Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension9
- Structure4
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Steering1
- Visibility1
- Power train1
- Equipment1
- Fuel system, other1
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, 12 1999 E-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. 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 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class failed the safety check 1.26% of the time — 29% less often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 133,378 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 2.4 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp), 2.8 petrol (150 kW, 201 hp) and 3.2 petrol (165 kW, 221 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 82 |
| 2.8 petrol | 150 kW 201 hp | 40 |
| 3.2 petrol | 165 kW 221 hp | 40 |
| 2.0 petrol | 100 kW 134 hp | 38 |
| 3.0 diesel | 130 kW 174 hp | 36 |
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
350 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 39% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €76,313.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde133
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen125
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm99
- Band onvoldoende profiel89
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld56
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm48
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect45
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar42
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
271 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,303 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
195 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 345,000 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
28 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 96% 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 in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
| 1998220 10 Nov 1998 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, a wrong diameter clamp may have been used to join the window airbag to the gas generator. In the event of a side impact collision, gas may… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A WRONG CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS.
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 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 603009 | VARIOUS INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF CD CHANGER AND CELULAR TELEPHONE ( CTEL ) SYSTEMS FOR 129, 170 AND OTHER MODELS. *YC |
| 10136029 | SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink |
| 10015377 | REVISED REPAIR PROCEDURE AND ADDITIONAL APPLICABLE MODELS. MODEL 170, 202, 208 AND 210 MODELS. FRONT FOG LAMP(S) INOPERATIVE. MERCEDES-BENZ. *TT MODEL YEARS: 1994-2004. UPDATED 09/09/08. *PE |
| 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 |
| 10007193 | ORDERING PROCESS FOR EXTENDED LENGTH SEAT BELTS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING EJECTION
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation