Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 1996 Mercedes Benz 320 with NHTSA between 1996 and 2012.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 20
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz 320. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 69
13.3% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 1996 compares with every other Mercedes Benz 320
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1996 Mercedes Benz 320
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Other & Unspecified
320.0%
Electrical System
320.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 108,921 mi
Engine & Cooling
213.3%
Median failure at 108,921 miles
Seat Belts
16.7%
Wheels
16.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.7%
Body & Structure
16.7%
Brakes
16.7%
Airbags
16.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1996peak 3Aug 2012
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 139,044 milesAmericus, GAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
MY 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S320 CAUGHT ON FIRE 3/16/08 DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HARNESS WIRING THAT CAUSE BURNED WIRES IN THE CONSOLE, UNDER THE SEAT, THE DOOR PANELS, DAMAGED THE VACUUM LINES, SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND POTENTIALLY THE CONTROL UNITS. YOUR NHTSA HAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES VEHICLES [EARLY 1990 MODELS]. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AT MERCEDES HEADQUARTERS TWO OF THEM DENIED A PROBLEM WITH WIRING CATCHING ON FIRE AND TWO DEALERSHIPS SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY CASES INVOLVING FAULTY WIRING. THE MECHANIC THAT SPOKE HONESTLY SAID THAT THERE ARE AS MANY AS 30,000 VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT MERCEDES IS IN DENIAL AND ARE AVOIDING A MAJOR RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN AMONG DEALERS AND MECHANICS WHO ARE TRAINED TO REPAIR MERCEDES VEHICLES. I WANT MY COMPLAINT ADDED TO THE OTHERS THAT ARE ON YOUR LIST AND COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS THE NHTSA SAYING ABOUT THIS MERCEDES PROBLEM AND WHAT IS THE NEXT MOVE TO DEAL WITH A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM THAT ENDANGERS OUR LIVES ON THE HIGHWAY. MY VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING IN BURNING WHILE ENROUTE TO ALBANY, GA FROM AMERICUS, GA. THE EXPERIENCE WAS FRIGHTENING AND IT COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF LIFE. I AM A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN AND I HOPE YOUR ADMINISTRATION CAN GET MERCEDES TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM LIKE SO MANY OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE DONE. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10221826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 108,921 milesKettering, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WENT COMPLETED "DEAD" AT STOP SIGN. COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE. CALLED MECHANIC AND WIRES WITHIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO WIRE INSULATION CRACKING AND BREAKING OFF AND SHORTING WITH OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. MECHANIC STRIPPED OUT WIRE AND SPLICED IT. STATED THE WIRES ARE IN BAD SHAPE DUE TO THE TYPE OF INSULATION MERCEDES USED FROM 1991 TO 1997. HE STATED I SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AS IT WOULD CONTINUE TO SHORT OUT COMPONENTS AND WOULD BE NOT ONLY A DRIVING HAZARD BUT ALSO A FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10470163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,921 milesKettering, OH
ENGINE
CAR WENT COMPLETED "DEAD" AT STOP SIGN. COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE. CALLED MECHANIC AND WIRES WITHIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO WIRE INSULATION CRACKING AND BREAKING OFF AND SHORTING WITH OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. MECHANIC STRIPPED OUT WIRE AND SPLICED IT. STATED THE WIRES ARE IN BAD SHAPE DUE TO THE TYPE OF INSULATION MERCEDES USED FROM 1991 TO 1997. HE STATED I SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AS IT WOULD CONTINUE TO SHORT OUT COMPONENTS AND WOULD BE NOT ONLY A DRIVING HAZARD BUT ALSO A FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10470163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesHonolulu, HI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CRACKED WIRING HARNESS. DISCOVERED WHEN REAR LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10224829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 139,044 milesAmericus, GAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
MY 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S320 CAUGHT ON FIRE 3/16/08 DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HARNESS WIRING THAT CAUSE BURNED WIRES IN THE CONSOLE, UNDER THE SEAT, THE DOOR PANELS, DAMAGED THE VACUUM LINES, SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND POTENTIALLY THE CONTROL UNITS. YOUR NHTSA HAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES VEHICLES [EARLY 1990 MODELS]. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AT MERCEDES HEADQUARTERS TWO OF THEM DENIED A PROBLEM WITH WIRING CATCHING ON FIRE AND TWO DEALERSHIPS SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY CASES INVOLVING FAULTY WIRING. THE MECHANIC THAT SPOKE HONESTLY SAID THAT THERE ARE AS MANY AS 30,000 VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT MERCEDES IS IN DENIAL AND ARE AVOIDING A MAJOR RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN AMONG DEALERS AND MECHANICS WHO ARE TRAINED TO REPAIR MERCEDES VEHICLES. I WANT MY COMPLAINT ADDED TO THE OTHERS THAT ARE ON YOUR LIST AND COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS THE NHTSA SAYING ABOUT THIS MERCEDES PROBLEM AND WHAT IS THE NEXT MOVE TO DEAL WITH A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM THAT ENDANGERS OUR LIVES ON THE HIGHWAY. MY VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING IN BURNING WHILE ENROUTE TO ALBANY, GA FROM AMERICUS, GA. THE EXPERIENCE WAS FRIGHTENING AND IT COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF LIFE. I AM A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN AND I HOPE YOUR ADMINISTRATION CAN GET MERCEDES TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM LIKE SO MANY OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE DONE. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10221826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Herdon, VA
AIR BAGS
SRS DID NOT DEPLOY UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #8007457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manhattan Beach, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ELECTRONIC SENSOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Potomac, MD
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KNEE BOLSTER ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND RESTRICTS ACCESS TO THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #513469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thousand Oaks, CA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Saint Lucie, FL
WHEELS:RIM
TWO RIMS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #515704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Park, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
REAR SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #602613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canoga Park, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE DUE TO DEFECTIVE CHIP.
NHTSA complaint #602728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #602850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clifton, VA
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PARKING BRAKES REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #507579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Billerica, MA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PULL OUT OF LOW GEAR WHEN COLD.
NHTSA complaint #506764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sunnyville, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHEN DOORS ARE NOT PROPERLY CLOSED THERE IS NO INDICATION OF THE DOOR BEING OPEN. TT
NHTSA complaint #978408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.