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U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Mercedes Benz E420: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

133,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 5 complaints (60.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting120.0%
Braking behavior120.0%
Electrical and battery issues120.0%

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.

Electrical System
3
Electrical System:Wiring
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Power Train
1
Seat Belts
1
Seat Belts:Pretensioner
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System3
Electrical System:Wiring1
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Exterior Lighting1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Power Train1
Seat Belts1
Seat Belts:Pretensioner1

Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Seat Belts:Pretensioner: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 1 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.

2011
1
2012
1
2015
1
2016
1
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20111
20121
20151
20161
20181

2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10441071 · 2011-12-23 (December 23, 2011)

COCKPIT SMELT LIKE SMOKE, BECAME HARD TO SEE. PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. VERY SCARY. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUES? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441071 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10463407 · 2012-06-28 (June 28, 2012)

THE MERCEDES BENZ E-420 ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS MANUFACTURED FROM BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS BEGAN TO DETERIORATE AND FAIL. THIS LEAD TO A CYCLE OF INCREASINGLY SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALSO LEAD TO THE SAFETY ON FREEWAY WHERE THE OTHER DRIVER CAN NOT SEE MY BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN I AM BRAKING DUE TO THIS WIRING ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463407 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10671831 · 2015-01-12 (January 12, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. AFTER STOPPING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE RADIO FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 3/17/15*CN UPDATED 8/18/2015 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671831 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10721950 · 2018-03-23 (March 23, 2018)

1997 MERCEDES BENZ E-420. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT INADVERTENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING THE CONSUMERS' HEAD TO HIT THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER HAD A THROBBING HEAD PAIN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10721950 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10937153 · 2016-12-22 (December 22, 2016)

MY 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420 WENT IN TO LIMP MODE WITH NO WARNING WHILE MERGING ON TO 65 MPH TRAFFIC, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT FAILED TO SHIFT WITH NO WARNING

Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10937153 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.