Most common 2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems
Share of the 38 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 →
What 2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 owners say
Electrical system
Engine caught on fire while vehicle was idling in park in the driveway. Completely destroyed the vehicle in 10-15 minutes. Fire started under the hood. I believe that there was an electrical problem that induced the fire but unable to be sure. Photos are available if needed. The car was in good maintenance, no engine work had been done recently. Last repair was a transmission fluid replacement after repairing a transmission fluid leak in early December 2018
Tl* - the contact ownsw a 2001 Mercedes E320. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in the garage when she started to smell fumes. The contact could not find where the fumes were coming from. She then called the fire department. The fire department found that the vehicle was the cause of the fumes and had caught on fire. Then, they extinguished the fire. The vehicle was a totaled. The contact called the dealership, and they offered no solution and have yet to fully inspect the vehicle to find out the cause of the fire. The fire department stated that an electrical failure was a possible cause of the fire.
Air bags
I was pulling into a parking stall at work and about to come to a stand still and all of a sudden the car accelerated jumped the curb and continued to accelerate despite application of the brakes until it crashed into a wall. The airbag deployed and there was leakage of radiator fluid on the ground. I had taken the car to the local Mercedes dealer on 2 occasions because the check engine light came on . The first time the problem was apparently fixed but the check engine light come on again within 24 hrs of the first repair so I took the car back to the dealer the same day. This time the car was kept for 5 days because they could not get the check engine light to go off . The car was checked for vacuum leaks but none was found. The report from the dealer read the mass air flow sensor had a 113 part number but should be 112 part number. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the passenger's side air bag and side curtain air bags inadvertently deployed without warning or impact. The contact pulled off to the shoulder to inspect the vehicle and saw that there was no damage to the vehicle. A police report was not filed. The contact had not suffered injuries. The contact drove the vehicle home after the failure. Mercedes-Benz of bellevue (11850 bel-red rd, bellevue, wa 98005) was contacted and the contact was informed that an investigator would contact him to discuss the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 231,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
I was pulling into a parking stall at work and about to come to a stand still and all of a sudden the car accelerated jumped the curb and continued to accelerate despite application of the brakes until it crashed into a wall. The airbag deployed and there was leakage of radiator fluid on the ground. I had taken the car to the local Mercedes dealer on 2 occasions because the check engine light came on . The first time the problem was apparently fixed but the check engine light come on again within 24 hrs of the first repair so I took the car back to the dealer the same day. This time the car was kept for 5 days because they could not get the check engine light to go off . The car was checked for vacuum leaks but none was found. The report from the dealer read the mass air flow sensor had a 113 part number but should be 112 part number. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mercedes Benz 320e. While attempting to accelerate, the contact heard a loud noise and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was awaiting the results from the diagnostic test. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileage was 55,000. The VIN was unavailable.
2001 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 2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 a good car?
Based on 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 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 2001 Mercedes-Benz E320?
The electrical system — 13 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the air bags (7) and transmission & drivetrain (6).
How many recalls does the 2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 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 2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 93,000 miles; 25% 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.