AI Damage1999 Mercedes-Benz E Class: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E Class filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 69% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 31% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 8% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- Suspension: 9 complaints (69% of all).
- Structure: 4 complaints (31% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 4.3 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.4 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 3 L · diesel · turbo · 6 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 13 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 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.
Toward the end of the trip, I noted what seemed like steering irregularities, then a rubbing/ whining noise coming from the front left. After arriving home after dark, I could smell hot rubber. Also the left front tire was hot to the touch. The next morning, I removed my front left tire to inspect the area.
Spring perch broke off due to rust .the front of the car fell down on to the wheel and was undrivable.
I had just inspected the passenger side the week prior while changing a flat tire, and witnessed no corrosion/rust whatsoever. Vehicle has 90,000 miles, has not been driven in the winter, and the only rust on the vehicle is where the spring perch tore away from the frame rail.
The spring perch rusted away and broke. I have had 4 mercedes so far, 1984 300d, 1987 sel 420, 1991 300d and this 1999 e300d. I've never had any problems with the spring perches with the 3 older models but, this 1999 e300d had this problem. This 1999 e300d will be the last mercedes I will ever own.
1999 mercedes-benz e-300 and e-430 anti-noise capsule fell off** suddenly without warning the right front wheel leaped into the air with a loud bang. The consumer assumed that the right front tire had blown out. The consumer lost control of the vehicle momentarily then moved slowly off the road.
1999 mercedes benz e300 turbo diesel overflow fuel lines cracks and leaks. Fuel drips to garage floor, creating dangerous fuel/air mixture in an enclosed environment. Returned car to dealer for service.
The radio, transmission, and the window regulator were inoperative. The air mass sensor was defective, the brake lamp had a faulty switch, and there was a noise in the drive line. Scc
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,843 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the E Class has 19 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 13, below average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
- E Class 19937 sources
- E Class 199438 sources
- E Class 199521 sources
- E Class 199616 sources
- E Class 199738 sources
- E Class 199824 sources
- E Class 200034 sources
- E Class 200115 sources
- E Class 20028 sources
- E Class 200345 sources
- E Class 200415 sources
- E Class 20059 sources
- E Class 200610 sources
- E Class 20085 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E Class?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, structure, equipment. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (54%), knocking, grinding or other noise (15%), infotainment or screen glitches (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E Class?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Mercedes-Benz E Class from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
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.