Mercedes Benz E320 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,153 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file for the Mercedes Benz E320, across 15 model years (1995–2009). The 2005 model year has the most complaints (231). The most reported problem area overall is fuel/propulsion system.
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Mercedes Benz E320 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical E320 year: 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2005 E320: 231 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2003 E320: 214 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2004 E320: 203 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2009 E320: 8 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2008 E320: 10 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2007 E320: 17 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mercedes Benz E320 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 253 | 12 | 1 |
| Electrical System problems | 195 | 14 | 1 |
| Service Brakes problems | 162 | 8 | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 116 | 13 | 0 |
| Air Bags problems | 109 | 12 | 32 |
| Suspension problems | 103 | 12 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 70 | 14 | 1 |
| Power Train | 64 | 11 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 53 | 12 | 8 |
| Structure | 39 | 13 | 1 |
| Engine | 38 | 12 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 33 | 12 | 0 |
| Visibility | 33 | 11 | 0 |
| Steering | 29 | 12 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 | 11 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 7 | 3 |
| Tires | 22 | 9 | 1 |
| Equipment | 20 | 10 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 17 | 7 | 2 |
| Seats | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mercedes Benz E320 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2005: fuel/propulsion system (81)
- 2004: fuel/propulsion system (79)
- 2003: fuel/propulsion system (71) · service brakes (57)
- 1995: electrical system (89)
All Mercedes Benz E320 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 E320 | 8 | 3 | — | Engine | |
| 2008 E320 | 10 | 3 | — | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 E320 | 17 | 4 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 E320 | 41 | 4 | — | Service Brakes | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 E320 | 231 | 3 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 E320 | 203 | 2 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 E320 | 214 | 2 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 E320 | 23 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 E320 | 38 | 0 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 E320 | 44 | 0 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1999 E320 | 83 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1998 E320 | 37 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1997 E320 | 63 | 0 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 E320 | 45 | 0 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1995 E320 | 96 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Mercedes Benz: all Mercedes Benz models · Mercedes Benz VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes Benz E320 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (96), 2003 (214), 2004 (203), 2005 (231) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical E320 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mercedes Benz E320?
Fuel/propulsion System, with 253 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Mercedes Benz E320 have?
4 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.