1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS

1 recalls — 43 complaints — 5 TSBs

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN THE ABSENCE OF A CRASH.

Consequence

INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAG MODULES. AT THE SAME TIME, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONDITION OF THE SIDE AIR BAG MODULE WIRING WITHIN THE DOORS AND REPLACE THAT WIRING IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE.

16,255 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

Complaint Statistics

43 total complaints 2 crashes 2 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	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
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR	1

Incident date: Dec 16, 2013

I TOOK MY CAR INTO GET THE SUSPENSION FIXED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SPRING PERCH THAT ATTACHED THE SPRING TO THE CAR HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS ABOUT TO BREAK. LUCKILY I FOUND IT BEFORE I HAD A BAD ACCIDENT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CHECKING WITH MERCEDES TO SEE IF THEY WILL STAND BY A POOR DESIGN ISSUE ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 25, 2012

I WAS COMING OFF WEST RT 46. I CAME TO A STOP SIGN,MADE A RIGHT AND AS I WAS DRIVING HEARD A THUMP NOISE....THEN AS I DROVE A SQUEAKING NOISE AND I PULLED OVER,LOOKED AT THE CAR ,AROUND IT AND UNDER IT AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I DROVE IT SLOWLY ABT A MILE HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME I OPENED THE HOOD AND ... Read more

Incident date: Nov 10, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E420. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN LIGHTLY DRIZZLED WEATHER CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. SUDDENLY, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEH... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Nov 10, 2007

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Nov 8, 2009

WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A RATTLING SOUND FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. SHORT WHILE LATER, STARTED TO PROCEED FROM A STOP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION COIL SPRING CAME OFF THE CAR AND EXITED OUT THE WHEEL WELL WITH A BIG BANG AND ROLLED DOWN THE STREET ABOUT 75 FEET. *TR

Incident date: Mar 5, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E300 DIESEL. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPRING PERCH ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WAS RUSTING AND SEPARATED FROM THE SUSPENSION CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140... Read more

Incident date: Apr 15, 2008

I HAVE A 1997 E420 MERCEDES THAT MY WIFE AND OUR ONE MONTH OLD BABY DRIVE DAILY. WELL SHE TOLD ME SHE HEARD SOME STRANGE NOISES COMING FROM THE WHEEL AREA OF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. I TOLD HER THAT SHE BETTER LET US HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BEFORE DRIVING THE CAR ANYMORE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AN... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 2008

MY MB E300D'S ENGINE WILL CUT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT STARTED GRADUALLY JUST CUTTING OFF WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION OR WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP. FEELING IT WAS ANYTHING FROM FUEL TO COMPUTER PROBLEMS I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THEY ADVISED THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM... Read more

Incident date: Sep 10, 2007

MR. GARY BOUND MERCEDES BENZ 3 PARAGON MONTVALE NJ 07645 DEAR MR. BOUND, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE ON A VERY TROUBLING MATTER. I HAVE 1997 MERCEDES E 420, , (IT HAS 81,000 MILES) WHICH RECENTLY DEVELOPED A SERIOUS DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE, MORE PRECISELY A LACK OF STEERING CON... Read more

Incident date: Sep 7, 2007

ON A 1997 MERCEDES E300D, THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING PERCH IS CORRODING CONSISTENT WITH THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT PE07021. *JB

Incident date: Dec 30, 2006

SOCKET DEFORMS THERMALLY CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHT NOT TO ILLUMINATE. PROBLEM IS ON MY 1997 MERCEDES E300 DIESEL VIN# [XXX]. EXACT SAME PROBLEM WAS RECALLED ON 98-2004 SLK-CLASS BUT NOT ON MODEL. RECALL # FOR SLK IS 2006-080005. THANKS. *NM UPDATED 07/11/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PUR... Read more

Incident date: Nov 20, 2006

SPRING PERCHES ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS RUSTED AND ARE FALLING APART. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT AND IF THE PERCHES BREAK WHILE DRIVING, PEOPLE CAN GET KILLED. LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO REPAIR OR EVEN INSPECT THE PROBLEM AND IS TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. RUST ON ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 27, 2006

DRIVING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE LEFT FRONT SPRING PERCH BROKE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR WITH NO INJURY OR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *NM

Incident date: Jan 15, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END STARTED SHAKING. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHO NOTIFIED THE PERCH, WHICH SUPPORTED THE COILS SPRINGS, WERE SEPARATED FROM THE STR... Read more

Incident date: Jul 9, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS OPENED, THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND, AND A SOUND OF GLASS BREAKING. AFTER THESE INCIDENCES THE WINDOW WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLOSE, EVEN THOUGH THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS STILL FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SE... Read more

Incident date: Mar 13, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.

Incident date: Jan 21, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S REPAIR SHOP AND DETERMINED THE UPPER SPRING SUPPORT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. THE CONTACT WELDED IN A NEW UPPER SPRING SUPPORT.

Incident date: Oct 24, 2005

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH DOWN A SMALL HILL THE FRONT PASSENGER SPRING MOUNT (PERCH) ON MY 1997 E 300 DIESEL (W210) BROKE OFF CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OFF OF THE CAR. THIS WAS AN UNBELIEVABLY DANGEROUS OCCURRANCE AND LUCKILY IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS GOING 65 MPH. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR MY A... Read more

Incident date: Sep 29, 2004

DT: THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THIS MORNING THAT THE SPRING HOUSING WAS CORRODED. THE FRONT COIL SPRING HOUSING CORRODED AND BROKE AWAY FROM THE BODY ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY THE CONSUMER WHILE HE WAS ROTATING HIS TIRES. HE FELT THE SPRING COULD COME OUT AND CAUSE THE LOSS OF VE... Read more

Incident date: Sep 21, 2005

SPRING PERCH IS CHEAPLY WELDED TO THE WHEEL WELL ON THE MERCEDES 210 CHASSIS (1997 E420). ALL OTHER CARDS HAVE IT ATTACHED TO A SOLID BAR. MERCEDES WELDED IT TO VERY THIN SHEET METAL WHICH MERCEDES KNOWS HAS BEEN FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE (DEALER ADMITTED THIS TO ME - THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM EVERY ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 17, 2005

LOUD POP AND CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. FRONT SPRING SUPPORT (PERCH) CAME LOOSE FROM THE FRAME RAIL. FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REMOVED, NEW SUPPORT WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION REPLACED. AFTER READING OWNERS FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, IT HAS BECOME QUITE OBVIOUS THAT MANY MERCEDES BENZ W210... Read more

Incident date: Aug 26, 2004

LEFT FRONT SPRING MOUNT FAILED WHILE CAR BEING DRIVEN APPROX. 45 MPH FAILURE DUE TO POOR WELD. DEALER REIMBURSED ONLY 50% OF COST. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 14 OF THESE SAME FAILURES ON YOUR SITE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.*AK

Incident date: Sep 10, 2004

REMOVED LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND FOUND UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING PERCH BREAKING AWAY FROM BODY, COULD SEE POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING. NO INCIDENT YET BUT AN ACCIDENT AVOIDED. DEALER HAS THIS PARTICULAR PART IN STOCK AND ASKED IF IT HAD COME APART "YET" BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN IT BEFORE.*AK

Incident date: Sep 10, 2004

Incident date: Mar 1, 2004

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLIES 4 TIMES. TWICE ON THE PASSENGER REAR & TWICE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW. KEY PIECES LIKE PULLEYS AND THE ACTUAL PARTS THAT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE GLASS, IN THESE ASSEMBLIES ARE MADE WITH CHEAP PLASTIC COMPONENTS THAT BREAK UNDER NORM... Read more

Incident date: Nov 1, 2003

THE SEAT TRACK FOR THE CAR CONTINUES TO BE DEFECTIVE. CAR SEAT "ROCKS" EXCESSIVELY - CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION IN HEAVY/EMERGENCY BRAKING. THE FRONT SEAT TRACK WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR (1996-2003). MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ASKED TO REPL... Read more

Incident date: Oct 20, 2003

I AM A MERCEDES BENZ TECHNICIAN OF 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND HAVE BECOME AWARE OF AN OUTRAGEOUSLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION. ON CERTAIN MODELS OF MERCEDES BENZ "210" BODIES THE SUPPORT THAT HOLDS THE UPPER PORTION OF THE COIL SPRING IN PLACE IS RUSTING OFF OF THE FRAME. IF... Read more

Incident date: Aug 19, 2003

FAX FM TOM AND HELEN SILVER (NJ) RE THE DEFECTIVE FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON THEIR 1997 E 420 MERECEDES BENZ. *MR WHILE THE VEHICLE SAT IDLING, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING DETACHED (PROBABLE PARTIAL DETACHMENT) FROM ITS WELDED POSITION AND CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT ABILITY TO SUPPORT THAT PORTION OF THE ... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 2002

DASHBOARD CRACKS ON MY 1997 MERCEDES E420 SEDAN. CRACKS HAVE BEEN APPARENT FOR 18 MONTHS; DEALER AND REGIONAL SERVICE REP DECLINE TO REPLACE/REPAIR. SIMILAR CRACKS HAVE BEEN WIDELY REPORTED IN MERCEDES E-CLASS SEDANS IN MODEL YEARS 96-00. CRACKS ARE AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG DOOR. WONDER IF THIS... Read more

Incident date: May 19, 2000

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SPRING FLEW OFF CAR WHILE DRIVING AND TOOK A LARGE CHUNK OF THE TIRE WITH IT. *NLM

Incident date: Nov 15, 2002

SEVERE RUST DAMAGE TO FRONT PASSENGER SUSPENSION COMPONENT AND FRONT FRAME RAIL. RUST HOLE BIG ENOUGH TO PUT A HUMAN FIST INTO. APPROXIMATELY $3000 IN RUST REPAIRS, ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 67,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

Incident date: Nov 15, 2002

Incident date: Feb 27, 2002

MY CAR IS PRESENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH A MAJOR FUEL LEAK. EACH TIME HAS BEEN FOR A DIFFERENT LEAK. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN DONE BY A MERCEDES HOWEVER REPLACEMENT PART HAVE BEEN PURCHASE FROM MERCEDES AND MY REPAIRER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT DIESEL LEAKS ARE NOT UNCOMMON IN THESE MODEL... Read more

Incident date: Jun 22, 2002

ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN, ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING AND BRAKES WERE LOST WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. *SLC

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 00V388000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NUMBER 2000110004 CONCERNING AIR BAG FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR TWO DAYS, PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DEALER'S FAILURE TO DO THE RECALL JOB ON TIM... Read more

Incident date: Oct 13, 2000

THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. MERCEDES SPECIALISTS HAVE EVALUATED THE CAR AND CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THEY HAVE OFFERED TO FIX IT FOR FREE IN RETURN FOR A BLANKET RELEASE FROM ALL LIABILITY "PAST" "PRESENT" AND "FUTURE" ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 1999

CONSUMER BELIEVES BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE WELL BELOW SPECS AND FAILED AT LOW MILEAGE AND BEFORE THE COMPUTERIZED BRAKE WEAR SENSOR WENT OFF. NLM

Incident date: Nov 1, 1999

REAR ABS BRAKES FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NLM

POOR PERFORMANCE OF WINDSHILED CAUSES LACK OF VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHILED WHEN IT RAINS.

DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE OF DOOR LOCK FAILURE. YH

Incident date: Sep 17, 1998

ALTERNATOR.

Technical Service Bulletins — 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS

5 manufacturer communications from 5 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
190000 TIRES	1
140000 AIR BAGS	1
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1
162700 STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID	1
353100 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES	1

353100 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink

162700 STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

TRUNK LID OPENS OR CLOSES TOO QUICKLY WHILE OPERATING WITH REMOTE TRUNK LID CONTROL BUTTON. *TT

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER SHUTOFF DISPLAYED IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHILE DRIVING. *TT

140000 AIR BAGS

MERCEDES-BENZ USA WILL CONDUCT A RECALL CAMPAIGN OF CERTAIN VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE LEFT / RIGHT SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG. *TT

190000 TIRES

UPDATED INFORMATION TO REFLECT ADDITON OF APPROVED TIRES. *YC

MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS — All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS across all model years (1992–2006).

25 Total Recalls

413 Total Complaints

0 Investigations

14 Reported Crashes

12 Reported Fires

0 Reported Deaths

MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS — Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2008	0	5	View
2006	1	11	View
2005	3	10	View
2004	4	19	View
2003	4	69	View
2002	0	8	View
2001	0	33	View
2000	1	61	View
1999	1	20	View
1998	0	31	View
1997 (current)	1	43
1996	2	18	View
1995	2	29	View
1994	2	46	View
1993	2	9	View
1992	2	0	View

Other MERCEDES-BENZ Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
GLA 250	1,219	416	View
GLC 300	1,143	568	View
GLE 350	1,116	311	View
C 300	1,074	360	View
AMG GLS63	963	12	View
AMG C43	944	74	View
CLA 250	923	130	View
AMG GLC43	920	42	View

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