U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Mercedes Benz E320 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

83 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

85,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 83 complaints (10.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	10	12.0%
Transmission and shifting	8	9.6%
Steering behavior	7	8.4%
Engine operation	6	7.2%
Electrical and battery issues	6	7.2%
Fuel system concerns	4	4.8%

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.

Air Bags

Engine And Engine Cooling

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Suspension

Suspension:Front

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Air Bags	9
Engine And Engine Cooling	7
Air Bags:Frontal	5
Electrical System	5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys	5
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	5
Suspension	4
Suspension:Front	4

Air Bags: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Electrical System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Suspension: 4; Suspension:Front: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 6

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 32 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2017

2018

2019

2000: 3; 2001: 6; 2002: 9; 2003: 12; 2004: 13; 2005: 3; 2006: 5; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 5; 2011: 8; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10015878 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM THE TRACTION CONTROLSYSTEM APPLIES TO THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS.*TS

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015878 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032448 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)

THE RUBBER INSERT IN THE PULLEY CRANKSHAFT EXPERIENCED A MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. *JB *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032448 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10055166 · 2004-01-29 (January 29, 2004)

KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055166 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10088199 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)

THE REGULATOR ON THE WINDOWS HAVE FAILED AT LEAST EVERY 6 MONTHS THE CHECK EGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER REPAIRS WHERE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LOSING POWER AND NOW WILL NOT SHIFT SINCE THE PURCHASE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088199 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10056607 · 2004-02-05 (February 5, 2004)

HARMONIC BALANCER (CRANKSHAFT PULLEY) IS SEPARATING, CREATING NOISE AND POTENTIALLY LOST OF POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 76,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056607 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10060198 · 2004-03-02 (March 2, 2004)

1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E320T, 60K MILES - CRANKSHAFT HARMONIC BALANCER (DAMPER PULLEY) FAILED. ADVISED BY MECHANIC TO REPLACE IMMEDIATELY, SO AS TO AVOID LOSS OF MULTI RIBBED-V-BELT AND CONCURRENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP FUNCTION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 60,530 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060198 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10163861 · 2006-07-29 (July 29, 2006)

CRANK POSITION SENSOR (CPS) STARTED TO FAIL WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 95F. CAR (1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320) FAILED TO START TWICE WHEN PARKED AFTER DRIVING FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. ONLY AFTER COOLING IT WOULD START AGAIN. AT ONE POINT THE ENGINE BECAME VERY ERRATIC WHILE IN TRAFFIC. AT ANOTHER POINT I WAS STOPPED ON THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. FORTUNATELY I WAS NEAR HOME AND AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED AGAIN. IT WAS EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST , HAVING A MB CAR STALL IN FRONT OF OTHER MUCH CHE…

Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163861 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10088948 · 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)

AS I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM MY ENGINE. I STARTED LOSING POWER STEERING AND MY BATTERY CHARGER LIGHT KEPT FLASHING INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY.*AK AFTER SAFELY DRIVING HOME, I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED HUGE CHUNKS OF RUBBER PARTS INSIDE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD BEEN DAMAGED. WHEN THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS DAMAGED, IT IN TURN RUINED THE OIL PAN COVER AND THE TIMI…

Owner-reported narrative. 56,989 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088948 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10327199 · 2010-04-23 (April 23, 2010)

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) SEPTEMBER 12, 1998 I PURCHASED A 1999 E320W.] I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS DRIVEN LEISURELY. TO DATE, IT ONLY HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN REGULARLY OBTAINING THE A & B MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR MONTHS AND MB ALLEGEDLY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IT; AND I HAVE BEEN USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. A SECOND OPINION MECHANIC SAID IT IS OIL SLUGGING WHICH WAS RECALLED BUT MB WON'T HONOR. HE ALSO SAID …

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10327199 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459402 · 2012-05-23 (May 23, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E320 . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, AN ABNORMAL HISSING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FILLER NECK. AS THE CONTACT REMOVED THE FUEL PUMP HOSE FROM THE FILLER NECK VALVE, FUEL SPEWED FROM THE FILLER NECK ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,011.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10459402 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10632475 · 2014-09-11 (September 11, 2014)

THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT NEAR THE REAR TIRE. I HAD IT FIXED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. I CURRENTLY HAVE A FUEL LEAK AT THE SAME PLACE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 141,000 MILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632475 at NHTSA ↗