Most common 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems
Share of the 37 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 2 possible defects involving the 1998 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…
Engine crankshaft pulley failure
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this preliminary evaluation to investigate allegations of engine crankshaft pulley harmonic balancer failure that could result in loss of power-steering assist.odi has received a total of 546 non-duplicative reports that allege engine crankshaft pulley harmonic balancer failure on all Mercedes-Benz vehicles using the subject component.the subject component failures…
What 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 owners say
Engine & cooling
On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 4:45 pm, an attendant at sam's club gas pumps, tulsa hills shopping center, tulsa, OK, overflowed the gas tank, creating a spill large enough that absorbent materials was used to soak up the gas on the pavement (video available from sam's). Upon leaving, the engine died before exiting the station. Restarted and died again at the first traffic light about 1/4 mile away. Restarted and abnormal noises were heard during the next mile and while stopped at a traffic light, there was a large explosion under the hood, producing lots of black smoke but no extended fire. Local police helped in removing the car from traffic and later loading the car on a wrecker. The description from the mbz repair facility gave this explanation and repaired the car at a cost of $2,600. …
1998 Mercedes E320 at different times, the driver and passenger doors locked by themselves while the vehicle was running. In June of 2003 the consumer heard a loud noise from the engine, the vehicle was taken to a mechanic, who immediately diagnosed the problem as the crankshaft dampner which was in pieces, the rubber drive belt damaged the engine front cover and engine oil pan. In September 2003 the doors unlocked by themselves while the consumer driving and was unable to lock them manually, also when the consumer turned the vehicle off the windows rolled down by themselves and the doors locked by themselves. …
Suspension
While driving in traffinc east along haddonfield berlin road in cherry hill nj, I was slowing to a stop approaching a red light at evsham road. As I pressed the brake pedal, there was a loud bang and grinding sound from the front end that ended with a loud clank on the ground. After which I saw the spring from my driver's side on the road behind me in my rear view mirror. Driving was not affected, not was steering. However we came to find that the panel containing the driver's side spring perch had rusted and then torn away from the bod, thus releasing the front spring. After doing some research this appears to be a known problem with mbusa, but not a recall issue. My insurance company is refusing repairs due to their view of this as being a "maintenance issue."
Some rust damage has been observed on the body of the car for quite some time, but no Mercedes mechanics suggested it was structural or dangerous. Recently, a loud creaking noise from the front right tire began to occur when driving, especially when subjected to bumps, even at very low speeds. By removing the tire, we discovered that the creaking was from the poorly designed suspension cap, which had rusted and broken partially off, bending the spring against the axle. This damage is extremely dangerous, as no Mercedes mechanics identified the rust at this point, and if the cap snapped off, the entire wheel carriage would break. If the car had been operating at high speeds, this kind of failure, which could occur instantly when subjected to a normal shock impact, could cause a serious or fatal accident. …
Body & structure
Some rust damage has been observed on the body of the car for quite some time, but no Mercedes mechanics suggested it was structural or dangerous. Recently, a loud creaking noise from the front right tire began to occur when driving, especially when subjected to bumps, even at very low speeds. By removing the tire, we discovered that the creaking was from the poorly designed suspension cap, which had rusted and broken partially off, bending the spring against the axle. This damage is extremely dangerous, as no Mercedes mechanics identified the rust at this point, and if the cap snapped off, the entire wheel carriage would break. If the car had been operating at high speeds, this kind of failure, which could occur instantly when subjected to a normal shock impact, could cause a serious or fatal accident. …
I was driving my 1998 e-320 down a main road at about 45 MPH when my front spring came off the frame and fell off my car, causing the hole front end to drop and the car to lose control. I went off the road into a ditch, my front end bounced off the ground, my neck and back are hurt, and my exhaust sounds messed up now too. I checked the Mercedes Benz forum and this is a common problem on the w210 chassis, I am going to contact the dealer, on Monday when they re-open, and at the very least I would expect them to fix it because it should have been a recall type deal, and it is very dangerous. That's all I want to report please e-mail me and let me know if you need any further info, thanks -brian ronca
1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 a good car?
Based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 E320 rates average: about as many complaints as 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 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the suspension (7) and body & structure (5).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 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 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 16% 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.