1998 Mercedes Benz 320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
104,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 17 complaints (11.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 11.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 1 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 5; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering 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 10011321 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, WHILE DOWNSHIFTING TO CONTROL DOWNHILL SPEED SHIFT LEVER MOVED BETWEEN ALL SHIFT POSITIONS WITHOUT ENGAGING IN ANY GEAR, AND VEHICLE WAS FREEWHEELING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046094 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE AN ESSENTIAL PART WAS MISSING. *AK THERE WAS LOW FLUID. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE POWER STEERING CYLINDER LEAKED INTO THE BOOT. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 89,941 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093566 · 2004-10-04 (October 4, 2004)
ENGINE CONSTANTLY LOOSES OIL, POTENTIAL TO LOCK ENGINE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131126 · 2005-08-02 (August 2, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH 1998 MERCEDES BENZ. THE SHOCK HOUSING CAME APART FROM THE CHASSIS. THE CHASSIS COLLAPSED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS SITTING ON TOP OF THE WHEEL. THERE WAS NO SUSPENSION ON THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE SHOCK HOUSING. MECHANIC FIXED THE CAR WITH AN ADDITIONAL AFTER MARKET BRACKET. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE CAR. THE MERCEDES BENZ O…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160370 · 2006-06-21 (June 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT SIDE AND SWERVED. THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT AN 18 WHEELER. ONCE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS REGAINED, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE SHOP DETERMINED THAT A SPRING MUST HAVE FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE DEALER'S BODY SHOP SPECIALIST DETERMINED THAT CORROSION MUST HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY SALT. WHEN THE DEALER WAS ASKED HOW …
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172946 · 2006-11-08 (November 8, 2006)
HEAD LAMP COVERS ON THE MERCEDES "E" CLASS TURN FROM CLEAR TO A FOGY TRANSLUCENT OVER TIME. ONCE THE HEAD LIGHT LENS TURNS TRANSLUCENT THE HEAD LIGHT BEAM IS NO LONGER ABLE TO TRANSMIT LIGHT AS FAR DOWN THE ROAD AS THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATION. THE HEAD LAMP IS ALSO NO LONGER CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING LIGHT AS TO THE U.S. DOT STANDARDS. THIS SITUATION LEAD TO AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR ALL DRIVERS OF THE "E" CLASS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223203 · 2008-04-02 (April 2, 2008)
DRIVING DOWN ROAD IN 1998 MERCEDEZ E320, JUST EXITED NJ TURNPIKE AT EXIT 2, HEARD LOUD NOISE CAR VEERED TO LEFT AND LARGE SPRING DROPPED OUT FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 115,287 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295668 · 2009-12-14 (December 14, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE TIRE TREAD DAMAGED THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $6000. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO MAIL THE BRIDGESTONE INSIGNIA,TIRE SIZE 225/60/R16 TO THEM FOR A REFUND; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER RESPONDED VIA MAIL THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES TO HER VEHICLE. THER…
Owner-reported narrative. 185,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295668 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.