1996 Mercedes Benz 320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
108,921 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 7 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 42.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 |
Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine: 1; Parking Brake:Conventional: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Structure:Body:Door: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1996: 3; 2002: 1; 2008: 2; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10221826 · 2008-03-20 (March 20, 2008)
MY 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S320 CAUGHT ON FIRE 3/16/08 DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HARNESS WIRING THAT CAUSE BURNED WIRES IN THE CONSOLE, UNDER THE SEAT, THE DOOR PANELS, DAMAGED THE VACUUM LINES, SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND POTENTIALLY THE CONTROL UNITS. YOUR NHTSA HAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES VEHICLES [EARLY 1990 MODELS]. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AT MERCEDES HEADQUARTERS TWO OF THEM DENIED A PROBLEM WITH WIRING CATCHING ON FIRE AND TWO DEALERSHIPS SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY CASES INVOLVING F…
Owner-reported narrative. 139,044 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224829 · 2008-04-17 (April 17, 2008)
CRACKED WIRING HARNESS. DISCOVERED WHEN REAR LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10470163 · 2012-08-10 (August 10, 2012)
CAR WENT COMPLETED "DEAD" AT STOP SIGN. COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE. CALLED MECHANIC AND WIRES WITHIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO WIRE INSULATION CRACKING AND BREAKING OFF AND SHORTING WITH OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. MECHANIC STRIPPED OUT WIRE AND SPLICED IT. STATED THE WIRES ARE IN BAD SHAPE DUE TO THE TYPE OF INSULATION MERCEDES USED FROM 1991 TO 1997. HE STATED I SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AS IT WOULD CONTINUE TO SHORT OUT COMPONENTS AND WOULD BE NOT ONLY A DRIVING HAZARD BUT ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 108,921 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506764 · 1996-08-16 (August 16, 1996)
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PULL OUT OF LOW GEAR WHEN COLD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507579 · 1996-08-15 (August 15, 1996)
PARKING BRAKES REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8007457 · 2002-04-11 (April 11, 2002)
SRS DID NOT DEPLOY UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8007457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 978408 · 1996-01-30 (January 30, 1996)
WHEN DOORS ARE NOT PROPERLY CLOSED THERE IS NO INDICATION OF THE DOOR BEING OPEN. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 978408 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.