1997 Mercedes Benz 420: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
131,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 18 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 5 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 |
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 5; Suspension:Front: 3; Suspension: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 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 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
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: 5; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 6 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 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1996: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10061781 · 2004-03-09 (March 9, 2004)
WHILE VEHICLE SAT IDLING, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM ITS WELDED POSITION. (NAR) *PH *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080293 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING HARD. THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRAME WELL WAS BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB METAL ON FRAME WELL WAS REPLACED DUE TO FATIGUE. ALSO, FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BY CONSUMER IN AN AUCTION. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133880 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)
I RECENTLY HAD A GAS TANK PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 1997 E MODEL MERCEDES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE INTERIOR OF THE GAS TANK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RETURN LINES INSIDE THE TANK HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TANK PRESSURE, LEAKAGE, AND /OR IMPROPER EMISSION SYSTEM SENSOR READOUTS. THE TANK HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO MPACT SO THE DISCONNECTED LINE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN OR ENGINEERING DEFECT. IN ADDITION, THE IMPROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE RETURN LINE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAS A MAJOR IMPACT ON GAS MILEAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152198 · 2006-03-08 (March 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED TO 5 MPH AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE COIL SPRING ONTO THE FRAME HAD DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OFF. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER STATED THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR IF DONE BY THEIR BODY SHOP. THE REPAIR WAS $2600. THE CONTACT WANTED THE REPAIRS DONE LOCALLY AND OPTED FOR THE DEAL. THE CONTACT CLAIMED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160968 · 2006-06-28 (June 28, 2006)
LEFT UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING SUPPORT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED A SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT FROM ON THE CAR. I REMOVED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE SPRING SUPPORT WAS JUST ABOUT READY TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME. I WAS HORRIFIED TO THINK OF WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED IF THIS WOULD HAVE FAILED DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MERCEDES BENZ OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR HOWEVER, THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE WHOLE REPAIR. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180740 · 2007-01-25 (January 25, 2007)
TL* - ON 1/16/07 THE LEFT UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING SUPPORT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ 420. ON 01/02/07 THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN MORRISTOWN, NJ FOR A SAFETY CHECK, AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS. ON 01/23/07 CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE LEFT PERCH WAS RUSTED ,AND THAT THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201267 · 2007-08-30 (August 30, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ 420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS CRACKED. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RUST ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE THE COIL SPRING CRACKED. HE INSPECTED THE COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT TOO HAS RUST, BUT IT IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE AS THE DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING. THE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $666. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,300.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222929 · 2008-03-31 (March 31, 2008)
I HAVE A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. THE SPRING PERCHES HAVE FAILED ON BOTH FRONT SIDES OF THIS CAR. THE DRIVE SIDE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND HAD TO BE WELDED AND REPAIRED. I CAUGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE BEFORE ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE OCCURRED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE AND HAS BEEN RECALLED IN CANADA FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT NOT IN THE USA. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO THE VERY REAL PROBABILITY OF INJURY OR DEATH FROM THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10222929 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.