Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E320, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension32
- Seat belts10
- Air bags7
- Power train5
- Electrical system5
- Structure4
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Steering1
- Equipment1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E320.
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 1997 Mercedes-Benz E320: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10235972 | Enclosed for your information and pursuant to part 579.5, please find our latest Service and Warranty Bulletins for March, 2016 |
| 10186142 | Unmotivated Reaction from Park Assist - model series 213 facelift / 238 facelift with option code 235 (active par- king assist) and option code 501 (surround view system) |
| 10186141 | NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock |
| 10186135 | If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit |
| 10181124 | Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R |
| 10181123 | Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D |
| 10179951 | AIRMATIC Fault Message "Max 80 km/ h (50 mph) " In Instrument Cluster |
| 10167553 | Combination message: "Clean fuel filter" is displayed. The fault code 162500 (water level message - Bosch) or P226997 (water level message - Delphi) or 171600 (filter load - Bosch) is stored in the engine control unit. |
| 10167525 | Apple products (iPhone or iPod) are not charged via the serial USB interface of the COMAND Online control unit (A40/3) in the stowage compartment of the center console. |
| 10167000 | Surface damage on steering wheel trim |
| 10166976 | Message in instrument cluster "DISTRONIC PLUSCurrently Unavailable - See Owner's Manual" |
| 10166090 | Possible complaints: 1. Memory function of electric seat fore/aft adjustment not functioning. 2. Seat fore/aft adjustment with easy entry/exit feature not functioning. 3. Head restraint presetting not functioning. 4. Seat fore/aft adjustment can only be adjusted for 2 sec with the seat adjustment switch (seat can only be adjusted in longitudinal direction in fits and starts). 5. Function "Collision avoidance when folding down the rear seat backrest" not functioning (seat fails to move forward when the rear seat backrest is folded down). |
| 10151959 | Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises |
| 10151948 | Display of suspension setting in head unit implausible |
| 10151924 | Liftgate intermittently does not open fully |
| 10136031 | Engine noises (rattling) after engine start |
| 10135628 | iPhone mobile phone: Various complaints after software update to iOS8 |
| 10135598 | Engine diagnosis warning lamp lights up in instrument cluster, fault code U145400: "Implausible data were received from the ethanol sensor" |
| 10044222 | MERCEDES BENZ: FRONT OR REAR SEAT BELT DOES NOT ROLL UP CORRECTLY. DIRT DEPOSITS ON THE SEAT BELT GUIDE DUE TO SOILED SEAT BELT. ALSO INCLUDED MODELS 169, F CELL, 246, AND 231. NO MODEL YEARS GIVEN. *JS |
| 10044181 | XENTRY: RATTLING/THUMPING NOISES FROM THE AREA OF THE STEERING ON ROUGH ROADS OR WHEN DRIVING OVER ROAD UNDULATIONS. NO MODEL YEARS GIVEN. ALSO INCLUDED MODELS 168 AND 172. *JS |
| 10044180 | XENTRY: 'AIRMATIC- SERVICE REQUIRED' OR 'ELC- SERVICE REQUIRED' IN DISPLAY- 'FC5151- B22/3 (REAR AXLE SENSOR): SIGNAL IMPLAUSIBLE' STORED. *JS |
| 10033070 | XENTRY (MERCEDES): ENGINE WARNING LAMP IS CURRENTLY ON OR WAS ON AND A DELAY FAULT OF THE CAMSHAFT ADJUST TO CURRENT OR STORED IN THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. MODELS 171, 203, 209, 211, 219, 221, 216, 230, 164, 251, AND 403. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10033067 | MERCEDES BENZ: TAILGATE DOES NOT OPEN FULLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE TAILGATE NOT OPENING FULLY IN COLD WEATHER, DO NOT REPLACE THE STRUTS. *PE |
| 10032709 | MERCEDES: CRACKING/CREAKING NOISES FROM FRONT AXLE WHEN VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TORSION OR WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THIS IS MAINLY HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING SLOWLY. RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE FRAME TYPE INTEGRAL SUPPORT AND STEERING PLATE CAN CAUSE THE PLATE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FRAME TYPE INTEGRAL SUPPORT OF THE FRONT AXLE, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES NOISES. *PE |
| 10029105 | MERCEDES BENZ: FUEL LOSS AT PRESSURE REGULATOR VALVE AND/OR POOR ENGINE RUNNING CHARACTERISTICS (SHAKES, KNOCKS, SURGES, CHANGES TO LIP HOME MODE, POOR OUTPUT, POOR FUEL ECONOMY, COMBUSTION NOISE, VEHICLE STALLS). MAY BE CAUSED BY MALFUNCTION AT PRESSURE REGULATOR VALVE (PRV) DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
PE07021 · Suspension:front:springs:coil springsopened 19 Apr 2007 · closed 9 Aug 2007
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING EJECTION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation