Unknown, the car filled with smoke from within the dashboard on driver side.
2001 Mercedes Benz E320
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 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
24 reports with mileage · 14 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
5 reportsTHE PLASTIC COATING ON THE WIRING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS IS COMING OFF LEAVING EXPOSED COPPER WIRES THAT SHORT OUT CAUSING HEADLIGHTS, ETC. TO FAIL. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOW BEAM HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING. WE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULB, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WE NOTED THAT THE SOCKET FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM APPEARED BURNT. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO REWIRED THE RIGHT FRONT LOW BEAM LIGHT SOCKET AND WIRE HARNESS. AFTER THIS INITIAL PROBLEM, THE D…
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THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOW BEAM HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING. WE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULB, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WE NOTED THAT THE SOCKET FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM APPEARED BURNT. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO REWIRED THE RIGHT FRONT LOW BEAM LIGHT SOCKET AND WIRE HARNESS. AFTER THIS INITIAL PROBLEM, THE DRIVER SIDE HIGH BEAM HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING. WE REPLACED THE LAMP BULB. WE NOTED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HIGH BEAM HEADLAMP SOCKET APPEARED BURNT. WE DID NOT REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE HIGH BEAM HEADLAMP SOCKET. SO IT DOES NOT WORK. AFTER THE ABOVE TWO PROBLEMS, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE, TAIL, AND PARKING LAMP STOPPED WORKING. WE CHANGED THE LAMP BULB, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE, TAIL, AND PARKING LAMP SOCKET DID NOT APPEAR BURNT. INSTEAD THE LAMP WAS LOSE AND COULD NOT BE TIGHTENED. WE USED BLACK ELECTRIC TAPE TO HOLD THE LAMP IN PLACE, WHICH HAS WORKED. HOWEVER, WE MUST PERIODICALLY RE-TAPE. *TR
2001 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COMPLAINT CONCERNING CLOUDING OF THE HEADLIGHTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $450 TO REPLACE TWO POLYCARBONATE HEADLIGHT COVERS. THE CONSUMER FOUND ANOTHER COMPANY TO REPLACE THEM FOR $100. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, TH…
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2001 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COMPLAINT CONCERNING CLOUDING OF THE HEADLIGHTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $450 TO REPLACE TWO POLYCARBONATE HEADLIGHT COVERS. THE CONSUMER FOUND ANOTHER COMPANY TO REPLACE THEM FOR $100. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A LARGE SUM OF MONEY. *JB
2001 MERCEDES E-320. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH HEADLIGHT COVERS AND REQUESTS MONEY TO REPLACE THEM. *TGW SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEN THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SQUEAL, WHICH THE LOCAL DEALER INSISTED WAS THE AC FAN, BUT IT WAS NOT. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS WERE C…
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2001 MERCEDES E-320. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH HEADLIGHT COVERS AND REQUESTS MONEY TO REPLACE THEM. *TGW SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEN THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SQUEAL, WHICH THE LOCAL DEALER INSISTED WAS THE AC FAN, BUT IT WAS NOT. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS WERE COMPLETELY OPAQUE. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS WERE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO BECOME DIM.*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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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