NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Mercedes Benz E320 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 44 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320.

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1996 Mercedes Benz E320 owner complaints

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320, describing incidents dated January 26, 2000 to November 5, 2014.

Most-cited components

Suspension 18 complaints
Electrical System 11 complaints
Structure 5 complaints
Air Bags 4 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 4 complaints

Of the 44 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 44 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11111724 · Filed July 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK AND VIBRATED BEFORE COLLAPSING. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION SPRING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED A PUNCTURE TO THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE…
ODI #10654349 · Filed November 12, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED KNEE, BACK, NECK, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS…
ODI #10649002 · Filed October 21, 2014
WHEN YOU REPLACE THE BATTERY ON THESE VEHICLES THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS RENDERING THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT USELESS IE. AIR BAGS THE AUTOMOBILE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL WHEREBY MERCEDES FIXES THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEM. *TR

Read all 44 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320 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

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320 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 1996 Mercedes Benz E320. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

44 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320.

Suspension

ODI #11111724

Incident: June 1, 2002 · Filed: July 16, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK AND VIBRATED BEFORE COLLAPSING. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION SPRING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED A PUNCTURE TO THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10654349

Crash 1 injury

Incident: November 5, 2014 · Filed: November 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED KNEE, BACK, NECK, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

Air Bags; Seat Belts

ODI #10649002

Incident: October 20, 2014 · Filed: October 21, 2014

WHEN YOU REPLACE THE BATTERY ON THESE VEHICLES THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS RENDERING THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT USELESS IE. AIR BAGS THE AUTOMOBILE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL WHEREBY MERCEDES FIXES THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEM. *TR

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10541922

Incident: September 4, 2013 · Filed: September 4, 2013

AFTER FILLING UP ON GAS JUST TWO DAYS AGO, THERE WAS A VERY PECULIAR SMELL. IT SMELLED OF GAS FUMES. JUST TODAY, I NOTICED THAT MY GAS GAUGE WAS GOING DOWN QUITE FAST AND IT WASN'T UNTIL JUST NOW THAT MY GAS TANK IS LEAKING.

Suspension

ODI #10525973

Incident: May 30, 2013 · Filed: July 21, 2013

SPRING PERCH SNAPPED AND SPRING SHOT OUT ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHILE WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. THANK GOD THEY WERE LESS THE 200 FEET FROM THE HOUSE AND ONLY TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH. *TR

Steering; Electrical System

ODI #10520979

Crash

Incident: June 19, 2013 · Filed: June 20, 2013

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF STORE ALLOWING A 93 YEAR OLD LADY TO GO SHOPPING,AS I WAS PARKED THERE I WAS SIDESWIPED, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE AUTO SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, AFTER DOING THIS I DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY CAN'T START THE CAR BECAUSE THE IGNITION IS JAMMED OR KEY WILL NOT TURN, SO THE CAR WON'T START. I CALLED A LOCKSMITH AND DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION IS DEFECTED. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10509592

Incident: April 15, 2013 · Filed: April 25, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STARTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEGAN TO DRY ROT AND WAS TO DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. ..UPDATED 07-01-13 *BF

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10486069

Incident: November 19, 2012 · Filed: November 26, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Tires

ODI #10483875

Incident: November 8, 2012 · Filed: November 9, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA YK580 TIRES, SIZE 215/55/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FEELING FROM THE TIRES. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD BECOME SHREDDED. THE CONTACT INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE CONTACT LATER WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TIRE INFLATION WAS TOO LOW SO THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Electrical System

ODI #10474421

Fire

Incident: September 8, 2012 · Filed: September 9, 2012

THIS VEHICLE (1996 MERCEDES E320) HAS HAD A HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. MANY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT GREAT EXPENSE! THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I WAS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE MYSELF. TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY FROM THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONNECTION IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE PARK/NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH ON THE TRANSMISSION AND TO THE STARTER. THIS HARNESS ALSO INCLUDES CONNECTIONS TO THE STARTER AND SENSORS ON THE TRANSMISSION. ALL WIRES IN THE ENTIRE HARNESS HAVE CRUMBLED INSULATION AND HAVE SHORTED TOGETHER. THIS CAUSED SHORTING AND BURNING OF THE WIRES AND DAMAGE TO OTHER SYSTEM COMPONENTS. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 15+ YEARS AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE HARNESS ASSEMBLIES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND SUBJECT TO FAILURE. THE INSULATION ON ALL WIRES IS INFERIOR AND WILL FAIL AND CRACK OVER SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE OTHER HARNESSES ON THE VEHICLE HAS REVEALED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY. LUCKILY THE DAMAGE WAS SMALL AND CONTAINED TO THIS ONE HARNESS, HOWEVER ALL HARNESS ON THE VEHICLE MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

Other Mercedes Benz E320 model years

Check your 1996 Mercedes Benz E320 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz E320 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mercedes Benz VIN