2001 Mercedes Benz E Class

Routine

Owners filed 15 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Interior Lighting2
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire1
000
Tires1
000
Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
100
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Sep 14, 2009128,431 milesNY

THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, WHICH ACTIVATES THE STOP LAMPS, ANT-LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL MECHANISMS, ON MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320 HAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 5 YEARS. THE PART NUMBER THAT CONTINUALLY GOES BAD IS 001-545-64-09. THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT WAS 09-12-09. *TR

Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
Filed Sep 10, 200899,485 milesDE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE TO THE SPARE, THE CONTACT DID NOT USE THE SPECIAL SPARE NUTS. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENTER ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE MOUNTS IN THE WHEEL LOCKED AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE. THERE WAS NO PRECAUTIONARY WARNING LABEL ON THE SPARE TIRE TO PREVENT THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE NUTS AND BOLTS, REAR HUBS AND AXLE, BRAKE ROTORS, SHOES, CALIPERS, DRIVESHAFT, SPRINGS, SHACKLES, AND TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE READ THE INFORMATION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL PRIOR TO CHANGING THE TIRE. THEY REFUSED TO ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,485. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SECOND BLOWOUT. UPDATED 10/15/08. *JB

Tires
Filed Apr 27, 200862,000 milesNJ

DURING SCHEDULED TIRE ROTATION AT SEARS AUTO SHOP, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A LARGE PIECE (APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH IN DIAMETER) OF THE TIRE WAS MISSING. THE MISSING PIECE WAS FROM THE PART OF THE TIRE THAT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE STREET. THE SEARS MANAGER, INFORMED ME THAT THE TIRE IS UNSAFE TO RE-INSTALLED. HE ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE AND OFFERED TO REPLACE IT AT 30% OF THE CURRENT PRICE. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 4, 200769,600 milesCA

WE DRIVING ALONG ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY WIFE BUMPED A CUP OF COFFEE IN THE CUP HOLDER THAT CAUSED A SMALL AMOUNT OF COFFEE TO SPLASH OUT OF THE CUP AND ONTO THE CONSOLE. IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES A NUMBER OF THINGS HAPPENED, FIRST THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLANK, SPEEDOMETER, TACK, ETC, AND ALL VEHICLE ALARMS CAME ON, SECOND THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED INTO HIGH GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT. I NOTICED WHEN I CAME TO A SMALL RISE IN THE ROAD THE CAR WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT SO I LOST POWER. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT TRANSMISSION IN PARK, IT LOCKED IN THAT POSITION AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR AND WOULD HARDLY START. I FOUND THIS TO BE UNSAFE CONSEQUENCE OF SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF COFFEE TO BE SPLASHED ONTO THE CONSOLE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A MODULE IN THAT AREA THAT AFFECTED NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF THE CAR. THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE 60 ALARM CODES IN THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THE BILL WAS $725. THIS IS A FREIGHTING THING TO HAPPEN AT 70 MPH. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift
Filed May 16, 200769,000 milesNV

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. THE CUP HOLDER LOCATED NEAR THE GEAR SHIFT WHEN HOLDING COLD SUBSTANCES SWEATS AND THE LIQUID LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRONICS OF THE GEAR SHIFT. WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE LEAKING IN THE CUP HOLDER BLEW OUT THE BRAINS OF THE TRANSMISSION AND LOCKED THE BACK WHEELS ON MAY 16, 2007. THE ENGINE WILL START; HOWEVER, WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD (ACCELERATE). THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED SUDDENLY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE SIZE IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 69000.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Apr 5, 200730,000 milesVA

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY HAS MALFUNCTIONED ON MY 2001 MERCEDES E320. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED IN ALMOST EVERY MARCEDES. THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB

Interior Lighting
Filed Dec 7, 2006CA

DID A SMOG CHECK ON MY MERCEDES E320 AND FAILED BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NOT BE ON. CHECKED THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, JUST FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT. I SAW THERE IS A RECALL FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MERCEDES S-CLASS, AND WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT PROBLEM ALSO EXIST IN E-CLASS. *JB

Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed May 4, 2006CA

2001 BENZ E320 WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVABLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BEARINGS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND A NEW LEFT SPINDLE, ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (3 TIMES), FUEL LEVEL SENSOR, OIL LEVEL SENSOR, A/C CONTROL AND REGULATORS ( 3 TIMES), STEERING LOCK AND KEY, RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR. ALL THESE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Nov 10, 2005CA

POWER WINDOW NOT WORKING, ONE BY ONE EACH POWER WINDOW STOP WORKING. I REPLACE THE MOTOR, THAN 4 MONTHS LATER REPLACED THE WINDOW ASSEMBLY. THIS APPLIES TO THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Oct 7, 2004CA

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. NO ONE WAS INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Interior Lighting
Filed May 7, 2004MI

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320 SR. (NAR) *MR THE RADIO DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE TELEPHONE DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM (BAS) DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION ON MOST OCCASIONS. *NM *CB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2003SC

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 3, 2003WI

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 MERCEDES E320. *AK THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE WASHER TUBE CAME OFF AND CAUSED WASHER FLUID TO LEAK. THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED WHICH CAUSED IT TO READ INCORRECTLY. THE HEAD REST MOTOR FAILED. *SCC *NLM

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Mar 4, 2003TX

THE AIR BAGS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SOMETHING PROBABLY HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED AND CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. *NLM

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed May 28, 2002CA

CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR ARE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FOWARD AND CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A BUILDING, THE DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE PEDAL POSITIONS AND TRAVEL WERE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS.(MERCEDES E320 2001)*JB

15 of 15 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20085000Routine
200610100Routine
20059300Routine
200415400Routine
200345400Routine
20028000Routine
2001 — this page15000Routine
200034100Routine
199913100Routine
199824000Routine
199738100Routine
199616200Routine
199521220Routine
199438250Routine
19937210Routine
19920200Routine

Compare every E Class year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.