2003 Mercedes Benz E320 problems and owner complaints

I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ARM FOR THE CRUSIE CONTROL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE TURN SIGNAL ARM. SEVERAL TIMES A DAY I FIND THAT MY HAND (ALBEIT A SMALL HAND) ACCIDENTALLY HITS THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNAL - ESPECIALLY WHEN SIGNALLING LEFT. THIS ACTIVATES THE CRUISE CONTROL AT A TIME WHEN YOU ARE USUALLY GETTING READY TO SLOW DOWN FOR A TURN. I UNDERSTAND THAT BRAKING WILL TURN OFF THE CRUISE AUTOMATICALLY, BUT IT IS STILL AN INCOVENIENCE AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS. I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY SAID THAT THE CARS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003034 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE CAR WAS TWO MONTHS OLD, 1500 MILES, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME THAT MY BRAKES MAY NOT BE WORKING AND THAT I SHOULD STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY. IN FACT THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND I HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO KNAUZ MERCEDES IN LAKE BLUFF. THEY STILL HAVE NOT TOLD ME WHAT WENT WRONG BUT SAY THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN NEW PARTS AND THE BRAKES SHOULD BE FINE.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030401 at NHTSA ↗

THE GASOLINE TANK ON MY 2003 E 320 MERCEDES HAD A LEAK ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE TANK. THIS ALLOWED FUMES TO LEAK INTO MY GARAGE AND WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A HUGE FIRE RISK HAD I NOT DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AND BEEN INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. A GAS TANK SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10332416 at NHTSA ↗

SENDING UNIT LEAKS GASOLINE INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE LETTING IN INTENSE FUEL VAPORS AS WELL AS ACTUAL LIQUID FUEL INTO THE CABIN. FURTHERMORE THE FAULTY SENDING UNIT CAUSES A FUEL LEAK FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE LEAVING PUDDLES OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE PARKED AND CONTINUING TO LEAK WHILE DRIVING. BOTH OF THESE POSE AN EXTREME DANGER OF FIRE HAZARD, AS WELL AS A HEALTH RISK FROM CONSTANTLY INHALING GASOLINE FUMES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10448215 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE VEHICLES AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012026 at NHTSA ↗

MERCEDES E320-ANOTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE SRS-RESTRAINT LIGHT-GATEWAY. MERCEDES CLAIMS REAR AIRBAG PROBLEM, CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BUT IF YOU DIDN'T BUY IT FROM SERVICING DEALER, NO LOANER! MB VEHICLE MOTOR INQUIRY INDICATED CAR WAS NAV PRE-WIRED. PLANNED INSTALLATION WHEN AVAILABLE, NO PREPAY, NOW I'M STUCK WITHOUT NAV, REASON I BOUGHT MB *LA

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043369 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A MERCEDES-BENZ E320 IN JUNE 2003 AND HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE AN ISSUE INVOLVING UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION AND SPEED "SURGES" SINCE SEPTEMBER 2003. THE CONDITION SEEMS TO BE MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS APPROACHING LOW SPEEDS OR IN A DOWNHILL PLANE THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DURING FIVE (5) SERVICE APPOINTMENTS AND HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THEY ARE AWARE OF THE UNCONTROLLED POWER, OR ACCELERATION, FLUCTUATIONS. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE USING M-B ADVICE; WITHOUT SUCCESS. M-B REPRESENTATIVES H…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,164 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072594 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE NOISE OCCURRED AT LEAST 23 TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073519 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089753 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2003 MERCEDES E320 ENGINE STALLED MOMENTARILY AS I SPED UP TO ENTER I-95 NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VA. I EASED UP ON THE GAS AND IT RESTARTED WITH NO APPARENT IMMEDIATE AFTER EFFECTS. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC CLOSE BEHIND ME, OR THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COLLISION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD BEFORE OR AFTER THE STALLING. I CONTINUED SOUTH ON I-95 WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL I EXITED AT ASHLAND, VA. AT THE INTERCHANGE WITH US1, WHEN I STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE STALLED OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTA…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,870 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341485 at NHTSA ↗

NEW MERCEDES E320 WAS PURCHASED ON MAY 31, 2003 FROM BOBBY RAHAL MOTORCAR COMPANY IN WEXFORD, PA. THE CAR HAS HAD TWO SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITHIN 25 DAYS OF ITS PURCHASE, BOTH BEING SERIOUS AND COULD BE LIFE THREATNING:*AK 1. THE SEAT EASY FUNCTION MALFUNCTIONED. IT PUSHED THE SEAT RIGHT TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALMOST CAUSED CHOKING DUE TO PRESSING OF THE CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL(JUNE 13, 2003) 2. LOST THE PUMP FOR THE FLUID PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT 35 MILES/HOUR ON A HILLY CURVING ROAD. STEERING WHE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,060 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025172 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY UPON IMPACT. *NM ON AUG 2004 THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE SLID UNDER THE REAR OF A FORD EXCURSION. THE CONSUMERS STOMACH HIT THE STEERING WHEEL BRANDING HER STOMACH WITH THE MERCEDES EMBLEM SCALDING HER LEFT ARM. THE CONSUMER HAD TO GET ASSISTANCE GETTING OUT OF THE SEAT BELT. REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THE SRS SYSTEM IN DEC 2002. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095507 at NHTSA ↗