1999 Mercedes Benz E CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
99,059 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 13 complaints (46.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 30.8% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
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 | 6 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 3 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Brake Fluid Low Warning: Lamp | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Suspension:Front: 6; Structure:Frame And Members: 4; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 3; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 1; Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Brake Fluid Low Warning: Lamp: 1; Steering: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2011: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10008699 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
THE RADIO, TRANSMISSION, AND THE WINDOW REGULATOR WERE INOPERATIVE. THE AIR MASS SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE, THE BRAKE LAMP HAD A FAULTY SWITCH, AND THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE DRIVE LINE. SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155942 · 2006-04-24 (April 24, 2006)
FAIL OF SPRING PERCH ON 1999 MERCEDES E-CLASS DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING PROCESS POSSIBLE RESULTING IN FATAL INJURY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162595 · 2006-07-17 (July 17, 2006)
PURCHASED A USED 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E300 TURBO DIESEL END OF FEB 2006 WITH 92,494 MILES FROM A JAGUAR/LAND ROVER DEALER. TRADED IN A 1985 MERCEDES BENZ 300 TURBO DIESEL. BROUGHT CAR TO THE MECHANIC THAT DOES ALL MY WORK TO HAVE ALL FLUIDS CHANGED AND THE CAR CHECKED. MECHANIC CALLED TO RECOMMEND I NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE LEFT FRONT SPRING CAP WAS REPLACED. I VISITED THE MECHANIC AND VIEWED THE LEFT FRONT SPRING CAP. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT HIS FINGER ON THE LEFT FRONT SPRING CAP HIS FINGER NAIL CHIPPED OFF FLAKES OF METAL IT WAS ENOUGH T…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,663 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166196 · 2006-08-22 (August 22, 2006)
1999 MERCEDES BENZ E300 TURBO DIESEL OVERFLOW FUEL LINES CRACKS AND LEAKS. FUEL DRIPS TO GARAGE FLOOR, CREATING DANGEROUS FUEL/AIR MIXTURE IN AN ENCLOSED ENVIRONMENT. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER SERVICE SAID THIS IS COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS CAR, BECAUSE CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD AND THE OVERFLOW FUEL LINES ARE MADE OF RUBBER AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST OF REPLACEMENT ABOUT $1,000.00. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10166196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177494 · 2006-12-26 (December 26, 2006)
1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E-300 AND E-430 ANTI-NOISE CAPSULE FELL OFF***CC SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LEAPED INTO THE AIR WITH A LOUD BANG. THE CONSUMER ASSUMED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY THEN MOVED SLOWLY OFF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION THE CONSUMER SAW THAT NONE OF THE TIRES HAD BLOWN OUT BUT THAT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAD DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE SAME PART CAME OFF THE CONSUMER E430 TEN DAYS AGO. ON THE E430 MODEL THE PART IS CALLED …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10177494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201527 · 2007-08-29 (August 29, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS. ON AUGUST 27, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE DECELERATED AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HOOD APPEARED LOWER TO THE GROUND THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A COIL SPRING ROLLING ACROSS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT DRIVE OVER ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT SPRING PERCH MOUNT WAS RUSTED AND SHEARED OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227187 · 2008-05-09 (May 9, 2008)
ON APRIL 27 2008 MY CAR'S FRONT LEFT SIDE SPRING PERCH FAILED WHEN DRIVING HOME AT A SPEED OF 30MPH. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL AND GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE PERCH RIPPED OFF, IT SOUNDED LIKE MY WHEEL CAME OFF. THE STEERING WAS JAMMED AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND FOUND THE SPRING ON THE PAVEMENT. IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME. ON MAY 3, I DROVE TO THE NEAREST AUTO SHOP WHICH IS ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY AND PAID $80 FOR AN INITIAL CHECK UP AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. THE SPR…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,059 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243255 · 2008-09-23 (September 23, 2008)
ON APRIL 27, 2008 MY CAR'S FRONT LEFT SIDE SPRING FAILED WHEN DRIVING BACK HOME AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL AND GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE PERCH RIPPED OFF, IT SOUNDS LIKE MY WHEEL CAME OFF. THE STEERING WAS JAMMED AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND FOUND THE SPRING ON THE PAVEMENT. ON MAY 3, 2008 I DROVE TO NEAREST AUTO SHOP WHICH IS ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY AND PAID $80 FOR AN INITIAL CHECK UP AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. THE SPRING PERCH RUSTED AWAY AND BROKE. I COMPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,059 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243255 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V256000 · Air Bags:Side/Window | Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 1998-10-14 (October 14, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A WRONG CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS.
Consequence: THE WINDOW AIR BAG MAY NOT FULLY DEPLOY IN A SIDE-IMPACT COLLISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS AND, IF THE WRONG OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED CLAMP IS FOUND, THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗