NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Mercedes Benz E Class Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Mercedes Benz E Class has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 24 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercedes Benz dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Mercedes Benz E Class. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

1998 Mercedes Benz E Class owner complaints

Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercedes Benz E Class, describing incidents dated April 1, 1998 to October 27, 2008.

Most-cited components

Suspension 7 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Power Train 4 complaints
Electrical System 3 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Of the 24 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10247135 · Filed October 29, 2008
I AM WRITING REGARDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO MERCEDES BENZ E300 (W210 CHASSIS) FAILURES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE, ROUTE 90 ON MONDAY, MY SPRING PERCH FAILED, BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS LOST ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PERCH LET GO WITH A VERY LOUD BANG, THEN A PRONOUNCED BUMP…
ODI #10192300 · Filed June 2, 2007
1998 MERCEDES BENZ E-320, SPEED <15 MPH HAD THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING EJECTED AND HOUSING COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE MAKING THE FRONT END DROP DOWN ONTO DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE IMPINGEMENT OF THE BODY ONTO THE TIRE AND WHEEL AND/OR THE SPRING ITSELF…
ODI #10163953 · Filed July 31, 2006
THE MAIN SUSPENSION SPRING FROM MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OUT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR AND THE CAR CAME DOWN ON THE TIRE. TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 60 MPH AND HAD IT OCCURRED TWO MINUTES EARLIER SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE POOR DESIGN BY MB CAUSED EXCESS RUST AND…

Read all 24 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1998 Mercedes Benz E Class in 2 investigations. 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
Preliminary Evaluation PE03-058: ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE
Closed April 22, 2004

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Mercedes Benz E Class as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Mercedes Benz E Class. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

24 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Mercedes Benz E Class.

Suspension; Structure

ODI #10247135

Incident: October 27, 2008 · Filed: October 29, 2008

I AM WRITING REGARDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO MERCEDES BENZ E300 (W210 CHASSIS) FAILURES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE, ROUTE 90 ON MONDAY, MY SPRING PERCH FAILED, BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS LOST ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PERCH LET GO WITH A VERY LOUD BANG, THEN A PRONOUNCED BUMP (PRESUMABLY AS THE REAR TIRE DROVE OVER THE SPRING ASSEMBLY.) THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPPED HARD ON THE FRONT RIGHT BUMP STOPS. LOTS OF WARNING LIGHTS - BAS, ASR, ETC. I THOUGHT I BLEW A TIRE OR HIT SOME ROAD DAMAGE. SURPRISINGLY, JUST A LITTLE SWERVE IN THE LEFT LANE AND I MADE IT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AFTER A 1/4 MILE. I HAD HEARD OF THE SPRING PERCH FAILURES FROM THE USER FORUMS AT WWW.MERCEDESSHOP.COM. AT THIS POINT I WAS PRETTY SURE IT WAS A PERCH OR POSSIBLY SOMETHING WORSE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TIRE SMOKE, BURNING OR NOISE. I CHECKED THE TIRES & DROVE IT 15 MILES HOME. PUT IT UP ON JACKS & FOUND NO SPRING AT ALL & SOME DISCONNECTED SENSOR WIRES. DROVE IT 10 MILES TO MY INDEPENDENT SHOP. WAITING FOR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. STILL NO WORD FROM THE DEALER HE CONTACTED. I GUESS THAT'S MY NEXT MOVE. *TR

Suspension

ODI #10192300

Incident: May 29, 2007 · Filed: June 2, 2007

1998 MERCEDES BENZ E-320, SPEED <15 MPH HAD THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING EJECTED AND HOUSING COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE MAKING THE FRONT END DROP DOWN ONTO DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE IMPINGEMENT OF THE BODY ONTO THE TIRE AND WHEEL AND/OR THE SPRING ITSELF PRECLUDED ANY STEERING CONTROL. THE COIL SPRING MOUNT OR "SADDLE" HAD SEPARATED FROM THE WELDED POINT TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. MERCEDES OFFERRED TO PAY 25% OF THE REPAIR FEE DUE TO EXCELLENT SERVICE HISTORY. WE REPEATEDLY REQUESTED A TEAM FROM MERCEDES TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE IDEAL TO INVESTIGATE AS NO OTHER COMPLICATING CRASH HAD OCCURRED. THEY REFUSED THIS. MY WIFE AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR BUT INDICATED THAT WE WANTED ALL PARTS TO BE SAVED FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA.THE NEXT DAY, THE SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED THAT MERCEDES NOW OFFERRED TO PAY 50% OF REPAIR COST BUT REQUIRED A "WAIVER" BE SIGNED TO "HOLD HARMLESS" MERCEDES FROM ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS OR DAMAGES INCURRED WITH THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE. WE REFUSED TO SIGN ANY WAIVER AS IT IS OUR EXPECTATION THAT THE REPAIR BE COMPLETED IN A MANNER TO ENSURE THE VEHICLE'S FUTURE SAFETY. WE CONTACTED THE BODY SHOP WITH THE PLAN TO INFORM MERCEDES THAT WE WOULD BE TOWING THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION/ REPAIR. WE WERE INFORMED THE REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPELTED AND THAT THE CAR WAS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALLIGNMENT BUT OLD PARTS WERE SAVED FOR US. MERCEDES NEVER INFORMED US OF ANY OPEN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS VEHICLE EVEN WHEN DIRECTLY ASKED THIS QUESTION. WE ANTICIPATE THE REPAIR TO EXCEED $1,000 PLUS TOWING. I DISAGREE WITH INFORMATION PROVIDED BY MERCEDES IN EARLIER INVESTIGATIONS INDICATING THAT THIS FAILURE WOULD NOT RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I COMPLETELY LOST ALL ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CRASHING BECAUSE IT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS AROUND ME. *TR

Suspension

ODI #10163953

Incident: July 13, 2006 · Filed: July 31, 2006

THE MAIN SUSPENSION SPRING FROM MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OUT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR AND THE CAR CAME DOWN ON THE TIRE. TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 60 MPH AND HAD IT OCCURRED TWO MINUTES EARLIER SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE POOR DESIGN BY MB CAUSED EXCESS RUST AND FAILURE IN THE 1998 MB E320. *JB

Suspension

ODI #10159242

Incident: June 7, 2006 · Filed: June 7, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE FRONT END COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING PERCH FRACTURED. THE SPRING PERCH WAS REPLACED.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10153386

Incident: February 14, 2006 · Filed: March 22, 2006

CATALYTIC CONVERTER LOOSE INSIDE, RATTLING AND NOT EFFECTIVE. *JB

Tires

ODI #10151735

Incident: January 1, 2006 · Filed: March 3, 2006

TIRES OVERHEAT ON DRY PAVEMENT, CAUSING DECREASED TRACTION. *JB

Suspension

ODI #10146834

Incident: December 15, 2005 · Filed: January 3, 2006

1998 MERCEDES BENZ E300D 4 DOOR SEDAN. DRIVER SIDE SPRING PERCH IS RUSTED AND PEELING OFF DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE WAY IT IS DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON MANY FORUMS AS WELL AS PREVIOUS HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESSHOP.COM/SHOPFORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP3?T=95228. *NM

Power Train

ODI #10145133

Incident: September 9, 2005 · Filed: December 13, 2005

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, STAYS ON 1ST. GEAR (ROUGH RUN). TOOK TO AUTHORIZED MBZ REPAIR STATION, THEY RESET THE "COMPUTER" AND RUN APPROXIMATELY 450 MILES OK AND AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM. WENT BACK AND THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND RESET AGAIN "COMPUTER FAULTS", RUN AGAIN FOR 75 MILES AND SAME PROBLEM, AND SO ON.....*JB

Suspension

ODI #10135226

Incident: September 1, 2005 · Filed: September 2, 2005

I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE SPRING/COIL UPPER TOWER PERCH HAS ALMOST COME COMPLETELY OFF. IF IT COMES OFF WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL LOSE CONTROL. IT HAS COME LOOSE DUE TO RUST,WHICH IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. THESE CARS WILL RUST ON THE BODY PANELS AND ON THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. PLEASE GET MERCEDES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. NOT ONLY IS IT BAD COSMETICALLY, BUT THE RUSTED SPRING PERCHES CAN BE CATASTROPHIC.*AK

Electrical System

ODI #10127535

Incident: June 22, 2005 · Filed: July 5, 2005

WHEN THE ENGINE GETS HOT, IT STALLS . AFTER IT COOLS FOR SOME TIME, IT RE-STARTS. IT HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY (BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC). FOUND OUT FROM THE MERCEDEZ FORUM THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM DUE TO CRANSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. IT HAS HAPPENED TO NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

Other Mercedes Benz E Class model years

Check your 1998 Mercedes Benz E Class VIN

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

Check a Mercedes Benz VIN