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2006 Mercedes Benz E320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 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

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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

33 reports with mileage · 8 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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

41 reports
118,000 miles · Nov 18, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

FILLED THE FUEL TANK WITH DIESEL. DROVE 240 MILES TO DESTINATION. UPON ARRIVING, SMELLED DIESEL VERY STRONG AT RIGHT REAR NEAR FUEL CAP AND UNDER TIRE WELL. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW POSSIBLE DIESEL LEAKING. BOUGHT NEW FILE TANK THINKING THAT MAY SOLVE BUT KEPT SMELLING IT SO I DRIVE TO MB DEALER IN FORT PIERCE, FL. DEALER STATE…

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FILLED THE FUEL TANK WITH DIESEL. DROVE 240 MILES TO DESTINATION. UPON ARRIVING, SMELLED DIESEL VERY STRONG AT RIGHT REAR NEAR FUEL CAP AND UNDER TIRE WELL. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW POSSIBLE DIESEL LEAKING. BOUGHT NEW FILE TANK THINKING THAT MAY SOLVE BUT KEPT SMELLING IT SO I DRIVE TO MB DEALER IN FORT PIERCE, FL. DEALER STATED FUEL TANK LEAK WITH ESTIMATE OF $3500. SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ON OTHER W211 CARS AS WELL. FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE CARS. THIS IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE ON A SUPPOSEDLY "SAFE" CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659120

31,000 miles · Oct 7, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. PAM

NHTSA ODI #10643121

31,000 miles · Oct 7, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

MY 2006 E CLASS 320 MERCEDES HAD A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS A FUEL SENDING UNIT PROBLEM I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND I SHOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I AM BEING TOLD I HAVE TO PAY $1000.00 + FOR THIS REPAIR ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO COVER THIS? …

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MY 2006 E CLASS 320 MERCEDES HAD A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS A FUEL SENDING UNIT PROBLEM I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND I SHOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I AM BEING TOLD I HAVE TO PAY $1000.00 + FOR THIS REPAIR ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO COVER THIS? I ALSO READ THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS CAR VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL # 2008-020001 CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME I AM VERY CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643110

136,042 miles · Jan 31, 2014
Service Brakes

NEAR TOTAL AND INSTANTANEOUS BRAKE FAILURE, VERY CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER CAR, THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO ENTER PARKING LOT TO STOP. AS SOON AS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED DASH ILLUMINATED RED AND NOTIFIED OF BRAKE FAILURE, PUSHING PEDAL TO FLOOR BARELY PROVIDED ANY BRAKING AT ALL. AFTER KEY OFF CYCLES EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE NORMAL AGAIN…

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NEAR TOTAL AND INSTANTANEOUS BRAKE FAILURE, VERY CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER CAR, THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO ENTER PARKING LOT TO STOP. AS SOON AS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED DASH ILLUMINATED RED AND NOTIFIED OF BRAKE FAILURE, PUSHING PEDAL TO FLOOR BARELY PROVIDED ANY BRAKING AT ALL. AFTER KEY OFF CYCLES EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE NORMAL AGAIN. HUGE CONFIDENCE LOSS IN VEHICLE, VERY CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER CAR AT SPEED, NOT GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562339

140,000 miles · Dec 10, 2013
Suspension

DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT LOW SPEED AND COIL SPRING SNAPPED ABOVE THE SPRING PERCH. CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN UNTIL REPAIRS WERE MADE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555405

76,000 miles · Nov 4, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY COMPLAIN THE ACTION PE12001, MY VEHICLE HAS A CDI MOTOR BUT IS LEAKING IN THE SAME MANNER I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT. I ALWAYS GET A FUEL ODOR IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I FILL MY VEHICLE IT LEAKS FROM SOMEPLACE AND LEAVES A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. IF I DON'T FILL ALL THE WAY IT DOE…

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I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY COMPLAIN THE ACTION PE12001, MY VEHICLE HAS A CDI MOTOR BUT IS LEAKING IN THE SAME MANNER I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT. I ALWAYS GET A FUEL ODOR IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I FILL MY VEHICLE IT LEAKS FROM SOMEPLACE AND LEAVES A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. IF I DON'T FILL ALL THE WAY IT DOESN'T LEAK TO THE FLOOR BUT I STILL GET THE FUEL SMELL. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE CAR CATCHING FIR WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN BUCKLED IN AND SLOW TO GET OUT IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY FIRE. ALSO IF THE WATER HEATER FLAME WAS TO IGNITE THE FUMES BURNING DOWN MY HOME. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURES FLAW AS THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550813

87,000 miles · Apr 16, 2013
Service Brakes

MI WIFE WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE TO WORK WHEN AT THE SECOND TURN BEFORE EXITING TO A MAIN STREET THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WITH RED LIGHT WARNING ON THE DASH. THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY COLLAPSED WITHOUT ANY EFFORT TO STOP. DO TO THE LOW SPEED OF MOVEMENT MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR IN TO THE SIDEWALK AND PUT IT TO PARK. SH…

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MI WIFE WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE TO WORK WHEN AT THE SECOND TURN BEFORE EXITING TO A MAIN STREET THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WITH RED LIGHT WARNING ON THE DASH. THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY COLLAPSED WITHOUT ANY EFFORT TO STOP. DO TO THE LOW SPEED OF MOVEMENT MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR IN TO THE SIDEWALK AND PUT IT TO PARK. SHE LEFT THE CAR AT THE LOCATION AND USED OUR SPARE TO GO TO WORK. MY MECHANIC COULD NOD BE CERTAIN WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BECAUSE THE CAR HAS BEING PERFORMING NORMAL SINCE. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE DO TO UNCERTAINTY THAT MAY HAPPEN UNDER HIGHER SPEED AND GET INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508478

149,000 miles · Feb 21, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FURTHER. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FURTHER. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT THEN ENTERED A PARKING LOT, SHIFTED INTO PARK AND IMMEDIATELY JUMPED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RE-ENTER THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE KEYS HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ODI #10499527

60,000 miles · Jan 30, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I CHANGED THE LOW BEAM HALOGEN BULBS IN MY HEADLIGHTS WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRE LEADS TO THE BULB HAD LOST NEARLY ALL OF THEIR INSULATION, EXPOSING BARE WIRE. THE INSULATION FLAKES WERE SITTING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CAPSULE THAT CONTAINS THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS NORMALLY CLOSED, ACCESSED BY A REMOVABLE "DOOR". BOTH HEAD…

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I CHANGED THE LOW BEAM HALOGEN BULBS IN MY HEADLIGHTS WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRE LEADS TO THE BULB HAD LOST NEARLY ALL OF THEIR INSULATION, EXPOSING BARE WIRE. THE INSULATION FLAKES WERE SITTING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CAPSULE THAT CONTAINS THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS NORMALLY CLOSED, ACCESSED BY A REMOVABLE "DOOR". BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SPARKING/FIRE DANGER, SO I APPLIED ELECTRICAL TAPE OVER THE WIRES. HAD I NOT CHANGED THE BULBS [THEY LOSE BRIGHTNESS OVER THE YEARS], I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF THIS DANGER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS SAME WIRE INSULATION HAS BEEN USED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. I AM AMAZED THAT MERCEDES HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2007. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495250

30,500 miles · Sep 21, 2012
Fuel System, Diesel

I FILLED THE TANK OF OUR E320 CDI WITH DIESEL FUEL AT A LOCAL STATION AND DROVE THE SHORT DISTANCE HOME AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. NEXT MORNING I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF DIESEL FUEL NEAR RIGHT-REAR TIRE. I DRIVE THE CAR NORMALLY TO WORK (~5 MILES) THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND NOTICED A PUDDLE OF DIESEL NEAR RIGHT REAR TIRE EACH TIME. DID A L…

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I FILLED THE TANK OF OUR E320 CDI WITH DIESEL FUEL AT A LOCAL STATION AND DROVE THE SHORT DISTANCE HOME AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. NEXT MORNING I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF DIESEL FUEL NEAR RIGHT-REAR TIRE. I DRIVE THE CAR NORMALLY TO WORK (~5 MILES) THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND NOTICED A PUDDLE OF DIESEL NEAR RIGHT REAR TIRE EACH TIME. DID A LITTLE ON-LINE RESEARCH AND LEARNED THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SENDER SEAL ON W211 MB'S, LIKE MINE. SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MB OF GRAND BLANC AND THEY CONFRMED THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACED THE SEAL UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF I WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY, MB WOULD HAVE REFUSED TO PAY, FROM WHAT PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM ARE REPORTING ON MB FORUMS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT SUCH A PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN ON A MB. MINE IS A DIESEL, SO A FIRE WAS UNLIKELY, BUT THIS HAPPENS WITH GAS VERSIONS AS WELL AND THAT IS DANGEROUS. MB SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476653

Official recalls

4

24V874000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Nov 19, 2024

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.

22V954000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 23, 2022

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.

21V196000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Mar 19, 2021

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040012.

19V918000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 20, 2019

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

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

1

PE10017 · Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance

Opened May 14, 2010 · Closed Nov 24, 2010

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Electrical System; Electrical System:wiring; Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Air Bags:frontal

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Air Bags

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Electrical System

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Electrical System:wiring

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.