Most common 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems
Share of the 83 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 1999 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 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 owners say
Engine & cooling
Consumer 1999 E320 had transmission problems and caught on fire with 110,000 miles on it. The consumer stated the transmission problems started when the vehicle only had 55,000 miles. Before the fire, the vehicle had a tire leak and a defective lamp assembly.
Crankshaft balancer failure- Mercedes E320 1999 (from individual experiences of several Mercedes customers with 320 v6 engine on w210 platform and others). Around 72000 miles, my vehicle crank shaft balancer pulley started sperating a thick black rubber ring, which is sandwiched between the cranksfat and the serpentine belt pulley on the outside, belt burning smell and clicking noise which quickly turned into a knocking noise recognized as I was driving at very low speed, luckily. I parked the vehicle and checkd the engine bay, to find a fallen off piece of crank shaft balancer pulley (it made a thud when it came off while dirving). It could have easilycaused flying object damage if I were driving at higher speed. I took it to the dealer and got it fixed, worth 421 dollars. …
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact felt a vibration coming from the vehicle and the driver and passenger side curtain air bags and front driver side door air bag erroneously deployed. The driver sustained a concussion and injuries to the face, neck, and shoulders, which required hospitalization. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed from the scene. There was no crash. The vehicle was examined by the manufacturer who determined that the front universal joint and driveshaft fractured, which caused the air bag sensor to erroneously activate and deploy the air bags. The manufacturer and local dealer (Mercedes-Benz of greenwich, 261 west putnam ave, greenwich, ct) were notified. The failure mileage was 125,000. The VIN was invalid.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Mercedes E320. While driving 65 MPH on the highway, the vehicle began to drift to the far left. The driver attempted to sway the vehicle into the opposite direction to avoid hitting a passing vehicle which caused the vehicle to swerve into an embankment where the vehicle flipped over twice. Neither the front driver's or passenger's side air bags deployed. The police and emt arrived and the driver was hospitalized. The driver sustained injuries to neck, hands, head and shoulders. The police determined that cause of the crash was a result of his passenger rear tire being flat. The cause of the flat was unknown. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were under 140,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact felt a vibration coming from the vehicle and the driver and passenger side curtain air bags and front driver side door air bag erroneously deployed. The driver sustained a concussion and injuries to the face, neck, and shoulders, which required hospitalization. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed from the scene. There was no crash. The vehicle was examined by the manufacturer who determined that the front universal joint and driveshaft fractured, which caused the air bag sensor to erroneously activate and deploy the air bags. The manufacturer and local dealer (Mercedes-Benz of greenwich, 261 west putnam ave, greenwich, ct) were notified. The failure mileage was 125,000. The VIN was invalid.
Consumer 1999 E320 had transmission problems and caught on fire with 110,000 miles on it. The consumer stated the transmission problems started when the vehicle only had 55,000 miles. Before the fire, the vehicle had a tire leak and a defective lamp assembly.
1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 a good car?
Based on 83 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 E320 rates avoid: 2.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the E320 at the same age. It is one of the E320 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 E320?
The engine & cooling — 18 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline › belts and associated pulleys. Next are the air bags (17) and transmission & drivetrain (11).
How many recalls does the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 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 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 18% 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.