1997 Mercedes Benz E300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
93,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 8 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
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: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10040616 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ E300 DIESEL.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE HESITATING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND HAS SPENT APPROX $3800.00 IN REPAIRS FOR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156785 · 2006-05-04 (May 4, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AFTER HEARING THE NOISE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HANDLING DIFFERENTLY AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE SUSPENSION HAD COLLAPSED ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE SUSPENSION HOUSING WAS ENTIRELY REPLACED AND THE ATTACHMENT OF THE SPRING TO THE BODY WAS RE WELDED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THE PROBLEM COULD OCCUR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER PARTIALLY COVERED THE REPAIR AND ASKED THE CONTACT TO SIGN A CONFIDENTIALLY WAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181780 · 2007-02-06 (February 6, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES E300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. RECALL#05V505000 RELATED TO THE 1999 SLK MERCEDES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876659 · 2016-06-26 (June 26, 2016)
THE WIRE HARNESS IS BRITTLE AND THE INSULATION IS DISINTEGRATING, RESULTING IN SHORTS AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10876659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 759748 · 2002-03-24 (March 24, 2002)
THE FIRST ENGINE OIL LEAK WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT 8/25/2000 (48,523 MILES) AND THE REPLACEMENT GASKETS ARE LEAKING AGAIN ON 9/15/2001 (AT 58,500 MILES). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 759748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8000665 · 2001-12-12 (December 12, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, GEARS SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN TWO GEARS; ACCELERATION AT 25-50 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AT 40 MPH AND VEHICLE IS BUCKING, DEALER REPLACED RESONANCE FLAP, AND FUEL INJECTION PUMP, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS OF POOR FUEL EFFICIENCY. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8000665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8014435 · 2002-07-22 (July 22, 2002)
ROTORS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEY WERE MAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT ROTORS WERE ONLY SUPPOSE TO LAST 20000 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8014435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 899139 · 2001-11-14 (November 14, 2001)
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE BATTERY UNDER REAR PASSENGER SEAT HAD EXPLODED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND WERE UNWILLING TO ASSIST. *AK CONSUMER STATES IN SPITE OF VARIOUS ATTEMPTS, A FOUL SMELL STILL REMAINS. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899139 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.