Most common 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320 problems
Share of the 30 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz 320 complaints by model year
Best 320 years: 2002, 1996. Years to avoid: 1998, 1999. Compare all years →
What 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320 owners say
Electrical system
While in park, the battery exploded which also caused the air bag to deploy. While parked, the right side front passenger airbag deployed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they found that the hoppecke battery under the rear seat was cracked and broken and setting in a pool of acid which accounted for the acid smell at the time of the air bag deployment. The incident caused damage to the interior.
Ref: owners manual, trailer towing pgs 96-99. Benz refuses to help resolve problem! Factory wiring has provided +12v (hot) to the brake controller wire when ever brake pedal is depressed (orange brake signal wire pg98). Conventional (after market brake controllers work by modulating this line voltage - this is why I cannot connect a brake controller. The vehicle is wired wrong. If an owner of a ml320 plugs a trailer with electric brakes to the factory installed harness plug - the trailer brakes overheat rapidly. I have tried repeatedly to get Benz to investigate - they say owner's problem. Please help!- don't let some innocent family loose controll of their boat or camper because Benz refuses to investigate their wiring error!
Engine & cooling
While driving vehicle stalled. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Dealership informed the consumer that the problem pertained to the engine timing chain. The problem was not resolved.
Vehicle stalls when vehicle hits bumps in the road. Dealer was notified. Dealer inspected the vehicle, informing owner to not put any keys in the ignition. Consumer request for more information regarding this subject.
Transmission & drivetrain
This is a correction to the submission made earlier this morning. Just like the GM cars that are currently being recalled, my car turned itself off while I was traveling at 60 MPH on a limited access road. Fortunately for myself and my passenger, traffic was light, I was in the right lane, and there was a wide shoulder. I could not restart the car, which had to be towed. The mechanic knew immediately what was wrong, and the same thing had happened to a Mercedes he repaired the week before.
Fuel guage does not register correct levels of fuel. Dealer replaced the fuel sending unit three times which did not correct the problem. Rear seats can not be unlatched to use cargo area and to relock properly. Exterior trim is falling off the door panel. The vehicle rattles from rear. A/C does not cool unless the recirculatory system is on. Sun roof have follen out. Transmission shifts hard and noisy. The latching mechanism on the seat belt assembly was not assembled correctly due to recall. The owner notified ofthe recall and the dealer fixed (99v-328).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320 a good car?
Based on 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 320 rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the 320 at the same age. It is one of the 320 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320?
The electrical system — 7 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz 320?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998 and 1999. See the full Mercedes-Benz 320 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 51,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.