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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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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.

6 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

38 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2014
EngineService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND DISCOVERED THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, HE TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS NOT WORKING EITHER. WITH G…

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2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND DISCOVERED THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, HE TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS NOT WORKING EITHER. WITH GREAT EFFORT, HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, RE-STARTED IT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON. THE BRAKES AND STEERING ALSO RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION.

NHTSA ODI #10557787

95,000 miles · Dec 24, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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

NHTSA ODI #10557183

135,000 miles · Apr 24, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACIAL, CHIN, KNEE, SHOULDER, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. A POLICE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACIAL, CHIN, KNEE, SHOULDER, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ODI #10509475

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR HEAD ON COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 40 MPH WITH SECONDARY VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROX. 50 MPH. SECONDARY VEHICLE IMPACTED THE MERCEDES NEARLY HEAD ON. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE MERCEDES. THE MERCEDES WILL PROBABLY BE A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495974

42,400 miles · Dec 6, 2012
Air BagsPower TrainCrashInjury

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL AT WORK AND ABOUT TO COME TO A STAND STILL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED JUMPED THE CURB AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS LEAKAGE OF RADIATOR FLUID ON THE GROUND. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE L…

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I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL AT WORK AND ABOUT TO COME TO A STAND STILL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED JUMPED THE CURB AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS LEAKAGE OF RADIATOR FLUID ON THE GROUND. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM WAS APPARENTLY FIXED BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AGAIN WITHIN 24 HRS OF THE FIRST REPAIR SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY. THIS TIME THE CAR WAS KEPT FOR 5 DAYS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF . THE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR VACUUM LEAKS BUT NONE WAS FOUND. THE REPORT FROM THE DEALER READ THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD A 113 PART NUMBER BUT SHOULD BE 112 PART NUMBER. REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW WITH 113 TEST AND THEN FOUND TO BE OKAY. ROAD TEST OKAY .NO CODES RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO MY HOME ON 11/16/12. I DROVE IT ON TWO OCCASIONS BEFORE12/1/12 AND IT DROVE FINE WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487599

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2011
Exterior LightingPower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10430929

55,000 miles · Aug 1, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ 320E. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING THE RESULTS FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ 320E. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING THE RESULTS FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10416491

93,000 miles · Jul 19, 2011
Suspension

2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320. FRONT SPRING PERCH SURROUNDING PERCH STRUCTURE IS RUSTING THROUGH UNDERNEATH THE FACTORY UNDERCOATING. WE HAVE A 2" RUST THROUGH RIGHT NEXT TO THE SPRING PERCH. SURROUND PERIMTETER OF AROUND 5" RADIUS SHOW EXTENSIVE RUST OF VARIOUS DEGREE. THE RUST IS SO EXTENSIVE THAT IT COMPROMISES THE VEHICLE SAFETY. …

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2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320. FRONT SPRING PERCH SURROUNDING PERCH STRUCTURE IS RUSTING THROUGH UNDERNEATH THE FACTORY UNDERCOATING. WE HAVE A 2" RUST THROUGH RIGHT NEXT TO THE SPRING PERCH. SURROUND PERIMTETER OF AROUND 5" RADIUS SHOW EXTENSIVE RUST OF VARIOUS DEGREE. THE RUST IS SO EXTENSIVE THAT IT COMPROMISES THE VEHICLE SAFETY. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IS VERY POSSIBLE. THIS RUST AROUND FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING PERCH IS PREVALENT IN EARLIER W210 BODY CHASSIS FROM 1996 TO 2002. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS MADE MB DO A RECALL SERVICE. UNITED KINGDOM ALSO HAVE MASSIVE ISSUES WITH THE SPRING PERCH. SINCE THESE CARS ARE AT LEAST 9 YEARS OLD AND AS OLD AS 15 YEARS OLD... THE RUST HAS GOTTEN TO CERTAIN POINT IN VARIOUS DEGREE FROM CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO IMPENDING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. YOU NEED TO SCRAPE SUSPECT FLAKING UNDERCOATING TO REVEAL THE EXTENSIVE RUST BEHIND IT. OTHERWISE, THE UNDERCOATING MASKS THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413656

136,000 miles · Dec 23, 2010
Electrical SystemStructure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CUP HOLDER WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE GEAR SHIFT AND WHEN LIQUID SPILLS INTO THE GEAR SHIFT, IT SHUTS THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT SHORTED OUT THE CONTROLS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL IT DRIED OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PAN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CUP HOLDER WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE GEAR SHIFT AND WHEN LIQUID SPILLS INTO THE GEAR SHIFT, IT SHUTS THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT SHORTED OUT THE CONTROLS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL IT DRIED OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; HOWEVER, HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136000.

NHTSA ODI #10372208

38,479 miles · Aug 5, 2010
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW COLLAPSED INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE THE GLASS FROM THE DOOR PANEL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW COLLAPSED INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE THE GLASS FROM THE DOOR PANEL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,479. UPDATED 10/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10347467

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.