1997 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems
The 1997 Mercedes-Benz E320 has 80 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (45%) concerns suspension. Next are seat belts (12%) and air bags (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 80 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 45% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 5 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 113,000 miles 52 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 12 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 10 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 52 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 113,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 114,000 miles (26 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 15 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 90% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 12th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Mercedes-Benz E320 with enough data (9 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
A spark was seen on the lower right front of vehicle before car engine started on fire while owner was in car. Car burned completely. Owner escaped.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mercedes benz e320. While driving at 60 MPH, the air bags deployed inadvertently emitted a yellow substance and the vehicle shook violently. Shortly after, the shift lever exploded and smoke started to emit from the console. The contact noticed that the cam shaft fractured, which caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained unknown injuries due to the substance from the air bag that required medical attention.
The spring support or cup in the front right wheel well broke away causing a tremendously big noise. This apparently was caused by mercedes not using a high quality sealant allowing water to get into the welds. Corrosion and failure followed. I have read that this common is common amongst 300 class cars and that there is a class action suit being pursued in canada.
Tl* - the contact stated that he has a 1997 mercedes benz e320. On 12/30/06 while driving between 40 and 45 MPH, there was a loud bang and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the tire coil spring fell off of the vehicle and left the vehicle with no front end suspension and no ability to steer. The contact stated that the incident occurred at night, he was driving on a wide road, and no accident ensued.