1997 Mercedes Benz E320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
115,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 63 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 7.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.8% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.6% |
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 | 12 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 9 |
| Suspension:Front | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 12; Suspension: 10; Seat Belts: 9; Suspension:Front: 6; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2
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 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 14
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 20 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2002: 9; 2003: 6; 2004: 6; 2006: 8; 2007: 5; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10001579 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING MOUNT RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO COME OFF AND THE FRNT END TO DROP TO THE GROUND. *TT *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003396 · 2003-01-25 (January 25, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALLFUNCTION, FIBERS AND METAL SHAVINGS FOUND IN TRRANSMISSION PAN, SHIFT ADAPTION DATA MAXED AT 180. DEALER REPLACED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER AND SHIFT SELECTOR SWITCH, FLUSHED COOLER LINES AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION FLUID. PROVIDED 24,000 MILE/24 MONTH WARRANTY. TOTAL COST: $4,339.83.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016557 · 2003-04-27 (April 27, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 83K MILES. THE 2-3 AND 3-4 GEAR SLIPS. ACCORDING TO MERCEDES MECHANICS, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1997 E-CLASS MERCEDES. THE ATF, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGE AT 100K, DID NOT PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION AS ADVERTISED. ONE MECHANIC, SPECIALIZED IN REPAIRING MERCEDES, HAD REPLACED OVER 10+ TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021083 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND RECENTLY CAR SHAKES BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. HAVE HAD O2 SENSORS,TRANSMISSION SENSORS ETC--OVER $3500.00 AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. STILL SHAKES AND SPUTTERS AT TIMES. NO ONE CAN FIX IT!!!!!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031324 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING UPPER SPRING MOUNT DETACHED AND THE SPRING ASSEMBLY FELL ONTO THE PAVEMENT. THIS RESULTED IN FRONT END FAILURE, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037747 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
THE LEFT AND RIGHT SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE RUSTED.*MR *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 96,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066803 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS, AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. UPON IMPACT, BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066901 · 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066901 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.