30 of the
332 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz 320
are about the engine —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1994.
WITHOUT NOTICABLE WARNING, THE SENSOR PANEL FLASH FOR A SECOND, THEN THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY FREEWAY. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER TOWING TO AN EXPERIENCED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP, THEY CONCLUDED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER SHUTDOWN BY DESIGN TO PROTECT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR WAS OVERCHARGIJNG. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES -BENZ AT MONTVALE, NJ, THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANY INVESTIGATION OR FOLLOW-UP. SIMILAR INCIDENT ON 12/31/2012 ON THE SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR WAS REPORTED ON YOUR WEBSITE DATED MARCH 17, 2013 BY ANOTHER DRIVER .
NHTSA complaint #10586611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10500882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I WAS CHANGING SPARK PLUGS AND SAW THE BAD WIRES IN THE HARNESS. I TAPED UP WHERE I COULD BUT WHEN I TOUCHED THE WIRE THE INSULATION JUST FELL OFF THE WIRES. I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR RUNNING FOR AWHILE BUT NOW IT RUNS BAD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO REPLACE HARNESS AT THIS TIME. THIS IS CLEARLY A MFG. DEFECT AND A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10240735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL, HEATING AND COOLING, SUSPENSION, POWER STEERING, LIGHTING, AND PURGE VALVE SYSTEMS. SPENT 7K IN LAST 3 YEARS ALONE. HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM WAS REMOVED AND REINSTALLED TWICE AND STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. STRUTS AND STEERING SYSTEM COMPLETELY BRAKES DOWN EVERY 6 MONTHS. I AM IN THE REPAIR SHOP EVERY 2-3 MONTHS! AVERAGE OUT OF POCKET (AFTER EXTENDED WARRANTY) $500... OUTRAGEOUS (X4 OR 5 PER YEAR!). WARRANTY KICKS IN ANOTHER 4K PER YEAR. MY RECORDS SHOW 14 VISITS TO MERCEDES REPAIR SHOPS SINCE NOVEMBER 2004... INSANE. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST MERCEDES! EVEN MY SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME TO GET A LEXUS OR ACURA!
NHTSA complaint #10213660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL, HEATING AND COOLING, SUSPENSION, POWER STEERING, LIGHTING, AND PURGE VALVE SYSTEMS. SPENT 7K IN LAST 3 YEARS ALONE. HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM WAS REMOVED AND REINSTALLED TWICE AND STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. STRUTS AND STEERING SYSTEM COMPLETELY BRAKES DOWN EVERY 6 MONTHS. I AM IN THE REPAIR SHOP EVERY 2-3 MONTHS! AVERAGE OUT OF POCKET (AFTER EXTENDED WARRANTY) $500... OUTRAGEOUS (X4 OR 5 PER YEAR!). WARRANTY KICKS IN ANOTHER 4K PER YEAR. MY RECORDS SHOW 14 VISITS TO MERCEDES REPAIR SHOPS SINCE NOVEMBER 2004... INSANE. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST MERCEDES! EVEN MY SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME TO GET A LEXUS OR ACURA!
NHTSA complaint #10213660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A YEAR OR TWO AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED(MAY, 1995) I OBSERVED AN OIL LEAK. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER BACK THEN, AND WAS TOLD ESSENTIALLY THAT ALL CARS LEAK OIL AND THAT THIS LEAK WAS MINOR. OVER THE YEARS IT HAS BEEN GETTING MORE PRONOUNCED, NOW LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST CAUSING SMOKE. RECENTLY I STOPPED GOING TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, NOW TO AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES SPECIALIST. THEY TELL ME THAT THIS OIL LEAK IS FROM THE HEADGASKET, A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE W124 CHASSIS (E320 MODEL). FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON MY PART REVEALS THIS PROBLEM TO BE A COMMONLY REPORTED ISSUE, AND WAS FIXED ON THE NEXT MODEL BY BOLSTERING THE HEADGASKET IN A CERTAIN AREA. IN REPAIRING THE HEADGASKET THE CYLINDER HEAD HAS TO BE REMOVED AND THE ENGINE HARNESS DISCONNECTED. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE HARNESS IS ALREADY CRACKING AND FALLING OFF, EXPOSING THE METAL WIRES. THE ENGINE HARNESS WILL BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED WHEN IT IS MANIPULATED TO DISCONNECT IT. I ALSO IDENTIFIED FROM MY RESEARCH THAT THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS MADE FROM BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS, NOW HOW SMART WAS THAT? NOW I'LL HAVE A $4-5000 REPAIR BILL ON TWO COMMON PROBLEMS WHICH MERCEDES DENIES EVEN EXISTS ON THIS MODEL CAR. IF I DON'T FIX IT, THEN I RUN THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE HARNESS, AND THE RISK OF ENGINE FIRE FROM THE HEADGASKET LEAK, OR SOME CATROSTROPIC COMBINATION OF BOTH. THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS ALSO REPLACED ONCE IN 1998, AFTER IT FAILED ON A 500 MILE ROUND TRIP.
NHTSA complaint #10206569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHILE IDLING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10199362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 RECEIVED RECALL 03V121000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL MB 2003-040005, AND WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP. THE RECALL IS ON NHTSA # 03V121000 AND MB # 2003-040005 THE DEALERSHIP WAS TELLING HER THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET THEM. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING ON PARTS FOR TWO WEEKS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE THE CONTACT'S TELEPHONE CALLS. THE CONTACT CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE SALESMAN WILL NOT RESPOND. SHE WAS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL WORK ON MB 2003-040005 CONCERNING THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CHECKED THE CAR ON 9-29-05. THE DEALERSHIP WAS TELLING HER THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. MERCEDES BENZ WAS NOT GOING TO SUPPLY HER WITH A RENTAL CAR. THE CONTACT CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ, AND THEY TOLD HER TO GO THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10139548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON RAINY DAYS THE VISIBILITY WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT. *AK THERE WAS A FAILURE IN COMPUTER CHIPS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED WITH THE POOR VISIBILITY OF THE WINDSHIELD, HORN FAILURE, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHT FAILURE, STALLING, CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLING, INOPERATIVE WASHER JETS, BROKEN GLOVE BOX, NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, FAULTY FUEL PUMP, LOUD WHINING NOISE FORM UNDER THE SEAT, AND A WHIRRING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CENTER VENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10099406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING A LOANER CAR, AS MY MERCEDES BENZ C320, 2001 IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP OF THE DEALER, MERC. BENZ OF LAGUNA NIGUEL (949-347-3700). IT IS IN FOR THE THIRD REPAIR OF THE SRS AIRBAY/SAFETY SYSTEM.*AK THE SEATBELT HAD PREVIOUSLY FAILED, TO AND HAD TO BE REPLACE. ***MY ENGINE STALLED ON THE FREEWAY (5N, IN CALIFORNIA) AND MY 8 YR. OLD SON AND I WERE VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR-ENDED ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. ***THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO CONTACT TO DISCUSS MY CAR! THEY TOLD ME TO GET AN ATTORNEY AND I THEY HAVE MY CAR! I HAVE THEIR LOANER CAR. MY CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AND THEY KNOW IT AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO DISCUSS IT WITH ME ANY FURTHER AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FORCE ME TO SIGN ANOTHER CONTRACT TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR OF THEIRS! PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AND HAS CAUSED ME TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROX. 19 TIMES. THE OWNER, THE GM AND MANAGEMENT REFUSE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH ME AND ARE NOT EVEN CORRESPONDING VIA MAIL! MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE AUGUST 25, 2004 AND REMAINS THERE AS I WRITE THIS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN DRIVING THIS CAR, IF I SHOULD GET IT BACK FROM THEIR REPAIR SHOP. THEY DO NOT OBVIOULY WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ***THEY HAVE FALSIFIED REPAIR DOCUMENTS, IN REGARDS TO REPAIRING OR REPLACING MY BATTERY, TO WHICH I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM. THEY DID THIS WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION AND FALSLY DOCUMENTED IN THE REPAIR RECORDS, FALSLY STATING THAT I, THE CUSTOMER, HAD TO JUMP MY BATTERY. I MADE MR. RANDY STENSON, THE HEAD OF SERVICE, AWARE THAT I DID NOT APPRECIATE THIS FALSE DOCUMENTATION. ***ONE ONE THING: THEY ARE DISHONEST, IN THAT THEY FALSLY CLAIM THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH ME AND REPORT THIS TO THE MB CUSTOMER SERVICE IN NEW JERSEY. THEY ARE NOT WORKING WITH ME AND STATE OTHERWISE.
NHTSA complaint #10090811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAULTY CUP HOLDER DESIGN WHICH MAKES IT EASY FOR LIQUID CONTENTS TO SPILL ON THE TRANSMISSION/GEAR SHIFTER AND THE COMPUTER CHIPS BELOW, RESULTING IN ENGINE STALLING OR FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC TRRANSMISSION. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE CAR ALMOST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR SLOWS DOWN IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA complaint #10058343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10053593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"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.
SOUTHERN STAR REPAIR SHOP 256-236-5389 HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH SAME PROBLEM IN JUNE, 2002. YOUR DATABASE ODI # 607611 APPEARS TO BE SAME. DEALERSHIP IN MONTGOMERY, AL AND KANSAS CITY, MO, HAVE SEEN SAME PART FAILURE. -- THANK YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #763750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.