2000 Mercedes Benz E320

Routine

Owners filed 44 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
155,000 milesMedian miles at failure

31 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 150,000200,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags7
114
Service Brakes3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
000
Tires2
000
Suspension2
000
Steering2
000
Power Train2
000
Fuel/Propulsion System2
000
Engine2
010
Air Bags › Frontal2
001

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Mar 20, 2025VA

My car passenger side control arm has dry rotted and cracked in half I noticed this because my car steering wheel has never turned all the way to the right side so as I pulled up to the store, I had got out my car to check to see what the problem was and come to find out that the lower control arm by the lower ball joint was cracked in half from the control arm

Tires
Filed Mar 18, 2025MD

I purchased 4 brand new tires from Firestone. They said tires has warranty and lifetime rotation as long as I own the car. I didn't receive any documentation about it or email shows my warranty. My right rear tire exploded in middle of highway. It was so hard to pull over almost got into an accident. I put my spare tire and checked tire if it caused by screw or any object there was nothing wrong with it. My tire just broke on side wall. I call Firestone center explained what's happened and I said I need to know what's wrong with the tire. I have 3 more the same tires I don't want to die. They gave me inspection number and take it to place I purchased and install my tire. I left my key and gave them inspection number. Next day they put new tire and charge me money for install no explain about what's happened old tire. After install the new tire 2 of wheelnuts missing on it no information about it also. I don't want to die.they need take it seriously. Store address:1492 Annapolis Rd , Odenton, MD 21113 +1 410-305-7563 235 45 R17 97 W

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 30, 2025MI

I got abs warning on the dash board, anti lock brake warning, sbc warnings, brake shop warnings...messages, brake pedal travels to the floor,. not stopping the car at the least.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 18, 2018140,000 milesCT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 WAGON. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE EXECUTIVE REFERRAL MANAGER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Dec 8, 2018234,000 milesCA

MY HUSBAND I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND I-99 AT A SPEED OF 65 WE BOTH HAD OUR SEATBELT ON AND AT 11.20AM MERCEDES SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY CONTACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR ACCIDENT.. AIRBAG DEPLOYING CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF HITTING MY FACE AND RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODY INCIDENTS HAPPENED AT (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Dec 4, 2018280,000 milesCA

MY HUSBAND DRIVING ON 99 FREEWAY GOING SOUTH BOUND AT 11:20AM SIDE PASSAGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT WITH ANY CAR I WAS IN PASSAGER SIT AIRBAG INJURED ME BLOWING UP IN MY FACE MY FACE IS BRUISE, INJURED MY HEAD AND RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODU

Steering
Filed Sep 7, 2017160,000 milesNJ

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF CAR FELL DOWN AND THERE WAS A SOUND LIKE I HIT A POTHOLE. THE ROAD WAS CLEAR. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, I NOTICED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD ROTTED OUT AND BROKE.

Air BagsFire
Filed Oct 15, 2015163,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG, BUT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 29, 2015205,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND DRY. THE ROAD WAS ASPHALT AND ALSO DRY. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY AND NOTHING IN THE ROAD WAS RUN OVER. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECTS WHATSOEVER. THERE WERE NO CAUTION OR WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE EVENT. THE RED "SRS" LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

Suspension
Filed Jun 4, 2015189,300 milesVA

THE SPRING PERCH BROKEN ON THE CAR WHILE IT WAS PARKED, ALONG WITH THE PERCH THE SPRING BROKE AS WELL.

Power Train
Filed Apr 30, 2015230,525 milesNH

DRIVING NORMALLY AT 40 MPH WHEN THE CAR GAVE OUT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICE. A NEW FRONT DRIVESHAFT WAS NEEDED . *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 13, 2015107,900 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,900.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 20, 2015217,193 milesGA

AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 4:10PM I NOTICED TWO PUDDLES IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE. AFTER KNEELING DOWN AND PLACING 2 FINGERS IN ONE OF THE FIST SIZE PUDDLES, I DETERMINED IT WAS GAS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN EXCESS OF 10 DAYS, AND ITS VERY ODD TO SUDDENLY BEGIN LEAKING WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jan 4, 2015212,125 milesSC

WHILE DRIVING ALONG FORT DIX ROAD, IN PEMBERTON, NJ, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, WITH NO EXPLAIN SIGN. UPON THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO DRIVE TO SIDE OF ROAD WAS ABLE TO ROLL. UPON THE VEHICLE STOPPING, THE AIRBAGS SMACKED ME ON MY LEFT SIDE LEAVING ME IN TOTAL PAIN ON MY LEFT SIDE UPPER ARM. UPON GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAGS HAD ONLY DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BOTH FRONT AND BACK DOORS AIRBAGS ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG IN DRIVERS SIDE UPPER AREA WHICH COVERED THE WINDOWS. MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT NO DAMAGE OR DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. UPON TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE AND MOVING IT COMPLETELY OFF THE RIDE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, EVEN WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 6, 2014300,000 milesNC

THE VEHICLE FUEL CAP WOULD NOT COME OFF THE TANK. FORCIBLY REMOVE THE FUEL CAP, REPLACED WITH A NEW $35 CAP PURCHASED FROM THE MERCEDES DEALER AND THE SAME EXACT THING OCCURRED. *TR

Engine
Filed Sep 22, 2014184,595 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,595.

EngineFire
Filed Sep 5, 2014155,000 milesWA

MY MINT CONDITION W210 '00 E320 MERCEDES CAUGHT FIRE LAST WEEK WHILE MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO HER HIGH RISE OFFICE GARAGE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE WITHOUT INJURY BEFORE THE FIRE GREW AND CONSUMED THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS ENGINE FIRE STARTED ON ITS OWN WITH NO OUTSIDE FACTORS. THIS CAR HAD BEEN FULLY MAINTAINED DURING MY 11 YEAR OWNERSHIP BY MERCEDES OF BELLEVUE AND MERCEDES OF SEATTLE. THE CAR ONLY HAD 155,000 MILES ON IT, STILL FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE COMPARED TO THE OTHER MERCEDES I HAVE OWNED OVER THE YEARS. I NOTIFIED MERCEDES OF SEATTLE ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. NO ONE IN SERVICE SEEMED PARTICULARLY CONCERNED AT THE DEALERSHIP, ALTHOUGH THEY MENTIONED THEY HAVE NEVER SEEM A W210 CATCH ON FIRE AND BURN ON ITS OWN. THUS MY MESSAGE TO YOU. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 8, 2014FL

DRIVER'S SIDE CARPET DESIGN POOR AND DANGEROUS.... KEEPS GETTING STUCK UNDER GAS PEDAL CREATING CAR TO NOT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. NO WAY TO KEEP CARPETS IN PLACE. *TR

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed Jul 9, 2014MD

2000 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT DROPPED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. WHEN THE STATE TROOPER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD LOST ALL OF ITS TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS LIKELY THE DRIVE SHAFT HIT A TRANSMISSION LINE AND CAUSED IT TO RUPTURE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS, AS IT WAS NOT WORTH THE EXPENSE OF FIXING. THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE, THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. *JB UPDATED 10/28/14

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Nov 18, 2013176,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, HE CRASHED AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE RIGHT KNEE AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERE INTERNAL INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

20 of 44 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20098300Routine
200810300Routine
200717400Routine
200641400Routine
2005231344Fatalities reported
2004203210Above average
2003214210Above average
200223010Routine
200138040Routine
2000 — this page44020Routine
199983060Routine
199837000Routine
199763030Routine
199645030Routine
199596030Routine
199411010Routine

Compare every E320 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.