AI DamageMercedes-Benz 320: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz 320 across 10 model years: 230 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 37% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 10% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 10% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 84 complaints (37% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 26 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 23 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 22 complaints (10% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 19 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 230 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 84 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 22 | 7 | 0 |
| Steering | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My 1994 mercedes-benz e320 cabriolet has a check engine light on. An investigation leads to disintegrated engine wire harness, that is shorting. The vehicle is running rough and stalling. There is a potential for a fire hazard.
Upon impact the air bags failed to deploy. Consumer contacted the manufacturer, who sent out a team of technicians to investigate the crash, and they concluded that the vehicle was not hit in the right spot. Thus, not allowing the air bags to deploy as designed.
After the vehicle was picked up from the window repair, it imploded again. The consumer requested a refund of purchase or a replacement. . The consumer was rear ended, however did not state in defects.
Vehicle involved in a 40 mph frontal collision in which frontal driver's and passenger's and side air bags did not deploy, cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Consumer was braking and vehicle failed to stop. Vehicle continued to move. Had jumped a curb and hit a home. Mercedes representative checked out vehicle and found nothing wrong with brakes.
When vehicle was involved in a crash, hitting a stone wall on the left front side, there was no deployment of driver's side or passenger's side air bags. Vehicle was totalled. Please provide any further information. * mjs
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.