1998 Mercedes Benz E CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
98,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 17 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 17.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 11.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Suspension:Front | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Suspension:Front: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 5; 2006: 5; 2007: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10018552 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER FIRST STARTING THE CAR FOR THE DAY AND DRIVING 5 OR 6 MILES ON RURAL ROADS, I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR 20 OR 30 SECONDS AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT ON TO THE MAIN HIGHWAY. AT FIRST THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL I HAD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HALF WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THEN IT SLOWLY RESPONDED WITH A VERY LOW LEVEL OF POWER. ONCE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, I HAD TO HOLD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN 50 MILES PER HOUR. SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE OTHERWISE I ASSU…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030911 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
1998 MERCEDES BENZ E320 DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED SEVERE CRACKS AROUND THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050830 · 2003-12-20 (December 20, 2003)
FAILURE OF HARMONIC CRANKSHAFT BALANCER IN 1998 MERCEDES BENZ E320. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101797 · 2004-12-29 (December 29, 2004)
THE TOP SPRING MOUNT BROKE OFF THE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A CHECK UP, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OTHER RIGHT SPRING NEEDED REPAIRS AS WELL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *AK THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102183 · 2004-12-05 (December 5, 2004)
THE CRANK SHAFT BALANCER DISINTEGRATED WITHOUT WARNING AT 40 MPH RESULTING IN PARTIAL ENGINE DESTRUCTION, OIL PAN, FAN BLADE, FAN SHROUD, IDLER PULLEY,ETC. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL MBZ DEALER AND REPAIRS COMPLETED IN AMOUNT OF $1584. MBZ AREA REPRESENTATIVE OFFERED 50% COMPENSATION. MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA WAS CONTACTED FOR COMPENSATION OF BALANCE AND OBLIGED. THE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT BALANCER MIGHT NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AS A RESULT MOST CERTAINLY IS! I HATE TO THINK OF WHAT WOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,035 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113120 · 2005-02-28 (February 28, 2005)
THE GEAR MOVED ON ITS OWN WITH NO KEY. VEHICLE WAS IN PARK A CHILD ENTERED THE VEHICLE, MOVED THE GEAR FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACK, GOING THROUGH A FENCE AND STRIKING A TREE. THE CHILD SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121674 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
DRIVING CAR AT 55 MILES PER HOUR WHEN HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED, LOST POWER STEERING, WAS ABLE TO DIRECT CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD CAR TOWED TO SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED PROBLEM, SUGGESTING IT GO TO A MB DEALER. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127535 · 2005-07-05 (July 5, 2005)
WHEN THE ENGINE GETS HOT, IT STALLS . AFTER IT COOLS FOR SOME TIME, IT RE-STARTS. IT HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY (BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC). FOUND OUT FROM THE MERCEDEZ FORUM THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM DUE TO CRANSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. IT HAS HAPPENED TO NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127535 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.