1996 Mercedes Benz E320

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 WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

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 DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

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

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF STORE ALLOWING A 93 YEAR OLD LADY TO GO SHOPPING,AS I WAS PARKED THERE I WAS SIDESWIPED, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE AUTO SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, AFTER DOING THIS I DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY CAN'T START THE CAR BECAUSE THE IGNITION IS JAMMED OR KEY WILL NOT TURN, SO THE CAR WON'T START. I CALLED A LOCKSMITH AND DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION IS DEFECTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STARTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEGAN TO DRY ROT AND WAS TO DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. ..UPDATED 07-01-13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA YK580 TIRES, SIZE 215/55/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FEELING FROM THE TIRES. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD BECOME SHREDDED. THE CONTACT INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE CONTACT LATER WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TIRE INFLATION WAS TOO LOW SO THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS VEHICLE (1996 MERCEDES E320) HAS HAD A HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. MANY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT GREAT EXPENSE! THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I WAS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE MYSELF. TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY FROM THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONNECTION IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE PARK/NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH ON THE TRANSMISSION AND TO THE STARTER. THIS HARNESS ALSO INCLUDES CONNECTIONS TO THE STARTER AND SENSORS ON THE TRANSMISSION. ALL WIRES IN THE ENTIRE HARNESS HAVE CRUMBLED INSULATION AND HAVE SHORTED TOGETHER. THIS CAUSED SHORTING AND BURNING OF THE WIRES AND DAMAGE TO OTHER SYSTEM COMPONENTS. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 15+ YEARS AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE HARNESS ASSEMBLIES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND SUBJECT TO FAILURE. THE INSULATION ON ALL WIRES IS INFERIOR AND WILL FAIL AND CRACK OVER SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE OTHER HARNESSES ON THE VEHICLE HAS REVEALED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY. LUCKILY THE DAMAGE WAS SMALL AND CONTAINED TO THIS ONE HARNESS, HOWEVER ALL HARNESS ON THE VEHICLE MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BACK ROAD IN MY 1996 MERCEDES E320 WHEN I HEARD A BANG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE DROPPED. THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD POPPED OUT. IF I HAD BEEN GOING ANY FASTER I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING MOUNTS IN THIS MODEL CORRODE DUE TO IMPROPER UNDERCOATING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT END SUSPENSION SPRINGS FRACTURED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE RAIL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED THE TYPE OF FAILURE DESCRIBED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE THE DRIVE BELT PULLEY ON THE ENGINE IS DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE METAL AND BREAK. THE DRIVE PULLEY BREAKS, THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE COOLING, BATTERY CHARGING, AND/OR POWER STEERING. CONSEQUENCE: 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 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CAR AND THEY CAN NOT HELP ME SO NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES E 320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, BLACK SMOKE CIRCULATED THROUGHOUT THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE INVESTIGATOR STATED "THERE WAS NO PRODUCT DEFECT REGARDING THE FIRE". THE CONTACT REQUESTED THE INCIDENT REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT PROVIDED THE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL; AND LIFE THREATENING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

OUR LOW MILEAGE 1996 E320 MERCEDES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS GOING AND REMAINING ON.(FOR YEARS NOW) THE CODE COMES UP ADVISING THAT A SWITCH ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANS.IS FAULTY. HAD MB REPLACE IT AND A WEEK LATER IT CAME UP WITH THE SAME CODE. MB HAS LOOKED AT IT NUMEROUS TIMES, THE LAST TIME I WAS CHARGED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AT 55,000 MILES (MB-$650.) THEY CHARGED ME FOR ANOTHER HOUR AS THEY SAID THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DAMAGED. I TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS A ONE OWNER CAR SERVICED AT MB AND NOTHING IN THE DASH HAD EVER BEEN TAKEN APART BEFORE. THEY CLAIM IT HAD BEEN . NOT TRUE. AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE RIGHT SIDE AUTOMATIC DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT ONLY WORKS IF I USE THE LIGHT SWITCH. THEY DENY THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH REPAIR HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. UNLIKE THE US , MB CANADA IS A CARTEL AND THEIR ATTITUDE HAS A LOT TO BE DESIRED. THERE ARE FOUR MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIPS IN VANCOUVER BC AND ALL ARE MB CANADA OWNED AND OPERATED.AS IN ALL OTHER CANADIAN CITIES. *TR

I RECENTLY HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I STOPPED TO INSPECT THE NOISE AND FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS SLIGHTLY LEANING TO THE RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANYTHING ON THE ROADSIDE, I DROVE IT HOME SLOWLY TO INSPECT FURTHER. INFORMATION I READ ONLINE INFORMED ME OF A DESIGN FLAW INVOLVING THE FAILURE OF SPOT WELDS THAT ATTACH THE FRONT, TOP COIL SPRING PERCH TO THE CHASSIS. UPON DEEPER INSPECTION I FOUND MY R SIDE SPRING PERCH WELDS WERE 80% FAILED AND THE FORCE OF THE COIL SPRING HAD BENT THE SPRING PERCH UP 45 DEG. FROM NORMAL. EVIDENTLY THE NOISE I HEARD WERE THE WELDS BREAKING! THE COIL SPRING WAS BULGING OUTWARD, ABOUT TO POP OUT. THANKFULLY, THE SPOT WELDS DID NOT FULLY LET GO ON THIS CURVY ROAD. IF THEY HAD FULLY FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY OFFERED TO WELD A NEW SPRING PERCH IN FOR $440. THE L SIDE HAD ALREADY BEEN CORRECTED BY A PREVIOUS OWNER. I HAVE PHOTOS AND THE FAILED PART IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAD IT INSPECTED BUT THE DEFECT WAS MISSED. AT A MINIMUM, OWNERS OF THIS MAKE, YEAR AND MODEL SHOULD BE CONTACTED AND WARNED OF THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL AND REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. *TR

FRONT SPRING PERCHES MUST HAVE BEEN RUSTED AT THE WELDING SEAM. WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH I HEARD A BIG SNAP AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR HIT THE GROUND AT WHICH POINT I LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE FRONT PERCHES MUST HAVE DISLODGED AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS A VITAL PART OF THE SUSPENSION/STEERING SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HELP OUT REPLACING THIS PART. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD, OR IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH, AT WHICH POINT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD A LAWSUIT ON THEIR HANDS. I ALSO HAD 2 ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. THIS EVENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY A RECALL AS I'VE ALSO HEARD THE SAME ISSUES FROM OTHER OWNERS. THE CAR IS A MERCEDES BENZ 1996 E320 WITH 134,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

UP UNTIL ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, THE ONLY PROBLEMS TO MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN DUE TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. ABOUT THAT TIME, MY 1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320 BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A REPUTABLE (MERCEDES BENZ ONLY) SHOP WHO REPLACED 2 COILS. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE RAN GOOD FOR A FEW DAYS, IT SOON BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. A FOLLOW UP VISIT LED C & G MERCEDES, IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, TO FIND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO IT'S WIRING HARNESS, THAT RESULTED FROM A COMMON PROBLEM TO THIS AND OTHER MODELS, DUE TO PREMATURE CORROSION OF THE INSULATION OF THE WIRES. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEMS I HAVE DESCRIBED AND CAN RESULTS IN FIRES TOO. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS OCCURS IN 1990 -1996 MODELS. THE CORRECTION IS A $1,000.00 REPLACEMENT PART. *TR

MERCEDES HAVE A FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DROPPED AND WANTS TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS. *NJ THE TECHNICIANS FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE PERCH, WHICH HAD TO DO WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION LETTING GO, WHICH CAUSED THE FRAME TO DROP. *JB

THE WIRING ON THE CAR IS DISINTEGRATING HARNESS WIRES EVERY WIRE WAS A GREAT CAR WIRING CAUSING VARIOUS PROBLEMS COST MORE TO FIX THEN ITS WORTH HELP ME! *TR