Most common 2006 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems
Share of the 41 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 →
2006 Mercedes-Benz E320 recalls (4)
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 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021.
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 2006 Mercedes-Benz E320:
Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the…
What 2006 Mercedes-Benz E320 owners say
Brakes
Vehicle had a blow out on highway. Pull onto right shoulder doing about 60mph. Pressed the brakes and would not stop. Kept pressing brake and pumping the brakes and would not stop. was going around 50mph on the shoulder. After 15 seconds of pressing the brakes, car decided to brake. Checked brake lines, brake fluid and everything was correct and not leaking and drove the car back home slowly with spare on. ESP and ABS error came on. No other warning came on.
In January 2018, my car had developed sbc malfunction issues and I took it to the and they quoted me $ 2,700+/- to fix the issue. I then called mb USA and they told me that the sbc unit warranty was extended for 10yrs and that I had just crossed that limit. I then reached out to a private mechanic who agreed to replace the unit for $865 (please see the attached receipt). I was able to purchase the sbc unit from mb of clear lake for $1,045.70 . Thus, I was able to get the car repair and save my self about $1,000 as mb was not covering its repair. On September 2018 I received a letter from mb USA, indicating that the cost of the repair is reimbursable. I reached out to the dealer and provided all the documents that they requested. However, I was told the repair can be reimbursed only if it was done by an authorized dealer. …
Fuel & propulsion system
Persistent smell of diesel in cabin after filling tank. Leak isolated to right side (passenger side) fuel sender cap under rear seats. Same as gasoline versions, this really happens in the cdi or diesel versions as well. The warranty extension/recall should apply to these cars as well!
Fuel is leaking out of my E320 cdi, there is also an intense fuel smell, it appears to be the same exact issue that the NHTSA previously ordered Mercedes to replace the fuel tanks on all 2003-2009 e-class Mercedes, but Mercedes says it only applies to gasoline engines.
Air bags
I was involved in an accident sat. April 9, 2016. I struck another vehicle that was stopped dead still in the road. My air bags did not deploy . I was traveling at a speed over 30 miles an hour but less than 45 MPH and the impact was dead on, no glancing blow. The accident happened on a state highway about 10 p.m.
My airbags self deployed while I was driving. I had just left work and driving northbound on the west sam houston tollway approaching the toll station at highway speeds. There was an incredibly loud explosion and and hard percussion as the airbags self deployed while I was driving. I thought I had been punched or shot in the gut. The passenger side curtain dropped down and the right rear passenger side door bag deployed. The seatbelt around my waist and shoulder tightened. Fortunately, I kept it together and drove directly to the dealership. I had not hit anything, run over a pothole, swerved or otherwise make any sudden direction change. I was immediately called by an operator on the Mercedes emergency system within the car. So Mercedes is aware of the incident at the time it happened. She asked if I needed an ambulance or police. …
2006 Mercedes-Benz E320 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 23 / 33 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E320 a good car?
Based on 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 E320 rates use caution: 1.4× 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz E320?
The brakes — 17 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (9) and air bags (6).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E320 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2006 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 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.