NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Mercedes Benz 320 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 Mercedes Benz 320 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 18 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Mercedes Benz 320.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1997 Mercedes Benz 320 owner complaints

Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Mercedes Benz 320, describing incidents dated November 6, 1996 to April 3, 2012.

Most-cited components

Suspension 5 complaints
Air Bags 3 complaints
Electrical System 3 complaints
Exterior Lighting 3 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 3 complaints
Structure 2 complaints

Of the 18 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 18 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10454019 · Filed April 3, 2012
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…
ODI #10178233 · Filed January 9, 2007
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…
ODI #10099146 · Filed November 1, 2004
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. *JB

Read all 18 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 Mercedes Benz 320 right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Mercedes Benz 320. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

18 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Mercedes Benz 320.

Suspension

ODI #10454019

Incident: April 3, 2012 · Filed: April 3, 2012

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. *TR

Structure

ODI #10178233

Incident: November 26, 2006 · Filed: January 9, 2007

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.

Suspension

ODI #10099146

Incident: September 13, 2004 · Filed: November 1, 2004

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. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling; Electrical System

ODI #10015312

Incident: January 30, 2003 · Filed: April 11, 2003

"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 *TS

Air Bags

ODI #885240

Crash

Filed: April 6, 2001

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.*AK

Suspension

ODI #882723

Incident: April 1, 1997 · Filed: March 12, 2001

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. *AK

Air Bags

ODI #852750

Incident: November 8, 1999 · Filed: November 10, 1999

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. *AK

Suspension

ODI #848785

Incident: September 13, 1999 · Filed: September 27, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT 40 THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING AND THE RUBBER IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

Visibility

ODI #817784

Filed: October 28, 1997

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 *JB

Exterior Lighting; Visibility

ODI #810605

Fire

Filed: April 2, 1997

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. *AK

Check your 1997 Mercedes Benz 320 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz 320 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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