Mercedes Benz 320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
163 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
92,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 89 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 34 of 163 complaints (20.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 64 | 39.3% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 9.8% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 7.4% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 5.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 20 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 16 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
Electrical System: 34; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 20; Electrical System:Wiring: 16; Air Bags: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 6; Suspension: 6; Tires: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 25 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 25; 150,000 and above: 18
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 74 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
1995: 1; 1996: 3; 2000: 12; 2001: 13; 2002: 12; 2003: 17; 2004: 15; 2005: 9; 2006: 18; 2007: 13; 2008: 21; 2009: 8; 2010: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 8; 2013: 4; 2014: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 64 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10086612 · 2004-08-11 (August 11, 2004)
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNES HAS FAILED. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL 92-95 E-320 CARS. IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE ENGINE CAN JUST QUIT WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116522 · 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)
1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE ACTUATOR WIRING . THE WIRE INSULATION USED ON THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR IN MY CAR HAS BADLY DEGRADED! THIS CAUSES ALL KINDS OF SHORTS WITHIN THE ELECTRONICS OF THE VEHICLE AND PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE SYSTEM IN THIS CAR. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CAUSED MY CAR TO GO IN AND OUT OF LIMP MODE(REDUCED POWER) WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO ACCELLERATE VERY QUICKLY AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT!. MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER DENIES …
Owner-reported narrative. 151,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046094 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE AN ESSENTIAL PART WAS MISSING. *AK THERE WAS LOW FLUID. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE POWER STEERING CYLINDER LEAKED INTO THE BOOT. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 89,941 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038041 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED THAT THE FOUR WINDOW CLUSTERS FOR ALL THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO GET THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TO OPERATE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ALL FOUR WINDOW CLUSTERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED FROM THE HOSES/CLAMPS, AND CONNECTORS. THE LEAKS APPEARED MORE FREQUENTLY DURING THE WINTER SEASON WHICH CAUSED THE METAL TO EXPAND. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 36,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170875 · 2006-10-15 (October 15, 2006)
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE INSULATION RESULTING IN STALLING WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 135,203 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241290 · 2008-09-08 (September 8, 2008)
CRUMBLING FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS CAUSING STALLING, MISFIRING, EXPOSED WIRES A FIRE HAZARD AND A "NO SPARK CONDITION" CAUSING DEAD CYLINDERS TO POUR RAW FUEL INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER RESULTING IN HEAVY SMOKE AND AN EMANATE SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THIS CONDITION DESTROYED THE $1200 CATALYTIC CONVERTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO PASS STATE EMISSIONS TESTING. MERCEDES-BENZ REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AN OFFERS NO REMEDY. MAYBE AFTER SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED , THERE WILL BE SOME ACTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 72,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329987 · 2010-05-11 (May 11, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ 320SL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAVE IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329995 · 2010-05-11 (May 11, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ 320SL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED AUTOMOTIVE CENTER WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8010305 · 2002-05-22 (May 22, 2002)
BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND TRANSMISSION GEAR CONSOLE CAME APART. DRIVER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IF NOTHING WAS HIT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8010305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506764 · 1996-08-16 (August 16, 1996)
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PULL OUT OF LOW GEAR WHEN COLD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10448946 · 2012-02-22 (February 22, 2012)
DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, MISSING INSULATION WAS DISCOVERED ON WIRING TO A SENSOR IN THE AIR TUBE, VISIBLE OUTSIDE OF TAPE WRAP. I MADE SURE THAT WIRES WERE NOT TOUCHING AND INSULATED THE EXPOSED AREAS AT THE CLIP-ON CONNECTOR TO THE SENSOR. ENGINE MISSFIRE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO FUEL DELIVERY AND INJECTOR CLEANER WAS ADDED TO TANK. DRIVEABILTY CONTINUED TO WORSEN, AS ENGINE MISSFIRE BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN. I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF THE WIRING ISSUES, SO I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE TAPE WRAP ON THE LEAD TO THE SENSOR. THE ENTIRE LENGTH THAT I E…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10448946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8017660 · 2002-08-30 (August 30, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, STOPPING ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND FAILING IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. OWNER SAID SHE ALMOST WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT FUEL PUMP WAS THE CAUSE. THIS WAS HER THIRD REPLACEMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8017660 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1994: 1; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0