2001 Mercedes Benz E320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
89,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 38 complaints (26.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 18.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 13.2% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 13.2% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 10.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 7.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Electrical System: 10; Air Bags: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5; Engine: 3; Power Train: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 6
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 14 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 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10029307 · 2003-07-27 (July 27, 2003)
OIL SENDING SENSOR COMES ON STATING I HAVE TO MUCH OIL THIS HAS GONE ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2001 I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK THREE TIMES BUT THE MECHANIC CLAIMS THERE ARE NO CODES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087637 · 2004-08-10 (August 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE VEHICLE, AND THE DEALER DID NOT HONOR IT. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109674 · 2005-01-07 (January 7, 2005)
THE BATTERY, LOCATED IN A METAL COMPARTMENT UNDER THE REAR SEAT, EXPLODED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115720 · 2005-03-24 (March 24, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP UPON MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT SLAMMED INTO THE WALL. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED IN WARD. VEHICLE TOWED. NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THIS WAS A LEASED VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128335 · 2005-07-11 (July 11, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATES HIS CLIENT HAD A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING THAT IS PART OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THERE WAS A FRONT END COLLISION WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS THE REASON THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INVOICE NUMBER STATING THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY IS #746530 DATED APRIL 21, 2005. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10128335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162662 · 2006-07-14 (July 14, 2006)
2001 E320 COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174425 · 2006-11-27 (November 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASH BOARD WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION AND THE GAUGES WERE DIFFICULT TO READ. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178005 · 2007-01-07 (January 7, 2007)
MERCEDES BENZ EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR 10 YEARS. THIS WAS ONLY DONE FOR 220/215 ( S/CL) MODELS. I HAVE A 2001 E 320 MODEL [XXX] IDENTIFICATION NO. [XXX] MY CAR HAS THE SAME INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEMS AS THE MODEL WHICH THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND INCLUDE ALL MODELS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BE REPLACE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY WHICH I HAD AT THE TIME BUT THEY WOULD GLADLY REPLACE IT IF I WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. *NM UPDATED 07/11/2012 *…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,971 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178005 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.