67 of the
1,516 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz E320
are about the transmission —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
67
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND INJURIES TO THE FACE, NECK, AND SHOULDERS, WHICH REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT UNIVERSAL JOINT AND DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG SENSOR TO ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATE AND DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF GREENWICH, 261 WEST PUTNAM AVE, GREENWICH, CT) WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
NHTSA complaint #11173568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HIGHWAY DRIVING, CRUISE CONTROL SET. CRUISE CONTROL BEEPED, DISENGAGED. CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY UNTIL I HAD TO STOP FOR A LIGHT. WHEN LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN, THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE - HAD NO POWER, EVEN THOUGH THE RPMS SHOWED THE ENGINE RUNNING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NEAR A GAS STATION AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY HAZARDOUS HAD IT OCCURRED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.... I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE. BUT THIS CAR BASICALLY LEFT ME SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN APPROACHING ME FROM THE REAR, OR IT WAS IN THE INTERSECTION AT THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11113264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SHIFTER MODULE IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, WHEN IN DRIVE, IT STAYS IN 2ND GEAR ONLY. TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, I MUST SHUT THE ENGINE. OTHERWISE I CAN'T SHIFT FROM D TO N TO R. THE SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE PAST NEUTRAL. TO GET TO P OR R, I MUST SHUT THE ENGINE. THIS IS UNSAFE WHEN TRYING TO BACK INTO A CITY STREET PARKING. WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY, AFTER STARTING IT, ONCE I SHIFT FROM P TO R & ARRIVE AT N, THE SHIFTER WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO SHIFT BACK INTO R WITHOUT SHUTTING THE ENGINE & THEN RESTARTING IT.
NHTSA complaint #11098019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY DOWNSHIFT SEVERAL GEARS WITHOUT WARNING .THIS CAUSES SKIDDING, THROWING OCCUPANTS VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE WIND SHIELD THIS HAPPENS WHEN AUTO IS IN DRIVE WITH SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-45 MPH. THIS UNEXPECTED LURCHING CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET AND DRY PAVEMENT. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MERCEDES BENZ WITH NO CORRECTIVE ACTION OFFERED.
NHTSA complaint #11046034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT EXITED THE HIGHWAY. UPON RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF MARIETTA (810 COBB PKWY S, MARIETTA, GA 30060 (770) 783-5171), BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF BUCKHEAD (2799 PIEDMONT RD NE, ATLANTA, GA 30305 (800) 399-3804) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS AWAITING A CALLBACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
NHTSA complaint #11030499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG, BUT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.
NHTSA complaint #10782299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DECELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY FROM ON RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S IS A SCARY SITUATION TO LOSE POWER AS YOU MERGE INTO HIGHWAY. I COASTED TO BRAKE DOWN LANE. I SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK GEAR TO RESET, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE GEAR TO RESUME TRAVEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES SINCE. CAN BE A DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ROADWAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10717564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING NORMALLY AT 40 MPH WHEN THE CAR GAVE OUT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICE. A NEW FRONT DRIVESHAFT WAS NEEDED .
NHTSA complaint #10713731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #10650462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT DROPPED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. WHEN THE STATE TROOPER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD LOST ALL OF ITS TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS LIKELY THE DRIVE SHAFT HIT A TRANSMISSION LINE AND CAUSED IT TO RUPTURE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS, AS IT WAS NOT WORTH THE EXPENSE OF FIXING. THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE, THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. *JB UPDATED 10/28/14
NHTSA complaint #10609375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, IN WHICH THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY SHIFT SENSOR. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
NHTSA complaint #10588423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, IN WHICH THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY SHIFT SENSOR. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
NHTSA complaint #10588423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BROUGHT MY 2005 MERCEDES E320 [PURCHASED OCT. 2014] IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE JAN. 30, 2014. I MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE PERSON A NOISE [LIKE SOMETHING BROKE] I HEARD WHILE OUT OF TOWN VISITING. HE CHANGED MY OIL AND ALSO FOUND/REPLACE A BROKEN REAR SUSPENSION SPRING. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF PURCHASE. REPAIR COST: $551.17. MY SECOND INCIDENT OCCURED FEB. 19TH. I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE [NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF FLUID] AND IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION SERVO SOLENOID SEALS REQUIRED REPLACING. REPAIR COST: $157.84. THE THIRD INCIDENT WAS REPORTED APR. 21, 2014. I NOTED AN INCREASINGLY BAD ODOR INSIDE THE CAR SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE, BUT WASN'T SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS AS I WAS STILL TRYING TO IDENTIFY IT. I FINALLY REALIZED IT WAS GAS I WAS SMELLING [INTERMITTANTLY] INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. IT TURNED OUT TO BE LEAKING FUEL FROM THE LEFT FUEL PUMP SEAL (LFPS) UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT. REPAIR COST: $161.31. THE FUEL ODOR GOT WORSE AFTER THE REPLACING THE LFPS. MOST NOTICEABLY AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS. I'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE DRIVERS' SIDE REAR QUARTER THAT PUDDLED BY THE TIRE. MY FEELING AT THIS TIME, REPAIRS MAY BE ONGING FOR MY E320, THAT I REALLY LIKE.
NHTSA complaint #10585435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SLOWING DOWN FOR LIGHT AND CAR TRIES TO STALL. AFTER GETTING IT HOME AND IN THE GARAGE, NOTICED STRONG GAS SMELL. TOOK TO SHOP AND GUY SAID GAS LEAK FROM TOP OF TANK. READ ABOUT LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH E320'S.
NHTSA complaint #10546031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED TO OPERATE AT STARTUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR EACH FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE DEFECT EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/26/13*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN, BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, AND THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE MOTOR MOUNTS, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, THRUST ARMS, BEARINGS AND BUSHINGS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK ON ITS OWN, AFTER SHE UN-LOCKED IT. THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHEN IT WAS STATIONARY. UPDATED 02/05/14
NHTSA complaint #10526421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JUNE 6, 2013, WHILE BRAKING ON APPROACHING INTERSECTION, BRAKES FAILED AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED. MERCEDES CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER, M-B GREENWAY, HOUSTON, TX, WHERE THE SERVICE ADVISOR EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESSURE RESERVOIR OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE UNIT HAD FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,350. I COMPLAINED THAT THE SBC UNIT WAS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 05V0133 AND TWO MBUSA RECALL CAMPAIGNS (2005070007 AND 2005110001) RESULTING IN THE EXTENSION OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE SBC UNIT, BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CODE REQUIRED BY MB USA, LLC FOR A DEALER TO FILE A WARRANTY CLAIM UNDER THE NHTSA 05V033 CAMPAIGN DID NOT APPEAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. I PAID THE DISPUTED $1,350 CHARGE AND DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 6 MILES ON JUNE 6, 2013, AND THE BRAKES AGAIN FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED. MERCEDES CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TOWED IT BACK TO M-B GREENWEAY, WHERE THE SERVICE STATED THE ENTIRE SBC UNIT HAD FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,030. I COMPLAINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WAS MANDATED AT NO COST BY NHTSA 05V0133, BUT SHE SAID MB USA LLC WOULD ALLOW THE DEALER TO HONOR THE SBC WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS "DRIVEN OUT OF THE SHOP." SHE ALSO REFUSED TO CREDIT THE $1,350 CHARGE I PAID FOR THE SBC PRESSURE RESERVOIR REPLACEMENT, BUT OFFERED TO "DISCOUNT" THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SBC UNIT TO "$1,799."
NHTSA complaint #10515668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR IS USED ONLY FOR WORK AND MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING FOR APPOINTMENTS. AT 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE E320. AN INVESTIGATION REVELED THAT A VALVE HAD FAILED IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE TO MIX IN WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH IN TURN BURNT OUT PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO THERE IS HESITATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR SOMETIMES SPUTTERS TO SHUT OFF WHEN STOPPING.
NHTSA complaint #10508642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED AND ALL OF THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CRASH INTO ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
NHTSA complaint #10499556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL AT WORK AND ABOUT TO COME TO A STAND STILL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED JUMPED THE CURB AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS LEAKAGE OF RADIATOR FLUID ON THE GROUND. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM WAS APPARENTLY FIXED BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AGAIN WITHIN 24 HRS OF THE FIRST REPAIR SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY. THIS TIME THE CAR WAS KEPT FOR 5 DAYS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF . THE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR VACUUM LEAKS BUT NONE WAS FOUND. THE REPORT FROM THE DEALER READ THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD A 113 PART NUMBER BUT SHOULD BE 112 PART NUMBER. REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW WITH 113 TEST AND THEN FOUND TO BE OKAY. ROAD TEST OKAY .NO CODES RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO MY HOME ON 11/16/12. I DROVE IT ON TWO OCCASIONS BEFORE12/1/12 AND IT DROVE FINE WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10487599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING SOUTH ON I95 NEAR SAVANNAH THE DASH LIGHTS INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHT LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN DECELERATING. APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STARTED BUT COULD NOT GET FROM PARK INTO A GEAR OR EVEN NEUTRAL. ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE FROZEN AND SO GETTING THE CAR ON TO THE TOW TRUCK WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. WERE TOWED TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SBC SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THIS TOOK OVER NIGHT AS THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. BESIDES BEING GREATLY INCONVENIENCED - WE HAD TO SPEND A NIGHT IN A HOTEL, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED BY MERCEDES SINCE PURCHASE NEW IN 2004. THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED DURING A SERVICE CALL, THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS A RECALL THAT WAS KEPT QUIET. NOT INFORMING THE OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUES IS A MAJOR NEGLIGENCE ON MERCEDES PART.
NHTSA complaint #10486200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.