AI Damage1995 Mercedes-Benz E320: common problems
Owners of the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 filed 96 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 96
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 93% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 2% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 2% of all complaints
- 6 Equipment 2% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 2% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 2% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 89 complaints (93% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 8 complaints (8% of all).
- Fuel system: 6 complaints (6% of all).
- Air bags: 2 complaints (2% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (2% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 96 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 | 89 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 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.
Engine wiring harness insulation falling off - copper wires exposed and may result in short and engine failure at highway speeds - could result in injury or death. Consumer stated wiring is defective and that mercedes has been aware of the nature of the defect for many years.
While driving at 55 mph, there was smoke under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 mercedes benz e320. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel lines and the fan belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
Fire in right door electrical wiring mid june. Stall at red light in mid july. Stall on highway, stop and go traffic in mid september. And stall at a red light sept. 27, 2014. Bought it, it had 107,000miles.
Tl contact owns a 1995 mercedes benz e320. While turning the key in the ignition, the air bag suddenly deployed. The contact filed a police report and called the dealership but the dealer stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint.
While driving approximately 30 mph, the engine stalled and then shut off. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and they stated that the engine wiring harness was deteriorated. The dealer remedied the issue.
The cruise control engaged immediately after the air conditioner was turned on. On another occasion, the vehicle was on a slight incline when the contact felt the accelerator pedal pull away from the floorboard. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the insulation on the engine wiring harness was deteriorated.
The consumer smelled a gasoline odor upon entering the garage. The fuel line hose that was connected to the filter deteriorated. This resulted in the hose drying out and stiffening and caused a gasoline leak.
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 3,666 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the E320 has 73 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 96, above average.
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.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, fuel system. Total complaints: 96. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (21%), stalls while driving (18%), warning lights, check engine (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320?
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 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 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 1995 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.