2004 Mercedes Benz E320: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 243 complaints
243
Total Complaints
99,793mi
Median Mileage
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Top Issue
8
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

67,074 25th Percentile
99,793 Median Mileage
130,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
79
SERVICE BRAKES
41
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
34
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6
STRUCTURE:BODY
5
AIR BAGS
5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
5
VISIBILITY
3

Severity Assessment

8
Crashes
1
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"BRAKE FAILURE, CAUSED A MAJOR COLLISION. CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *BF CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RECALL STATING THAT THE PUMP MOTOR MAY RUN OUT OF PERMISSIBLE TOLERANCES THEREBY TRIGGERING TH..."
"WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT COLLIDED INTO A GLASS WINDOW OF A BUSINESS. NO INJURIES REPORTED. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED..."
"TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RESULTED WHEN DOWNSHIFTING, THE CAR WILL DOWNSHIFTS 2 OR 3 MORE GEARS AT A TIME. *BF *JB"

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