Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports6 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

83 reports

56,989 miles · Sep 1, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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AS I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM MY ENGINE. I STARTED LOSING POWER STEERING AND MY BATTERY CHARGER LIGHT KEPT FLASHING INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY.*AK AFTER SAFELY DRIVING HOME, I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED HUGE CHUNKS OF RUBBER PARTS INSIDE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD BEEN DAMAGED. WHEN THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS DAMAGED, IT IN TURN RUINED THE OIL PAN COVER AND THE TIMING CHAIN COVER RESULTING IN A $2500 REPAIR BILL. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE WOULD WRITE MERCEDS TO SEE IF SOME OF THE COSTS CAN BE DEFRAYED AND WILL BE GETTING BACK TO ME. I HIGHLY DOUBT ANY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT WILL BE DEFRAYED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN MERCEDES AND THE E320.

NHTSA ODI #10088948

12 miles · Aug 19, 2004

Power TrainVisibility

THE REGULATOR ON THE WINDOWS HAVE FAILED AT LEAST EVERY 6 MONTHS THE CHECK EGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER REPAIRS WHERE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LOSING POWER AND NOW WILL NOT SHIFT SINCE THE PURCHASE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088199

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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DURING NORMAL OPERATION I EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST AND THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. I BARELY MISSED HITTING SEVERAL ROADSIDE OBSTACLES AND WAS NEARLY STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH SPEED ROADWAY. I AM A WOMAN OF OVER 70 YEARS OF AGE AND DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO WRESTLE A 3000 POUND CAR AROUND WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL AND AVOIDING A COLLISION. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED NEARLY 20 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AT A COST OF $4500.00. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAD A FAILURE OF THE HARMONIC BALANCER ON THE ENGINE WHICH DESTROYED A LARGE NUMBER OF SURROUNDING PARTS. THE DAMAGED PARTS WERE REPLACED AND THE BALANCER WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE OLD PART HAS BEEN REQUESTED FROM THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10082774

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2004

Steering

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WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT ARM SEAL ON THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN OUT PART. *AK IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM DURING THE NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY THAT WAS APPARENTLY REPAIRED BY FOX VALLEY MERCEDES. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT ARM OF THE RACK HAD A SPONTANEOUS SEAL FAILURE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSTEERABLE AND NOT CONTROLLABLE. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10075728

62,839 miles · Jun 23, 2004

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND CROSSED THE MEDIUM INTO INCOMING TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER IT CROSSED THE SIDEWALK, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. MH . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10078706

85,000 miles · Jun 16, 2004

Suspension

WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE THE FRONT DROPPED TO THE GROUND. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. THE SUSPENSION SPRINGS FELL TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10079345

58,000 miles · Jun 8, 2004

Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. UPON IMPACT, SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075889

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2004

Fuel System, Gasoline

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ON 3 OCCASIONS PUMPING GAS IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH GASOLINE SPEWING OUT OF THE TANK AFTER I REMOVE THE PUMP NOZZLE. IT WAS NOT A SIMPLE FAILURE OF THE PUMP TO TURN OFF. IT SEEMED LIKE AIR PRESSURE BUILT UP MUCH LIKE PUMPING UP AN AIR CANISTER TO SPRAY WEED KILLER ON A YARD. THE GASOLINE COVERED MY ARM AND SPRAYED ONTO THE PUMP. EACH OCCASION WAS AT A DIFFERENT STATION AND ALL OF THE STATIONS WERE RELATIVELY NEW. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT OUR REGULAR SERVICE STATION. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10074517

31,500 miles · May 21, 2004

Visibility

CONSUMER STATED THAT REAR WINDOW WAS HARD TO ROLL UP DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PULLEY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10074048

23,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004

SteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10058015

Official recalls

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

PE07021 · 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.