AI Damage1997 Mercedes-Benz E420: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 80% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 20% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 20% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 20% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 20% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (80% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 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 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 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.
Consumer writes in regards to vehicle seat belt malfunction. The consumer stated the seat belt inadvertently tightened causing the consumers' head to hit the back of the seat. The consumer had a throbbing head pain. The air bag light illuminated after the incident occurred.
My 1997 mercedes benz e420 went in to limp mode with no warning while merging on to 65 mph traffic, almost causing an accident. It failed to shift with no warning
In addition, when the vehicle was started, the radio failed to operate and the doors failed to lock. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 135,000. Updated 3/17/15 updated 8/18/2015
Cockpit smelt like smoke, became hard to see. Pulled over and turned the engine off. Very scary. Is there a recall on this issues?
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 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the E420 has 4 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 5, 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.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (20%), loss of power / limp mode (20%), infotainment or screen glitches (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420?
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 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 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 1997 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 2026-11-06.