FaultScore report
Owners have filed 27 complaints about the 1997 Mercedes Benz 320 with NHTSA between 1997 and 2012. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 9 worst.
FaultScore 61/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mercedes Benz 320.
How this is worked out27
Complaints
3
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
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.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
3 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 2 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
Median failure at 190,000 miles
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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH FRONTAL DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #885240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH FRONTAL DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #885240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT 20 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #536702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
VISUAL SYSTEMS: DOUBLE PANE WINDOW,REAR WINDSHIELD,REAR VIEW MIRRORS: BLURRED IMAGES,CAN'T TELL HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE COMING UP BESIDES DRIVER, DISTORTED HEADLIGHTS. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM ,BUT IT CAN BE A HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #810605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
VISUAL SYSTEMS: DOUBLE PANE WINDOW,REAR WINDSHIELD,REAR VIEW MIRRORS: BLURRED IMAGES,CAN'T TELL HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE COMING UP BESIDES DRIVER, DISTORTED HEADLIGHTS. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM ,BUT IT CAN BE A HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #810605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
VISUAL SYSTEMS: DOUBLE PANE WINDOW,REAR WINDSHIELD,REAR VIEW MIRRORS: BLURRED IMAGES,CAN'T TELL HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE COMING UP BESIDES DRIVER, DISTORTED HEADLIGHTS. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM ,BUT IT CAN BE A HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #810605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SUSPENSION
4/3/2012 FOR 2 DAYS RATTLE FROM LEFT FRONT END. HAD IT CHECKED AT INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER. SAID STRUT BUSHING DRY. LUBED IT. A FEW HOURS LATER NOSE INTENSIFIED AND SPRING AND OTHER PIECES FELL ONTO ROAD AS I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO CONDO DRIVEWAY. HAVING IT TOWED TO DEALER. HAD I BEEN AT SPEED AND/OR IN TRAFFIC THINGS COULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY BAD. ALL 97 E320'S SHOULD HAVE THIS AREA INSPECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10454019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES 320. THE CONTACT'S SPRING PERCH THAT HOLDS THE SPRING IN FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION WELL TIP BROKE AND CAME APART FROM THE FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MILES PER HOUR. PER THE CONTACT, IT SEEMD TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM BY MERCEDES AND A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED OF THE RISK AND DANGER INVOLVED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MERCEDES WILL REPAIR SOME BUT NOT ALL OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL MERCEDES. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THEREWAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACTWAS AWARE OF THE DESIGN FLAW OF THE WELD STRUCTURAL PART OF THE FRAME WHICH CAME APART.
NHTSA complaint #10178233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE CORRODED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT END WILL COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10099146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
"BLACK ELECTRICAL JUNCTION/HARNESS BOX" WAS FOUND WITH A STRONG ELECTRICAL SMELL OF ELECTRICITY BURNING THROUGH PART OF THE BOX.*AK. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK.*JB
NHTSA complaint #10015312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
"BLACK ELECTRICAL JUNCTION/HARNESS BOX" WAS FOUND WITH A STRONG ELECTRICAL SMELL OF ELECTRICITY BURNING THROUGH PART OF THE BOX.*AK. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK.*JB
NHTSA complaint #10015312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH FRONTAL DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #885240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH FRONTAL DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #885240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
SINCE PURCHASE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PULLING TO RIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER 4- 5 TIMES, DID WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND CHANGED TIRES. VEHICLE WILL NOT RETAIN A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, CONSTANTLY PULLS TO RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #882723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MBZ REPLACED TRANSMISSION & ELECTRONIC SENDING UNIT AT WHICH POINT I BECAME AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAD HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS AND IT JUST SEEMED TO BE ESCALATING. I TURNED THE CAR IN FOR VOLUNTARY REPOSSESSION AND PAID A $15,000 PENALTY.
NHTSA complaint #717607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #717603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #717603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #717604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #717604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
MBZ REPLACED TRANSMISSION & ELECTRONIC SENDING UNIT AT WHICH POINT I BECAME AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAD HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS AND IT JUST SEEMED TO BE ESCALATING. I TURNED THE CAR IN FOR VOLUNTARY REPOSSESSION AND PAID A $15,000 PENALTY.
NHTSA complaint #717607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DEPLOYED.VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING AT THE TIME. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #852750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DEPLOYED.VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING AT THE TIME. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #852750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHEN DRIVING AT 40 THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING AND THE RUBBER IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #848785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #608639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
POOR PERFORMANCE OF WINDSHILED CAUSES LACK OF VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHILED WHEN IT RAINS.
NHTSA complaint #545233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
HATCH DOOR RELEASE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #607609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT 20 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #536702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CAR ENGINE WOULD BEGIN VIBRATING SEVERELY AND REVVING EVEN AFTER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, REVVING WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL VEHICLE'S TURNED OFF, PROBLEM IN TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #523807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
DESIGN PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER; THE SINGLE BLADE DOES NOT KEEP UP WITH THE HEAVY RAIN FALL, CAUSING CONTINUOUS INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ROAD VISIBILITY. *AK
NHTSA complaint #817784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
VISUAL SYSTEMS: DOUBLE PANE WINDOW,REAR WINDSHIELD,REAR VIEW MIRRORS: BLURRED IMAGES,CAN'T TELL HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE COMING UP BESIDES DRIVER, DISTORTED HEADLIGHTS. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM ,BUT IT CAN BE A HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #810605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
VISUAL SYSTEMS: DOUBLE PANE WINDOW,REAR WINDSHIELD,REAR VIEW MIRRORS: BLURRED IMAGES,CAN'T TELL HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE COMING UP BESIDES DRIVER, DISTORTED HEADLIGHTS. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM ,BUT IT CAN BE A HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #810605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.