NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Mercedes Benz E 300 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 Mercedes Benz E 300 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 8 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Mercedes Benz E 300.

1997 Mercedes Benz E 300 owner complaints

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Mercedes Benz E 300, describing incidents dated September 12, 2001 to May 27, 2016.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10876659 · Filed June 26, 2016
THE WIRE HARNESS IS BRITTLE AND THE INSULATION IS DISINTEGRATING, RESULTING IN SHORTS AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY.
ODI #10181780 · Filed February 6, 2007
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. *AK
ODI #10156785 · Filed May 4, 2006
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…

Read all 8 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1997 Mercedes Benz E 300 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE07-021: FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING EJECTION
Closed August 9, 2007 · Filed for the E300

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 Mercedes Benz E 300 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 E 300. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

8 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Mercedes Benz E 300.

Electrical System

ODI #10876659

Incident: May 27, 2016 · Filed: June 26, 2016

THE WIRE HARNESS IS BRITTLE AND THE INSULATION IS DISINTEGRATING, RESULTING IN SHORTS AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10181780

Incident: November 10, 2006 · Filed: February 6, 2007

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. *AK

Suspension

ODI #10156785

Incident: April 22, 2006 · Filed: May 4, 2006

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling; Power Train

ODI #10040616

Incident: August 20, 2002 · Filed: September 24, 2003

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. *CB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #8014435

Incident: July 2, 2002 · Filed: July 22, 2002

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.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline; Power Train

ODI #8000665

Filed: December 12, 2001

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. *TT

Electrical System

ODI #899139

Incident: November 12, 2001 · Filed: November 14, 2001

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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #759748

Incident: September 12, 2001 · Filed: March 24, 2002

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). *AK

Other Mercedes Benz E 300 model years

Check your 1997 Mercedes Benz E 300 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz E 300 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mercedes Benz VIN