Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 1997 Mercedes Benz E300 with NHTSA between 2001 and 2016.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 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 — 45
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz E300. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% 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 1997 compares with every other Mercedes Benz E300
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1997 Mercedes Benz E300
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
325.0%
Brakes
216.7%
Electrical System
216.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain
216.7%
Fuel & Propulsion
18.3%
Lights
18.3%
Median failure at 89,000 miles
Suspension
18.3%
Median failure at 97,000 miles
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.
Nov 2001peak 2Jun 2016
NHTSA investigations into the 1997 Mercedes Benz E300
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE07021Opened 19 Apr 2007Closed 9 Aug 2007SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING EJECTION
ODI HAS FOCUSED THIS INVESTIGATION ON ASSESSING THE RISKS POSED BY A SEPARATED SPRING AS (1) A ROAD HAZARD AND (2) THE POTENTIAL FOR VEHICLE CONTROL TO BE COMPROMISED AFTER THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IN THE VEHICLE.BOTH RISKS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CORROSION, FLEXING, AND FRACTURE OF THE UPPER FRONT SUSPENSION MOUNTING BRACKET.TIME-IN-SERVICE FAILURE RATES ARE NOTABLY HIGHER IN SALT BELT STATES SINCE CORROSION IS A PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FAILURE MODE.SINCE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, ODI IS SKEPTICAL THAT OWN...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Greenfield, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE WIRE HARNESS IS BRITTLE AND THE INSULATION IS DISINTEGRATING, RESULTING IN SHORTS AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY.
NHTSA complaint #10876659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,000 milesChapel Hill, NC
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES E300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. RECALL#05V505000 RELATED TO THE 1999 SLK MERCEDES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10181780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,000 milesMclean, VA
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AFTER HEARING THE NOISE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HANDLING DIFFERENTLY AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE SUSPENSION HAD COLLAPSED ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE SUSPENSION HOUSING WAS ENTIRELY REPLACED AND THE ATTACHMENT OF THE SPRING TO THE BODY WAS RE WELDED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THE PROBLEM COULD OCCUR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER PARTIALLY COVERED THE REPAIR AND ASKED THE CONTACT TO SIGN A CONFIDENTIALLY WAIVER BECAUSE OF A RECENT INFLUX OF VEHICLES BEING REPAIRED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10156785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Potomac, MD
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
PROBLEMS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ E300 DIESEL.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE HESITATING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND HAS SPENT APPROX $3800.00 IN REPAIRS FOR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10040616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Potomac, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
PROBLEMS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ E300 DIESEL.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE HESITATING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND HAS SPENT APPROX $3800.00 IN REPAIRS FOR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10040616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dale City, VA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ROTORS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEY WERE MAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT ROTORS WERE ONLY SUPPOSE TO LAST 20000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #8014435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dale City, VA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTORS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEY WERE MAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT ROTORS WERE ONLY SUPPOSE TO LAST 20000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #8014435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BIG Rapids, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE FIRST ENGINE OIL LEAK WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT 8/25/2000 (48,523 MILES) AND THE REPLACEMENT GASKETS ARE LEAKING AGAIN ON 9/15/2001 (AT 58,500 MILES).
NHTSA complaint #759748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BIG Rapids, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE FIRST ENGINE OIL LEAK WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT 8/25/2000 (48,523 MILES) AND THE REPLACEMENT GASKETS ARE LEAKING AGAIN ON 9/15/2001 (AT 58,500 MILES).
NHTSA complaint #759748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coral Springs, FL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, GEARS SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN TWO GEARS; ACCELERATION AT 25-50 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AT 40 MPH AND VEHICLE IS BUCKING, DEALER REPLACED RESONANCE FLAP, AND FUEL INJECTION PUMP, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS OF POOR FUEL EFFICIENCY.
NHTSA complaint #8000665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coral Springs, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, GEARS SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN TWO GEARS; ACCELERATION AT 25-50 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AT 40 MPH AND VEHICLE IS BUCKING, DEALER REPLACED RESONANCE FLAP, AND FUEL INJECTION PUMP, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS OF POOR FUEL EFFICIENCY.
NHTSA complaint #8000665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vero Beach, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE BATTERY UNDER REAR PASSENGER SEAT HAD EXPLODED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND WERE UNWILLING TO ASSIST. *AK CONSUMER STATES IN SPITE OF VARIOUS ATTEMPTS, A FOUL SMELL STILL REMAINS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #899139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.