RUST WHATSOEVER. VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES, HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN THE WINTER, AND THE ONLY RUST ON THE VEHICLE IS WHERE THE SPRING PERCH TORE AWAY FROM THE FRAME RAIL. THE REST OF THE CAR, BODY AND UNDERCARRIAGE, IS RUST FREE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS OFFERED NO HELP, AND STRONGLY DISCOURAGED AGAINST THERE BEING ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE DONE FOR ME, AS IF THEY WERE READING A SCRIPT RELATING TO THE AGE OF THE CAR AND LOCATION/CLIMATE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MB USA, WHO IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE CLAIM. *TR
1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E-300 AND E-430 ANTI-NOISE CAPSULE FELL OFF***CC SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LEAPED INTO THE AIR WITH A LOUD BANG. THE CONSUMER ASSUMED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY THEN MOVED SLOWLY OFF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION THE CONSUM…
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1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E-300 AND E-430 ANTI-NOISE CAPSULE FELL OFF***CC SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LEAPED INTO THE AIR WITH A LOUD BANG. THE CONSUMER ASSUMED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY THEN MOVED SLOWLY OFF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION THE CONSUMER SAW THAT NONE OF THE TIRES HAD BLOWN OUT BUT THAT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAD DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE SAME PART CAME OFF THE CONSUMER E430 TEN DAYS AGO. ON THE E430 MODEL THE PART IS CALLED A COOLING PAN. *NM
PURCHASED A USED 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E300 TURBO DIESEL END OF FEB 2006 WITH 92,494 MILES FROM A JAGUAR/LAND ROVER DEALER. TRADED IN A 1985 MERCEDES BENZ 300 TURBO DIESEL. BROUGHT CAR TO THE MECHANIC THAT DOES ALL MY WORK TO HAVE ALL FLUIDS CHANGED AND THE CAR CHECKED. MECHANIC CALLED TO RECOMMEND I NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL…
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PURCHASED A USED 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E300 TURBO DIESEL END OF FEB 2006 WITH 92,494 MILES FROM A JAGUAR/LAND ROVER DEALER. TRADED IN A 1985 MERCEDES BENZ 300 TURBO DIESEL. BROUGHT CAR TO THE MECHANIC THAT DOES ALL MY WORK TO HAVE ALL FLUIDS CHANGED AND THE CAR CHECKED. MECHANIC CALLED TO RECOMMEND I NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE LEFT FRONT SPRING CAP WAS REPLACED. I VISITED THE MECHANIC AND VIEWED THE LEFT FRONT SPRING CAP. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT HIS FINGER ON THE LEFT FRONT SPRING CAP HIS FINGER NAIL CHIPPED OFF FLAKES OF METAL IT WAS ENOUGH TO CONVINCE ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. MY CONCERN WAS THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WOULD COME OFF AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT INCLUDING POSSIBLE DEATHS IF THE SPRING CAP PARTED AND THE SPRING CAME OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I PAID MY MECHANIC TO INSTALL A NEW FRONT SPRING CAP TO PREVENT A FAILURE. I DID NOT BRING THIS TO THE JAGUAR/LAND ROVER'S DEALER OR MERCEDES BENZ'S ATTENTION BECAUSE TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND I NEEDED THE CAR REPAIRED SO I COULD USE IT. LATTER REVIEW OF THE MERCEDES BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA WEB SITE FORUMS SHOWED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE E300/320 MERCEDES BENZ AS THE BODY IS THE SAME (MERCEDES BODY DESIGNATION IS W210). *JB
Official recalls
198V256000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:side/window
Oct 14, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A WRONG CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE WINDOW AIR BAG MAY NOT FULLY DEPLOY IN A SIDE-IMPACT COLLISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS AND, IF THE WRONG OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED CLAMP IS FOUND, THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL BE REPLACED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:side/window
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A WRONG CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS.
Consequence: THE WINDOW AIR BAG MAY NOT FULLY DEPLOY IN A SIDE-IMPACT COLLISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS AND, IF THE WRONG OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED CLAMP IS FOUND, THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL BE REPLACED.
Air Bags:frontal
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A WRONG CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS.
Consequence: THE WINDOW AIR BAG MAY NOT FULLY DEPLOY IN A SIDE-IMPACT COLLISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS AND, IF THE WRONG OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED CLAMP IS FOUND, THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL BE REPLACED.
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
2PE07021 · 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.
PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure
Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND 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 BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.