1997 Mercedes Benz E Class: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 43 complaints
43
Total Complaints
90,000mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Top Issue
2
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

77,817 25th Percentile
90,000 Median Mileage
109,600 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
14
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
4
SUSPENSION:FRONT
4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
3
SUSPENSION
2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
1

Severity Assessment

2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE OF DOOR LOCK FAILURE. YH"
"POOR PERFORMANCE OF WINDSHILED CAUSES LACK OF VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHILED WHEN IT RAINS."

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