2000 Mercedes Benz E320 Problems and Recalls (42 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2000 Mercedes Benz E320 is Airbags (26% of 42 owner reports). There are 0 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 42 complaints · 0 recalls

What problems show up on the 2000 Mercedes Benz E320?

11 of 42 filings named Airbags (26% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (4 reports).

This snapshot lists no safety recalls for this year. That is not a clean bill of health. Still check the VIN at nhtsa.gov.

The 1999 has 82 reports on file; this year has 42. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2000 Mercedes Benz E320

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov even if this page lists none.
Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Airbags 11 complaints · 26.2% of the file

Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:

Crashes 2
Fires 2
Injuries 5
Deaths 0

All Mercedes Benz E320 years →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table

System / Component	Complaints	Share of Reports	Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Airbags (AIR BAGS)	11	26.2%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)	4	9.5%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)	4	9.5%	0 crashes · 1 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)	4	9.5%	0 crashes · 1 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION)	4	9.5%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE)	3	7.1%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)	3	7.1%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)	2	4.8%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)	2	4.8%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover	19	45.2%	1 crashes · 0 fires

NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

View timeline records as a table

Date	Record type	Count
1999-Q4	Owner reports	1
2000-Q2	Owner reports	1
2000-Q4	Owner reports	1
2001-Q1	Owner reports	1
2001-Q2	Owner reports	1
2002-Q1	Owner reports	2
2005-Q3	Owner reports	1
2005-Q4	Owner reports	1
2006-Q1	Owner reports	1
2006-Q3	Owner reports	1
2006-Q4	Owner reports	2
2007-Q1	Owner reports	1
2007-Q4	Owner reports	1
2008-Q1	Owner reports	1
2008-Q2	Owner reports	3
2009-Q3	Owner reports	1
2013-Q1	Owner reports	2
2013-Q3	Owner reports	1
2013-Q4	Owner reports	1
2014-Q3	Owner reports	4
2014-Q4	Owner reports	1
2015-Q1	Owner reports	3
2015-Q2	Owner reports	2
2015-Q3	Owner reports	1
2015-Q4	Owner reports	1
2017-Q3	Owner reports	1
2018-Q4	Owner reports	3
2025-Q1	Owner reports	2

NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (0)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

No safety recalls are on file for this model year in this snapshot.

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07

Showing 10 of 42 complaints · page 1 of 2

2025-03-20WHEELS

NHTSA ODI 11649473

CrashFireInjuryDeath

My car passenger side control arm has dry rotted and cracked in half I noticed this because my car steering wheel has never turned all the way to the right side so as I pulled up to the store, I had got out my car to check to see what the problem was and come to find out that the lower control arm by the lower ball joint was cracked in half from the control arm

2025-01-30Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)

NHTSA ODI 11639783

CrashFireInjuryDeath

i got abs warning on the dash board, anti lock brake warning, sbc warnings, brake shop warnings...messages, brake pedal travels to the floor,. not stopping the car at the least.

2018-12-18Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 11162309

CrashFireInjuryDeath

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 WAGON. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE EXECUTIVE REFERRAL MANAGER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

2018-12-08Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 11157044

CrashFireInjuryDeath

MY HUSBAND I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND I-99 AT A SPEED OF 65 WE BOTH HAD OUR SEATBELT ON AND AT 11.20AM MERCEDES SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY CONTACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR ACCIDENT.. AIRBAG DEPLOYING CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF HITTING MY FACE AND RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODY INCIDENTS HAPPENED AT (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

2018-12-04Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 11155822

CrashFireInjuryDeath

MY HUSBAND DRIVING ON 99 FREEWAY GOING SOUTH BOUND AT 11:20AM SIDE PASSAGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT WITH ANY CAR I WAS IN PASSAGER SIT AIRBAG INJURED ME BLOWING UP IN MY FACE MY FACE IS BRUISE, INJURED MY HEAD AND RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODU

2017-09-07Suspension (SUSPENSION)

NHTSA ODI 11022050

CrashFireInjuryDeath

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF CAR FELL DOWN AND THERE WAS A SOUND LIKE I HIT A POTHOLE. THE ROAD WAS CLEAR. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, I NOTICED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD ROTTED OUT AND BROKE.

2015-10-15Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)

NHTSA ODI 10782299

CrashFireInjuryDeath

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG, BUT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

2015-09-29Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 10778568

CrashFireInjuryDeath

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND DRY. THE ROAD WAS ASPHALT AND ALSO DRY. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY AND NOTHING IN THE ROAD WAS RUN OVER. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECTS WHATSOEVER. THERE WERE NO CAUTION OR WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE EVENT. THE RED "SRS" LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

2015-06-04Suspension (SUSPENSION)

NHTSA ODI 10723330

CrashFireInjuryDeath

THE SPRING PERCH BROKEN ON THE CAR WHILE IT WAS PARKED, ALONG WITH THE PERCH THE SPRING BROKE AS WELL.

2015-04-30Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)

NHTSA ODI 10713731

CrashFireInjuryDeath

DRIVING NORMALLY AT 40 MPH WHEN THE CAR GAVE OUT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICE. A NEW FRONT DRIVESHAFT WAS NEEDED . *TR

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2000 Mercedes Benz E320?

Owners named Airbags most often — 11 of 42 reports (26%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2000 Mercedes Benz E320?

NHTSA lists 0 safety recall campaigns. This snapshot lists none, which is not a clean bill of health. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2000 Mercedes Benz E320?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21

Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources