1997 Mercedes Benz E CLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 35 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 17.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 11.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 14 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 14; Structure:Frame And Members: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Suspension: 2; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10054661 · 2004-01-22 (January 22, 2004)
THE SEAT TRACK FOR THE CAR CONTINUES TO BE DEFECTIVE. CAR SEAT "ROCKS" EXCESSIVELY - CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION IN HEAVY/EMERGENCY BRAKING. THE FRONT SEAT TRACK WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR (1996-2003). MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ASKED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE SEAT TRACKS TO ALLOW DRIVERS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181771 · 2007-02-06 (February 6, 2007)
SOCKET DEFORMS THERMALLY CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHT NOT TO ILLUMINATE. PROBLEM IS ON MY 1997 MERCEDES E300 DIESEL VIN# [XXX]. EXACT SAME PROBLEM WAS RECALLED ON 98-2004 SLK-CLASS BUT NOT ON MODEL. RECALL # FOR SLK IS 2006-080005. THANKS. *NM UPDATED 07/11/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090763 · 2004-09-10 (September 10, 2004)
REMOVED LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND FOUND UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING PERCH BREAKING AWAY FROM BODY, COULD SEE POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING. NO INCIDENT YET BUT AN ACCIDENT AVOIDED. DEALER HAS THIS PARTICULAR PART IN STOCK AND ASKED IF IT HAD COME APART "YET" BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN IT BEFORE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202543 · 2007-09-11 (September 11, 2007)
MR. GARY BOUND MERCEDES BENZ 3 PARAGON MONTVALE NJ 07645 DEAR MR. BOUND, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE ON A VERY TROUBLING MATTER. I HAVE 1997 MERCEDES E 420, , (IT HAS 81,000 MILES) WHICH RECENTLY DEVELOPED A SERIOUS DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE, MORE PRECISELY A LACK OF STEERING CONTROL. I WAS SO ALARMED BY THE HANDLING; I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM. (I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE EXTRA DISTANCE TO A MB DEALER). AFTER A QUICK EXAMINATION THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COIL SPRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8012522 · 2002-06-25 (June 25, 2002)
ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN, ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING AND BRAKES WERE LOST WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8012522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222207 · 2008-03-24 (March 24, 2008)
MY MB E300D'S ENGINE WILL CUT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT STARTED GRADUALLY JUST CUTTING OFF WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION OR WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP. FEELING IT WAS ANYTHING FROM FUEL TO COMPUTER PROBLEMS I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THEY ADVISED THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND WANTED TO START REPLACING PARTS LIKE RELAYS. THE PROBLEM CAME TO A HEAD WHILE MY WIFE WAS ACCELERATING ON AN INTERSTATE RAMP INTO TRAFFIC RUNNING 70MPH. THE CAR CUT OFF CAUSING NEAR CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS. THIS IS OF COURSE UNACCEPTABLE. MER…
Owner-reported narrative. 201,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 770199 · 2002-11-27 (November 27, 2002)
MY CAR IS PRESENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH A MAJOR FUEL LEAK. EACH TIME HAS BEEN FOR A DIFFERENT LEAK. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN DONE BY A MERCEDES HOWEVER REPLACEMENT PART HAVE BEEN PURCHASE FROM MERCEDES AND MY REPAIRER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT DIESEL LEAKS ARE NOT UNCOMMON IN THESE MODELS. THIS IS MY THIRD MERCEDES DIESEL AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. CERTAINLY THIS SEEMS TO BE TO BE A FIRE HAZARD. DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 770199 at NHTSA ↗