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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
38Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2001 Mercedes Benz E320

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 38 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 13 reports
  • Air Bags: 7 reports
  • Power Train: 6 reports
  • Exterior Lighting: 5 reports
  • Engine: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    37
    1998    83
    1999    44
    2000    38
    2001    23
    2002    214
    2003    203
    2004
    Compare all E320 years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    13    Air Bags
    7    Power Train
    6    Exterior Lighting
    5    Engine
    3
    All reported categories
    Steering
    3    Suspension
    3    Vehicle Speed Control
    2    Visibility
    2    Electronic Stability Control (esc)
    1    Engine And Engine Cooling
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Fuel System, Other
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    1    Structure
    1    Unknown Or Other
    1

    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.

    6 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

    What owners actually said

    38 reports
    20,000 miles · Jan 7, 2005
    Electrical System

    THE BATTERY, LOCATED IN A METAL COMPARTMENT UNDER THE REAR SEAT, EXPLODED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TC *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10109674

    60,500 miles · Aug 10, 2004
    Vehicle Speed Control

    WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE VEHICLE, AND THE DEALER DID NOT HONOR IT. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10087637

    25 miles · Jul 27, 2003
    Engine And Engine Cooling

    OIL SENDING SENSOR COMES ON STATING I HAVE TO MUCH OIL THIS HAS GONE ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2001 I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK THREE TIMES BUT THE MECHANIC CLAIMS THERE ARE NO CODES. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10029307

    Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2002
    Power Train

    SMALL AMOUNT OF LIQUID (2-3DROPS) TOTALLY DISABLED THE GEAR SHIFT/TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW CUP HOLDERS. DT

    NHTSA ODI #770421

    5,000 miles · Sep 18, 2002
    Seat BeltsCrashInjury

    CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND SEAT BELT BECAME DISENGAGED. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT ALL SEAT BELTS WERE DISENGAGED. CONSUMER WAS INJURIED DURING ACCIDENT.*AK *NLM

    NHTSA ODI #8019001

    Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2002
    Fuel System, Gasoline

    UPON FILLING FUEL TANK, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS SPILLING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. CONSUMER CANNOT FILL THE FUEL TANK COMPLETELY. *AK *YD

    NHTSA ODI #8007177

    Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2001
    Vehicle Speed Control

    WHEN PRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE WILL NOT REACT UNTIL PEDAL IS 1/4 TO 1/2 DEPRESSED. THEN, VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD. VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATED DEALER REPLACED A PART CALLED THE ME CONTROL UNIT AND PROBLEM HAS CEASED. *SLC

    NHTSA ODI #890562

    Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2001
    Power Train

    WHEN WATER ENTERS THE CONTROL MODULE FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IT FAILS TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT GIVEN CONSUMER A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #890449

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.