1996 Mercedes Benz E320 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other E320 years
- About as many complaints as other years 7th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320. That ranks 7th out of 15 E320 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (19 complaints, 42%), typically at around 90,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 45owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Mercedes Benz E320 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 | 19 | 42% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 27% | 125,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 11% | 93,477 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 11% | 110,948 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 9% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 7% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 4% | 138,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 4% | 127,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 4% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 2% | 152,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 2% | 93,477 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | 159,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Mercedes Benz E320 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mercedes-benz e320. While driving approximately 60 mph, the front end of the vehicle suddenly shook and vibrated before collapsing. During the incident, the front driver side suspension spring separated from the vehicle and caused a puncture to the fuel tank. The vehicle…
Tl* the contact owned a 1996 mercedes benz e320. While driving 65 mph, the air bags failed to deploy after the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The driver sustained knee, back, neck, and chest injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was…
When you replace the battery on these vehicles the safety restraint system malfunctions rendering the safety equipment useless ie. Air bags the automobile should have a recall whereby mercedes fixes the defective system. *tr
After filling up on gas just two days ago, there was a very peculiar smell. It smelled of gas fumes. Just today, i noticed that my gas gauge was going down quite fast and it wasn't until just now that my gas tank is leaking.
Spring perch snapped and spring shot out on front passenger side while wife and children were in the car. Thank god they were less the 200 feet from the house and only traveling about 5 mph. *tr
Other Mercedes Benz E320 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 E320 | 8 | 3 |
| 2008 E320 | 10 | 3 |
| 2007 E320 | 17 | 4 |
| 2006 E320 | 41 | 4 |
| 2005 E320 | 231 | 3 |
| 2004 E320 | 203 | 2 |
| 2003 E320 | 214 | 2 |
| 2002 E320 | 23 | 0 |
| 2001 E320 | 38 | 0 |
| 2000 E320 | 44 | 0 |
| 1999 E320 | 83 | 0 |
| 1998 E320 | 37 | 0 |
| 1997 E320 | 63 | 0 |
| 1996 | 45 | 0 |
| 1995 E320 | 96 | 0 |
See all Mercedes Benz E320 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 E320?
Owners most often report suspension, electrical system, air bags problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 19 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other E320 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.