1997 Mercedes Benz 420: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 24 complaints
24
Total Complaints
123,000mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Top Issue
1
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

102,000 25th Percentile
123,000 Median Mileage
163,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
5
SUSPENSION:FRONT
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
SUSPENSION
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
1

Severity Assessment

1
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CRUISE CONTROL IS LOCATED ON A SMALL STALK NEXT TO LARGER STALK FOR TURN SIGNALS, UPON TURNING, BOTH STALKS ARE MOVED, CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO COME ON."
"AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED."
"REAR SEAT BELT RESTRAINT FAILED."

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