1996 Mercedes Benz E Class Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other E Class years
- About as many complaints as other years 6th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes Benz E Class. That ranks 6th out of 13 E Class model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (7 complaints, 44%), typically at around 117,000 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 16owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Mercedes Benz E Class problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 7 | 44% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 38% | 133,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 19% | 125,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Mercedes Benz E Class recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: The drive belt pulley on the engine can develop fatigue cracks in the metal and break. If the drive pulley breaks, the car would not have engine cooling, battery charging, and/or power steering.
Risk: Loss of these systems can cause the car to over heat, lose power from the battery, and loss of control of the car increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine crankshaft damper-pulley on these vehicles.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Front suspension coil spring ejection (PE07021) — opened Apr 19, 2007, closed Aug 9, 2007.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Performing maintenance on the car, i noticed that the main engine electrical harness was almost completely deteriorated. The insulation on individual wires had rotted off, leaving exposed wiring. I noticed arching when power was applied. This is very dangerous and could result in a fire. *tr
After several electrical abnormalities, i examined the engine compartment, which for all practical purposes, looks as new. I was shocked to see that the wiring at the glow plug relay was deteriorated and bare. I also noted that all the wiring in the engine compartment was brittle to the point that…
I was driving on the freeway & lost power, the engine would not accelerate. I almost got killed, i finally pulled on the shoulder& eased to service road & i noticed the engine was running at idle speed, the a/c was running all the electrical system was functioning. Check engine light was on. I…
This is not a failure yet, but a major safety concern. I have a 96 mercedes e300d, and this particular model the so called w210 model has a major issue with the front spring perches. They are welded on and tend to rust out and fail, meaning that the car will drop to the ground. This could cause…
I own a 1996 mercedes 300d the front spring retainer rusted out and the front right car collapsed. This is a common problem with all 1996 1997 1998 mercedes the part is part of the unibody. The rust cannot be seen by the human eye because it rust behind the retainer. If i had riding 60 miles a hour…
Other Mercedes Benz E Class years
← 1995 E Class · 1997 E Class →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 E Class | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 E Class | 10 | 1 |
| 2005 E Class | 9 | 3 |
| 2004 E Class | 15 | 4 |
| 2003 E Class | 45 | 4 |
| 2002 E Class | 8 | 0 |
| 2001 E Class | 15 | 0 |
| 2000 E Class | 34 | 0 |
| 1999 E Class | 13 | 1 |
| 1998 E Class | 24 | 0 |
| 1997 E Class | 38 | 1 |
| 1996 | 16 | 1 |
| 1995 E Class | 21 | 1 |
See all Mercedes Benz E Class problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mercedes Benz E Class?
Owners most often report suspension, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Mercedes Benz E Class?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Mercedes Benz E Class a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other E Class model years, the 1996 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.