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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Mercedes Benz E320 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

41 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

91,468 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 41 complaints (36.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1639.0%
Electrical and battery issues49.8%
Fuel system concerns37.3%
Transmission and shifting12.4%
Steering behavior12.4%

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.

Service Brakes
15
Air Bags
4
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
Exterior Lighting
3
Fuel System, Gasoline
3
Electrical System
2
Fuel System, Diesel
2
Seat Belts
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes15
Air Bags4
Fuel/Propulsion System4
Exterior Lighting3
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Electrical System2
Fuel System, Diesel2
Seat Belts2

Service Brakes: 15; Air Bags: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Seat Belts: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
11
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,99911
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 5

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 8 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.

2006
2
2007
2
2008
1
2009
1
2010
2
2011
1
2012
3
2013
5
2014
4
2015
9
2016
3
2017
3
2018
1
2019
1
2020
2
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20062
20072
20081
20091
20102
20111
20123
20135
20144
20159
20163
20173
20181
20191
20202
20211

2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 5; 2014: 4; 2015: 9; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 10243094 · 2008-09-22 (September 22, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EVERY 4-6 WEEKS DUE TO A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL, ALL THE SWITCHES RELATING TO THE BRAKES, THE COMPUTER WAS SHUT DOWN THREE TIMES, SENSORS WERE REPLACED, AND THE BALL IN THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED, WHICH ALLOWED CARBON DIOXIDE TO LEAK INTO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE NINTH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243094 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10433501 · 2011-10-28 (October 28, 2011)

DRIVING EAST ON US 30 IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC ON WET PAVEMENT (DUE TO PREVIOUS RAIN) BETWEEN TORONITO STREET AND LOUCKS MILL ROAD IN YORK, PA, I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN TO STAY WITH THE TRAFFIC AND REALIZED THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING, I APPLIED FULL PRESSURE EXPECTING THE ABS TO ACTIVATE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR AHEAD WHICH WENT INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. THE IMPACT DID NOT ACTIVATE THE AIRBAGS. MY SEAT BELT HELD ME BUT I DID RECEIVE WHIP-LASH. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED MY CAR. *TR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A…

Owner-reported narrative. 84,042 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433501 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10365149 · 2010-11-09 (November 9, 2010)

2006 MERCEDES E320 CDI SRS MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. SO FAR HAVE HAD TO REPLACE STEERING WHEEL WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, HARNESS, REEL, AND COMPUTER TO REPAIR SRS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365149 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10495250 · 2013-01-30 (January 30, 2013)

I CHANGED THE LOW BEAM HALOGEN BULBS IN MY HEADLIGHTS WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRE LEADS TO THE BULB HAD LOST NEARLY ALL OF THEIR INSULATION, EXPOSING BARE WIRE. THE INSULATION FLAKES WERE SITTING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CAPSULE THAT CONTAINS THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS NORMALLY CLOSED, ACCESSED BY A REMOVABLE "DOOR". BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SPARKING/FIRE DANGER, SO I APPLIED ELECTRICAL TAPE OVER THE WIRES. HAD I NOT CHANGED THE BULBS [THEY LOSE BRIGHTNESS OVER THE YEARS], I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF THIS DANG…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495250 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10450703 · 2012-03-08 (March 8, 2012)

I NOTICED FUEL STAINS ON BOTTOM OF FUEL TANK AND SMELL OF DIESEL IN MY GARAGE ESPECIALLY AFTER FILL UP. I TOLD THE DEALER WHEN I HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. THEY SAID I HAD A FUEL LEAK AND THE FUEL TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO FIND THE SOURCE. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE TANK, SENDING UNIT, OR SEALS....ALL VERY EXPENSIVE TO DIAGNOSE/ REPAIR. I MET WITH THE SERVICE MGR TO SEEK AN OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE AND GOT NOTHING. I CALLED MERCEDES CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY DECLINED TO COVER ANY OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR COSTS. I REMOVED …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10450703 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10456340 · 2012-04-24 (April 24, 2012)

THE FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND, ONTO THE EXHAUST, AND THE SMELL WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN. WE GOT THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED BUT WE STILL HAVE A FUEL CAP FAILURE NOW WITH NO RESULT. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW PRESENT & USING A BAND-AID FOR THE PROBLEM WILL NOT SOLVE ANYTHING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 69,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456340 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10499527 · 2013-02-21 (February 21, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FURTHER. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT THEN ENTERED A PARKING LOT, SHIFTED INTO PARK AND IMMEDIATELY JUMPED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RE-ENTER THE VEHI…

Owner-reported narrative. 149,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499527 at NHTSA ↗