Most common 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class problems
Share of the 38 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz E Class complaints by model year
Best E Class years: 1995, 1996, 2008. Years to avoid: 2003, 2000, 1997, 1998, 2001. Compare all years →
1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class recalls (1)
Air bags › Side/window
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles have experienced side air bag deployments in the absence of a crash.
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class:
Inadvertent side impact airbag deploymen
There is no summary currently available
Front suspension coil spring ejection
Odi has focused this investigation on assessing the risks posed by a separated spring as (1) a road hazard and (2) the potential for vehicle control to be compromised after the front coil spring has been ejected from its intended position in the vehicle.both risks are associated with corrosion, flexing, and fracture of the upper front suspension mounting bracket.time-in-service failure rates are notably higher in…
What 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class owners say
Suspension all 20 →
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 it breaks all of the way the entire front suspension will collapse. It is only happening to the right from and not the left belief is an improper weld or defective metal in the mount itself. My understanding is that it effects 96-98 cars so far. The dealers are not covering this under warranty. You can confirm how many cars are being affected by simply asking Mercedes how many of the right side supports they have sold in the last 18 months as opposed to the left side. …
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 week). 18 inch long suspension spring popped out of my car while moving. I could have been killed as car is uncontrollable after suspension gives out. Inexcusable design flaw that Mercedes knows is a daily problem for anyone with the 210 chassis (and the heavier engines (420, 430 etc.) where there is additional weight on the front suspension). Service rep at dealer even told me that he has seen it happen on the highway and knew exactly what was going on b/c he sees it so often. Luckily, the car he witnessed was able to get to the break-down lane/shoulder for safety. …
Body & structure
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 and he found that the spring perch was hanging on the frame by a thread of metal. Fortunately no one was hurt and no accident occurred. As it turns out this has happened to a number of cars like mine, it should be something that is recalled with out a doubt. Someone else's wife and baby could have been in a major accident if they did not have the sense to get this checked out.
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 compromises the airbag system in any way?
Windows, wipers & sunroof
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 normal use. Also the motors do not automatically shut off or stop when the window is all the way up or down, and can cause stress that is sufficient to break the plastic components and damage the device. The regulators are sold as one with the motor and can cost $165.00- $300.00.. Consumer installation of replacement regulators is difficult due to rivets holding units in place.. Thus causing labor charges of 100.00+ for repairs.
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 service dealer where it was determined that the window regulator had failed, and was subsequently replaced.
1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl diesel | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class a good car?
Based on 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 E Class rates use caution: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the E Class at the same age. It is one of the E Class 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 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class?
The suspension — 20 complaints, 53% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › springs › coil springs. Next are the body & structure (6) and windows, wipers & sunroof (3).
How many recalls does the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class, the most recent from November 28, 2000 (side/window). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz E Class?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1996 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2000, 1997, 1998 and 2001. See the full Mercedes-Benz E Class years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 90,000 miles; 4% 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.