1996 Mercedes Benz E320: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 62 complaints
62
Total Complaints
107,700mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
7
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

91,546 25th Percentile
107,700 Median Mileage
135,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
10
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
7
SUSPENSION:FRONT
6
SUSPENSION
5
AIR BAGS
4
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2

Severity Assessment

7
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHEN IGNITION WAS TURNED BATTERY EXPLODED VIOLENTLY COVERING GARAGE AND VEHICLE WITH BATTERY ACID. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK"
"THE FRONT LEFT UPPER SPRING SUPPORT BRACKET RUSTED AND BENT UNDER NORMAL DAILY DRIVING CONDITIONS, THIS ALLOWED THE SPRING TO BECOME PARTIALLY EXPOSED. *SLC"
"ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *SLC"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28