2005 Mercedes Benz E320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
231 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
85,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 186 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 81 of 231 complaints (35.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 77 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 53 | 22.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 81 |
| Service Brakes | 43 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 39 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 81; Service Brakes: 43; Fuel System, Gasoline: 39; Air Bags: 17; Electrical System: 16; Engine: 9; Power Train: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 40 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 34 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 59 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 59; 150,000 and above: 18
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (59). 45 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 36 |
| 2014 | 44 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 4; 2005: 5; 2006: 9; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 9; 2011: 15; 2012: 17; 2013: 36; 2014: 44; 2015: 23; 2016: 15; 2017: 11; 2018: 17; 2019: 3; 2020: 6; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 77 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 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 10383238 · 2011-02-18 (February 18, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE NOTICED A GASOLINE ODOR AND A LEAK ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A SPURGE LEAK. THE DEALER PERFORMED A SMOKE TEST WHICH DID NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED ON JANUARY 12, 2009. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL SMELL EVERY TI…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10384787 · 2011-02-28 (February 28, 2011)
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONTACTS GARAGE WHEN THE CONTACT COULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REFUELED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000. SM.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10384787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121678 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
DT: SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HE RAN OVER A PIECE OF RUBBER IN THE ROAD, ALL THREE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SERVICE DEALER STATES THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR WERE JOLTED BECAUSE OF HITTING THE RUBBER IN THE ROAD. CONTACT STATES WHILE DECELERATING THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM SLOWS DOWN TOO MUCH AND VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC HAS NO BRAKE CONTROL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140687 · 2005-10-25 (October 25, 2005)
BRAKES GRIND WHEN PUT IN DRIVE, PARK AND AT STOP LIGHTS. SEAT BELT INDICATOR HAD TO BE FIXED AFTER 5 TIMES AT THE SHOP, BRAKES WERE IDENTIFIED WITH A PROBLEM BY MBZ AFTER 6 VISITS TO THE SHOP (FLETCHER JONES MBZ LAS VEGAS), TECH STATED ON THE INVOICE HE IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND ORDERED THE PARTS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN TO GET THE PARTS, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THERE WAS A MISTAKE AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND MBZ WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY NONE OF THE SEAT BELTS WORK (WHEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES THEY DO …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10140687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158286 · 2006-05-25 (May 25, 2006)
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OUT OF SERVICE 18 DAYS, SRS/AIRBAG FAILURES OUT OF SERVICE 18 DAYS, AC/DEFROST BLOWER MOTOR FAILURES OUT OF SERVICE 12 DAYS, BRAKES OUT OF SERVICE 9 DAYS, TRANSMISSION (IDLE SURGE/UP SHIFTING/STALLING) OUT OF SERVICE 10 DAYS, FRONT END/TIRES OUT OF SERVICE 10 DAYS. DURING THE LEMON LAW FINAL REPAIR ATTEMPT, THE DEALER WROTE ON WORK ORDER THAT THEY HAD INSTALLED NEW BRAKES BECAUSE THEY FOUND "AFTER MARKET BRAKES" ON CAR. THE ONLY PLACE THE CAR HAS EVER BEEN SERVICED WAS THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. WE ASKED THE SE…
Owner-reported narrative. 820 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161151 · 2006-06-30 (June 30, 2006)
SRS LIGHT ON - MESSAGE ON DASH THAT SRS HAS MALFUNCTIONED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON 2/20/06 AND WAS TOLD I COULD WAIT FOR CAR. AS IT TURNED OUT I DID NOT GET MY CAR BACK UNTIL 6PM ON 2/22/06. PER DEALER'S REPAIR INVOICE...CHECK CODES AND EVALUATE. CHECK ACTUAL VALUES AND CHECK DTB. PERFORM REPAIRS, REPLACE WIRING TO STEERING WHEEL CONTROL MODULE. ON 06/29/06 SRS LIGHT ON AGAIN WITH MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. TOOK TO DEALER AND ADVISED SAME PROBLEM AS ON 2/20/06. CAR IS AT DEALER AWAITING REPAIR AND HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR TODAY, 6/30/06. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 16,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099130 · 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SQUEAKED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY DEFECTS AFTER SERVICING THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10331972 · 2010-05-24 (May 24, 2010)
FAULTY CAM AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAUSED ENGINE TO DIE (STALL) IN HEAVY NYC TRAFFIC IN THE CENTER LANE OF US HWY 9. DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CAM POSITION SENSOR 003-153-28-28 AND SENDER UNIT 004-153-69-28 MUST BE REPLACED, INDICATING THE CAUSE AS AN INTERNAL FAULT. DEALER'S SERVICE REP STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MODE IS THE SAME AS OCCURRED ON MY E 320 MODEL YEAR 2000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 124,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331972 at NHTSA ↗