Most common 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems
Share of the 45 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz E320 complaints by model year
Best E320 years: 2008, 2009, 2002. Years to avoid: 2005, 2004, 2003, 1999, 1997. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320:
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 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 owners say
Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the front end of the vehicle suddenly shook and vibrated before collapsing. During the incident, the front driver side suspension spring separated from the vehicle and caused a puncture to the fuel tank. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Mercedes E320. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the front end suspension springs fractured, causing the contact to loose control of the vehicle. The contact crashed into the side rail on the highway. The contact spoke with a mechanic who stated that he had never experienced the type of failure described. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 67,000.
Electrical system
This vehicle (1996 Mercedes E320) has had a history of electrical problems over the past several years. Many repairs have been made to the vehicle electrical systems at great expense! This time the vehicle would not start and I was investigating the cause myself. Troubleshooting revealed a defective wiring harness assembly from the electrical system connection in the left front of the engine compartment to the park/neutral safety switch on the transmission and to the starter. This harness also includes connections to the starter and sensors on the transmission. All wires in the entire harness have crumbled insulation and have shorted together. This caused shorting and burning of the wires and damage to other system components. I have been a mechanic for 15+ years and it is obvious that the harness assemblies on this vehicle are of poor quality and subject to failure. …
I have a 1996 E320 and the first thing to go was the condenser fan, when you turn the ac on its the fans that help keep your car cool, but then that went out and my car would run hot if I constantly ran ac. Then my ac blower just went out one day. Then I took it to a Mercedes specialist and he noticed that the wiring harness was frail and worn. He called my car a time bomb and said it would be a matter of time before it died on me. But I thought that Mercedes last a long time. And then, about a month later, my check engine light came on and my car began shaking from time to time and I lost a lot of power to it. Sometimes I would have to pull over and turn the car off and then turn it back on to stop the shaking. He also said that it would cost about $1000 to replace and that it was a bad design by Mercedes. …
Engine & cooling
Tl contact owns a 1996 Mercedes e 320. The contact was driving approximately 10 MPH, black smoke circulated throughout the air vents inside the vehicle. The contact shifted the gear into park and exited the vehicle. Immediately, the vehicle engulfed into flames and was completely destroyed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The manufacturer was notified and sent an investigator to inspect the vehicle. The investigator stated "there was no product defect regarding the fire". The contact requested the incident report of the investigation and the manufacturer had not provided the information at the time of the complaint. The contact stated the cause of failure was electrical; and life threatening. The failure mileage was 95,000.
Engine and engine cooling:engine the drive belt pulley on the engine is develop fatigue cracks in the metal and break. The drive pulley breaks, the car would not have engine cooling, battery charging, and/or power steering. Consequence: loss of these systems can cause the car to over heat, lose power from the battery, and loss of control of the car increasing the potential for a vehicle accident I took it to the dealership, and they said that there is no recall on the car and they can not help me so nothing was done to correct the failure.
1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 a good car?
Based on 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 E320 rates average: 21% fewer complaints than a typical year of the E320 at the same age. 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 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320?
The suspension — 19 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › springs › coil springs. Next are the electrical system (12) and engine & cooling (5).
How many recalls does the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz E320?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2009 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2004, 2003, 1999 and 1997. See the full Mercedes-Benz E320 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 110,000 miles; 10% 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.