Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension7
- Electrical system6
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Equipment1
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1996 E-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class failed the safety check 1.08% of the time — 26% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 116,619 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (100 kW, 134 hp), 2.2 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp) and 2.8 petrol (142 kW, 190 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 100 kW 134 hp | 44 |
| 2.2 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 35 |
| 2.8 petrol | 142 kW 190 hp | 30 |
| 3.2 petrol | 162 kW 217 hp | 28 |
| 3.0 diesel | 100 kW 134 hp | 25 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
223 first registered in 1996 are on Dutch roads; 51% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde54
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen51
- Band onvoldoende profiel34
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm31
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld23
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm22
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage18
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar15
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
330 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 950 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
44 of these cars first registered in 1996 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 254,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
25 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 92% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
THE DRIVE BELT PULLEY ON THE ENGINE CAN DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE METAL AND BREAK. IF THE DRIVE PULLEY BREAKS, THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE COOLING, BATTERY CHARGING, AND/OR POWER STEERING.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 601449 | UPDATED INFORMATION TO REFLECT ADDITON OF APPROVED TIRES. *YC |
| 10136029 | SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink |
| 10015071 | TRUNK LID OPENS OR CLOSES TOO QUICKLY WHILE OPERATING WITH REMOTE TRUNK LID CONTROL BUTTON. *TT |
| 10010822 | CONSUMER SHUTOFF DISPLAYED IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING EJECTION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation