Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
325–50K
650–75K
575–100K
7100–150K
0150K+
21 reports with mileage · 13 unknown
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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 5 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
34 reports
39,000 miles · Jan 28, 2003
Electrical System
SMALL AMOUNT OF FLUID SPILLED FROM CUP HOLDER IN 2000 E320 DURING BRAKING. DISABLED THE CAR ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BY DESTROYING ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. CARBECAME STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. WHEN PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART, CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK. TOLD BY MB DEALER IN FRESNO, CA THAT EVEN MINUTE AMOUNTS OF LIQUID WILL DIS…
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SMALL AMOUNT OF FLUID SPILLED FROM CUP HOLDER IN 2000 E320 DURING BRAKING. DISABLED THE CAR ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BY DESTROYING ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. CARBECAME STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. WHEN PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART, CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK. TOLD BY MB DEALER IN FRESNO, CA THAT EVEN MINUTE AMOUNTS OF LIQUID WILL DISABLE THE CAR IN THIS WAY. CAR DISABLED IN SAME WAY IN MAY 2000 BUT WAS NEVER TOLD BY MB THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO MOISTURE OR USING CUP HOLDER. NOT INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN CAR WAS LEASED IN 2000.
NHTSA ODI #10003555
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2002
Latches/locks/linkages
WHILE ENTERING VEHICLE AND STARTING ENGINE UP DOOR IS NOT PROPERLY SHUT. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT OR SOUND TO NOTIFY DRIVER OR PASSENGERS THAT DOOR OR DOORS ARE STILL OPEN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8015799
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2001
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other
WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND FLUID. *JB
NHTSA ODI #563847
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH "BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM" WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HELP TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL FASTER WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED DURING A PANICK STOP. DURING A PANIC STOP, IN MY CASE AT 10 MPH, WHEN I HIT THE BREAKS, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT HARD AS A ROCK AND REFUSED TO TRAVEL DOWN, EXHIBITING THE SO CALLED "HYDRAULIC RESI…
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THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH "BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM" WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HELP TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL FASTER WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED DURING A PANICK STOP. DURING A PANIC STOP, IN MY CASE AT 10 MPH, WHEN I HIT THE BREAKS, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT HARD AS A ROCK AND REFUSED TO TRAVEL DOWN, EXHIBITING THE SO CALLED "HYDRAULIC RESISTANCE" WITH THE THE VEHICLE CONTINUING TO MOVE AND COLLIDING WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT. I TOOK MY E320 TO AN AUTHORIZED LOCAL MBZ DEALER, AUTOBAHN MOTORS IN BELMONT-CA, WITHIN TWO HOURS OF THE ACCIDENT FOR A CHECK OF THE BRAKES. THE DEALER REPORTED THE BRAKES OPERATE NORMALLY AND NO PROBLEMS WERE DETECTED ON THEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE ALSO OWN A 1999 MBZ ML 320, AN SUV, WHICH BRAKES AND STOPS FLAWLESSLY WITH NO SIGN OF HARDENING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. IF ANYTHING OUR 2000 E320 MUST HAVE BETTER BRAKES AND NO SIGN OF RESISTANCE, YET IT DOES NOT. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES ON THE 2000 E320 ARE APPLIED NORMALLY, THEY OPERATE FLAWLESSLY WITH EXCELLENT GRIP, YET IN PANICK STOP THE BRAKES FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY.
NHTSA ODI #730632
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
3
DP05007 · Transmission Malfunction
Opened Nov 7, 2005 · Closed Mar 27, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT COFFEE FROM A CUP, PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER, SPILLED ONTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE?S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONCERN RAISED BY THE PETITIONER WAS INVESTIGATED (SQ01-010) AND WAS CLOSED AFTER ODI CONCLUDED THAT THE FACTS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.ODI HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED NINE MORE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING FLUID CONTAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SINCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED, NONE OF WHICH REPORT CRASHES OR INJURIES.THESE NINE COMPLAINANTS MAINLY EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE COST OF REPLACING THE CONTAMINATED ELECTRONIC SELECTOR MODULE.SIMILARLY, IN PETITIONER?S CASE SHE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE SAFETY STOPPED AFTER THE LIQUID SPILLAGE.THE PETITIONER HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING AND THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT COFFEE FROM A CUP, PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER, SPILLED ONTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE?S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONCERN RAISED BY THE PETITIONER WAS INVESTIGATED (SQ01-010) AND WAS CLOSED AFTER ODI CONCLUDED THAT THE FACTS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.ODI HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED NINE MORE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING FLUID CONTAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SINCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED, NONE OF WHICH REPORT CRASHES OR INJURIES.THESE NINE COMPLAINANTS MAINLY EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE COST OF REPLACING THE CONTAMINATED ELECTRONIC SELECTOR MODULE.SIMILARLY, IN PETITIONER?S CASE SHE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE SAFETY STOPPED AFTER THE LIQUID SPILLAGE.THE PETITIONER HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING AND THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT COFFEE FROM A CUP, PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER, SPILLED ONTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE?S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONCERN RAISED BY THE PETITIONER WAS INVESTIGATED (SQ01-010) AND WAS CLOSED AFTER ODI CONCLUDED THAT THE FACTS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.ODI HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED NINE MORE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING FLUID CONTAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SINCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED, NONE OF WHICH REPORT CRASHES OR INJURIES.THESE NINE COMPLAINANTS MAINLY EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE COST OF REPLACING THE CONTAMINATED ELECTRONIC SELECTOR MODULE.SIMILARLY, IN PETITIONER?S CASE SHE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE SAFETY STOPPED AFTER THE LIQUID SPILLAGE.THE PETITIONER HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING AND THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
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.
SQ01010 · Sudden Engine Shut Down
Opened Sep 25, 2001 · Closed Feb 4, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
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