Most common 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems
Share of the 203 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 →
2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 recalls (2)
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320:
Fuel Leakage From The Fuel Tank
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on January 23, 2012 as PE12-001 based on 20 consumer reports in model year (MY) 2003-2006 E55 AMG vehicles.Based on new reports in other E-Class vehicles, ODI upgraded the investigation to Engineering Analysis (EA) 13-003 on March 15, 2013, and expanded the scope to all E-Class vehicles through MY 2008.The complainants alleged a strong odor of…
What 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 117 →
I filled the gas tank full and on pulling in the garage could smell a strong smell of gasoline... Went to get my oil change the next day and the gentleman mentioned he could smell gas coming from my car at valvoline oil change.... Very strong smell in the interior of the car as well as when walking around the outside of the car you could smell a strong smell of gas... The gentleman from valvoline looked under the car and said there's some type of cover that goes underneath the gas tank itself and put his finger into it and could touch gasoline on his hand... I just went onto the internet and read many many complaints of the same thing with this type of car lawsuits have been filed... In those complaints the people that brought their car to dealership said that it was very expensive to remedy and that there should have been a recall... …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact stated that a fuel odor was perceived inside and outside the vehicle without warning. The vehicle was taken to the American service center dealer [phone], located at 624 s glebe rd, arlington, va 22204) where it was diagnosed that a canister valve and purge valve shut off and caused fuel to leak in the rear of the vehicle. Technician advised that the valves and the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The contact was told that there was no recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA action number: ea13003 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The VIN was not available.
Brakes all 50 →
SBC braking system stated as covered under 25 year/unlimited miles warranty. SBC system failed on 2/1/25. Vehicle towed to local dealer service facility on 2/3/25. Tow was authorized at no charge by MB Roadside Assistance at no charge plus $100.00 credit toward diagnostic. Was told by phone on 2/3/25 that upon confirmation that SBC did in fact fail, the SBC replacement would be performed at no charge due to warranty through 2028. As of 2/10/25 service facility did confirm that the SBC system had failed. Currently, MB USA has a HOLD pending for authorization of repairs, with no reason given as to why as of 2/13/25.
Total brake failure Had to cross the over to the other side of the road to turn around. Was almost hit by an oncoming big rig truck . I've looked it up and this is a common occurrence on these vehicles,! They have a SBC unit that has caused numerous incidents exactly like mine . Someone could easily be killed because of this defect. I've read that they extended the warranty for 25 years . But I haven't been notified. They notified me about a recall of the sun roof but not this!!
Electrical system
The TRUNK will not open. It is supposed to open by pressing the button on the key fob or taking the thin key out of the key fob and manually open the truck with the keyed lock. Neither method works. There is absolutely no way to open the trunk otherwise (i.e. inside button or lever). When the key fob button and the thin key do not work there is absolutely no way to open the truck. There is no way to access the lock from the trunk lid rear and there is no way to access the trunk from behind the back seat cushions. It is a very bad situation and dangerous.
The sunroof has a recall due to the fact that it has a bad seal, which could fly off due to this issue. I know the seal is bad because the whole roof leaked a few years ago and fried all the electronic; e.g. lights, sunroof controls, trunk light controls, side door controls. I went to the dealership and they said they would not fix it because they could not open the sunroof to see the manufacturer date on it.
2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 a good car?
Based on 203 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 E320 rates avoid: 3.7× 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 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320?
The fuel & propulsion system — 117 complaints, 58% of all complaints for this model year, most often about delivery › fuel pump. Next are the brakes (50) and electrical system (13).
How many recalls does the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320, the most recent from November 19, 2024 (sun/moon roof assembly). 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 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 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 14% 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.