Illustration1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E320T, 60K MILES - CRANKSHAFT HARMONIC BALANCER (DAMPER PULLEY) FAILED. ADVISED BY MECHANIC TO REPLACE IMMEDIATELY, SO AS TO AVOID LOSS OF MULTI RIBBED-V-BELT AND CONCURRENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP FUNCTION.*AK
1999 Mercedes Benz E320
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Mercedes Benz E320 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 42.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all E320 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
20–25K
725–50K
1350–75K
775–100K
16100–150K
6150K+
51 reports with mileage · 32 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.
- 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 reportsHARMONIC BALANCER (CRANKSHAFT PULLEY) IS SEPARATING, CREATING NOISE AND POTENTIALLY LOST OF POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING. *JB
KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK. *AK
THE RIGHT REAR DOOR ON MY MERCEDES BENZ 1999 E320 DID NOT LATCH COMPLETELY AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT NEXT TO IT. THE DOOR APPEARED CLOSED WHEN WE STARTED BECUASE I ALWAYS CHECK THAT THE KIDS HAVE SHUT THE DOOR COMPLETELY BECUASE THEY ARE HARD TO CLOSE. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND JIGGLED THE HAND…
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THE RIGHT REAR DOOR ON MY MERCEDES BENZ 1999 E320 DID NOT LATCH COMPLETELY AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT NEXT TO IT. THE DOOR APPEARED CLOSED WHEN WE STARTED BECUASE I ALWAYS CHECK THAT THE KIDS HAVE SHUT THE DOOR COMPLETELY BECUASE THEY ARE HARD TO CLOSE. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND JIGGLED THE HANDLE UNTIL THE LATCH WOULD WORK AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER FIXED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THE LATCH WAS JAMMED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE JUL 25, 1999 AND HAS 71,785 MILES ON IT BUT I DON'T THINK THE DOORS SHOULD OPEN WHILE DRIVING. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER DOORS NOT BEING INSPECTED. I WOULD COST ME 1.5 HOURS OF LABOR FOR EACH DOOR PANEL TO BE REMOVED AT $98/HR. I SENT AN EMAIL TO MBNA INQUIRING ABOUT SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS BUT HAVE NOT RECIEVED A RESPONSE. THIS TYPE OF POOR DESIGN OR QUALITY CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF AN INJURY OR FATALITY IF SOMEONE FELL OUT. *AK
ABS/BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS A "RATE OF TURN" GYROSCOPIC SENSOR THAT CAN ADJUST THE THROTTLE OR MAKE OTHER ELECTRONIC ADJUSTMENTS DEPENDING ON THE SENSOR'S DATA. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED MERCEDES, WHO TOLD HIM THAT THIS $950 PART HAS BEEN "SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES" AND THAT PROBLEMS WITH THE …
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ABS/BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS A "RATE OF TURN" GYROSCOPIC SENSOR THAT CAN ADJUST THE THROTTLE OR MAKE OTHER ELECTRONIC ADJUSTMENTS DEPENDING ON THE SENSOR'S DATA. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED MERCEDES, WHO TOLD HIM THAT THIS $950 PART HAS BEEN "SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES" AND THAT PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSOR IN THIS VEHICLE ARE "VERY COMMON." THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A VERY EXPENSIVE PART THAT I'M SURE MERCEDES DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE TO ISSUE A RECALL ON. MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.*AK
HARMONIC BALANCER IN 1999E320 MERCEDES BENZ WENT OUT WITH ONLY 33,770 MILES. UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN QUITE Q PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CAR TO MY KNOWLEDGE MB HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS, YET THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES.
THE RUBBER INSERT IN THE PULLEY CRANKSHAFT EXPERIENCED A MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. *JB *SCC *NLM
CRANKSHAFT BALANCER FAILURE- MERCEDES E320 1999 (FROM INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES OF SEVERAL MERCEDES CUSTOMERS WITH 320 V6 ENGINE ON W210 PLATFORM AND OTHERS).*AK AROUND 72000 MILES, MY VEHICLE CRANK SHAFT BALANCER PULLEY STARTED SPERATING A THICK BLACK RUBBER RING, WHICH IS SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE CRANKSFAT AND THE SERPENTINE BEL…
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CRANKSHAFT BALANCER FAILURE- MERCEDES E320 1999 (FROM INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES OF SEVERAL MERCEDES CUSTOMERS WITH 320 V6 ENGINE ON W210 PLATFORM AND OTHERS).*AK AROUND 72000 MILES, MY VEHICLE CRANK SHAFT BALANCER PULLEY STARTED SPERATING A THICK BLACK RUBBER RING, WHICH IS SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE CRANKSFAT AND THE SERPENTINE BELT PULLEY ON THE OUTSIDE, BELT BURNING SMELL AND CLICKING NOISE WHICH QUICKLY TURNED INTO A KNOCKING NOISE RECOGNIZED AS I WAS DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEED, LUCKILY. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND CHECKD THE ENGINE BAY, TO FIND A FALLEN OFF PIECE OF CRANK SHAFT BALANCER PULLEY (IT MADE A THUD WHEN IT CAME OFF WHILE DIRVING). IT COULD HAVE EASILYCAUSED FLYING OBJECT DAMAGE IF I WERE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND GOT IT FIXED, WORTH 421 DOLLARS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS MODEL ENGINE AND I WAS LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT 'TOTALLY' GOUCE THE TIMING CHAIN COVER AND OIL PAN. I HAVE HEARD FIRST HAND INCIDENCES OF OTHERS WITH SIMILAR MODEL VEHICLES IN THE RANGE OF 1997 THROUGH 2001 HAVING TIMING CHAIN COVER GOUGED OFF COMPLETELY AND VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERABLE WITHIN MINUTES AND CAUSING MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO THE EXTENT OF 20 TO 25 HOURS REPAIR NEEDED, AND OVER 25000 DOLLARS NEEDED ON AVERAGE.
DUNLOP SPORT A2 TIRES ------ HAD FLAT TIRE ------ DEALER NOTED EXCESSIVE TREADWEAR ON TIRE----- RECOOMMENDED REPLACEMENT-----COMPANY REFUSED----SAID I HAD TO WAIT TILL TREAD IS 3/32 ----TIRES HAVE 12 000 MILES----WITH 50 000 MILE WEAR OUT WARRANTY. *AK CURRENTLY 6/32 OF TREAD LEFT
THE ENGINE MAIN DRIVE PULLEY BROKE OFF RENDERING VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE HAPPENED ON OPEN ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK *JB
Official recalls
0No 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
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.