vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Mercedes Benz E320: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

28 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

101,450 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 28 complaints (17.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior621.4%
Steering behavior414.3%
Transmission and shifting13.6%
Fuel system concerns13.6%

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.

Suspension
5
Air Bags
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
Engine
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
2
Structure:Body
2
Structure:Frame And Members
2
Suspension:Front
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension5
Air Bags3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine3
Engine2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys2
Structure:Body2
Structure:Frame And Members2
Suspension:Front2

Suspension: 5; Air Bags: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Structure:Frame And Members: 2; Suspension:Front: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 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). 8 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.

2000
1
2002
2
2003
5
2004
1
2005
1
2006
1
2008
3
2009
3
2011
1
2014
3
2015
2
2016
1
2017
3
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20022
20035
20041
20051
20061
20083
20093
20111
20143
20152
20161
20173
20181

2000: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2011: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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 10020922 · 2003-06-02 (June 2, 2003)

HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED ON MY 1998,MERCEDES BENZ THE DRIVEBELT SHREAD,AND AN OIL LEAK IN THE TIMING CHAIN COVER.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 78,624 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020922 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026921 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE SHUTING OFF. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF LEAVING THE CONSUMER WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKE POWER. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026921 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042440 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)

1998 MERCEDES E320 AT DIFFERENT TIMES, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS LOCKED BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. IN JUNE OF 2003 THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE CRANKSHAFT DAMPNER WHICH WAS IN PIECES, THE RUBBER DRIVE BELT DAMAGED THE ENGINE FRONT COVER AND ENGINE OIL PAN. IN SEPTEMBER 2003 THE DOORS UNLOCKED BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE CONSUMER DRIVING AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCK THEM MANUALLY, ALSO WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042440 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10044616 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)

THE HARMONIC BALANCE, LOCATED IN THE CRANKSHAFT, FAILED AND CAUSED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. ALSO, SUN ROOF FRAME WAS FRACTURED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044616 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10052172 · 2003-12-31 (December 31, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE'S CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE. AS A RESULT THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO REPORT OF IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052172 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10071932 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A LEFT FRONT TIRE BLOW OUT 18 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE AND NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THE NEXT TIME THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE BLOW OUT WAS BETWEEN THE TIRE TREAD AND THE RIM. *LA THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE SECOND TIRE BLOWOUT WAS CAUSED BY A SMALL PUNCTURE WHICH ALLOW AIR TO SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE TIRE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071932 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10115643 · 2005-03-16 (March 16, 2005)

MERCEDES E-320 1998, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, REF. ODI 10113529. *BF THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, JUMPING THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN FENCE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED IRREGULAR SPEED. THE CONSUMERS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES THE ENTIRE TIME. MERCEDES FOUND NO PROBLEM. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115643 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10155208 · 2006-04-06 (April 6, 2006)

CONSUMER BRIDGESTONE TURANZA LS-H SIDEWALL FAILED WHILE DRIVING 60+ MILES. *TS THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGES SUSTAINED TO THE REAR PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL, WHEEL AND RELATED EXPENSES. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10155208 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.