1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems
The 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 has 51 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (20%) concerns engine. Next are suspension (14%) and body & structure (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 51 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 89,000 miles 27 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 | 7 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 5 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Of the 27 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 89,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 4 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Mercedes-Benz E320 with enough data (22 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.
The rear left door opened on impact. The car was hit mostly on the driver's door towards the center column and the rear door opened. My 5-year-old son was sitting next to that door and could have been ejected from the car.
Mercedes e-320 1998, sudden acceleration, ref. Odi 10113529. The consumer experienced sudden acceleration, jumping the curb and crashed into a wooden fence. Prior to this incident, the consumer experienced irregular speed. The consumers foot was on the brakes the entire time. Mercedes found no problem.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 mercedes e320. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact crashed into a tree on the front driver side of her vehicle. The vehicle was completely destroyed and none of the air bags deployed. There were no air bag failures prior to the crash. The contact was severely injured and has pictures of herself as well as the vehicle. The local dealer did not provide any assistance. She is currently in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The powertrain was unknown.
While driving the engine's crankshaft pulley broke. As a result the power steering failed, which caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. No report of impact. Please provide additional information.
During the course of ownership of an 1998 mercedes benz e320 the front top spring support a.k.a rusts out and can easily disintegrate causing complete fallout of the front wheel assembly and if happening in the highway it can easily kill you. Luckily for me it happened in a 30 MPH road where the spring perch broke off and the whole front wheel got out of place locking itself up.