Transmission complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Highway driving, cruise control set. Cruise control beeped, disengaged. Car continued to drive normally until I had to stop for a light. When light changed to green, the car would barely move - had no power, even though the rpms showed the engine running. Fortunately, I was near a gas station and was able to get off the road. This could have been very hazardous had it occurred in heavy traffic.... I pulled off the road, restarted the car and everything seemed to be fine. But this car basically left me sitting in the middle of the road and could have caused a serious accident if someone had been approaching me from the rear, or it was in the intersection at the time.
Transmission violently downshift several gears without warning .this causes skidding, throwing occupants violently toward the wind shield this happens when auto is in drive with speeds between 40-45 MPH. This unexpected lurching causes loss of control on wet and dry pavement. This defect has been reported to Mercedes Benz with no corrective action offered.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320. After fueling the vehicle and driving 65 MPH, the contact exited the highway. Upon releasing the brake pedal and applying the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate past 40 MPH. The vehicle stalled and all power was lost. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to Mercedes-Benz of marietta (810 cobb pkwy s, marietta, ga 30060 [phone]), but it was not diagnosed due to the age of the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to Mercedes-Benz of buckhead (2799 piedmont rd ne, atlanta, ga 30305 [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified and was awaiting a callback. The failure mileage was 166,000.
Electrical problems out of service 18 days, SRS/airbag failures out of service 18 days, ac/defrost blower motor failures out of service 12 days, brakes out of service 9 days, transmission (idle surge/up shifting/stalling) out of service 10 days, front end/tires out of service 10 days. During the lemon law final repair attempt, the dealer wrote on work order that they had installed new brakes because they found "after market brakes" on car. The only place the car has ever been serviced was the dealership where we purchased it. We asked the service advisor and assistant service manager (first they said the brakes were thrown out and then they said the parts were shipped to mb) and wrote two certified letters to Mercedes Benz for the removed parts so we could track the serial numbers. We were ignored. …
The shifter module is defective because after starting the engine, when in drive, it stays in 2nd gear only. To put the car in reverse, I must shut the engine. Otherwise I can't shift from d to n to r. The shifter will not move past neutral. To get to p or r, I must shut the engine. This is unsafe when trying to back into a city street parking. When the car is stationary, after starting it, once I shift from p to r & arrive at n, the shifter will not allow me to shift back into r without shutting the engine & then restarting it.
Driving south on i95 near savannah the dash lights including the brake light lit up on the dashboard and the vehicle began decelerating. Applied the emergency brake and was able to drive the vehicle to the shoulder. After the engine was shut off the vehicle could be started but could not get from park into a gear or even neutral. All four wheels were frozen and so getting the car on to the tow truck was almost impossible. Were towed to the nearest Mercedes dealership where the sbc system was replaced. This took over night as the part was not available at the dealership. Besides being greatly inconvenienced - we had to spend a night in a hotel, we could have been killed if this would have occurred at night. The car was serviced by Mercedes since purchase new in 2004. The part should have been identified during a service call, this obviously was a recall that was kept quiet. …
On June 6, 2013, while braking on approaching intersection, brakes failed and transmission locked. Mercedes customer assistance towed vehicle to dealer, m-b greenway, houston, tx, where the service advisor explained that the pressure reservoir of the sensotronic brake unit had failed and must be replaced at a cost of $1,350. I complained that the sbc unit was the subject of NHTSA safety recall 05v0133 and two mbusa recall campaigns (2005070007 and 2005110001) resulting in the extension of the original warranty to 10 years with no mileage limitation. The dealer refused to honor the warranty or replace the entire sbc unit, because the electronic diagnostic code required by mb USA, llc for a dealer to file a warranty claim under the NHTSA 05V033 campaign did not appear on the diagnostic equipment. …
I purchased a Mercedes-Benz E320 in June 2003 and have continued to have an issue involving uncontrolled acceleration and speed "surges" since September 2003. The condition seems to be more prevalent when the vehicle is approaching low speeds or in a downhill plane the dealership has attempted to repair the vehicle during five (5) service appointments and has acknowledged they are aware of the uncontrolled power, or acceleration, fluctuations. They have attempted to repair the vehicle using m-b advice; without success. M-b representatives have acknowledged this condition exists as well; but, that it is not a "warrantable defect." this "surging" has further developed into "bucking" on several occcasions causing loss of control of the vehicle. This condition appears to be similar to other complaints filed with the NHTSA regarding the E320 where the torque converter lock up is described. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz E320 years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (11), 2003 (11), 2005 (10), 2000 (7) and 2001 (6) model years. Transmission complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Mercedes-Benz E320 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Mercedes-Benz E320 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz E320 transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles; 36% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (22 mentions), followed by the driveline › driveshaft (3).
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.