Suspension. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

63 reports

113,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009

Seat Belts

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES E320. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SEPARATED. THE NEXT DAY THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED IDENTICALLY. THE SEAT BELTS NO LONGER WORK PROPERLY. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT THE SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE WAS CONTAMINATED. THE REPAIR COST $3400.00. THE DEALER WILL NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE SEAT BELTS ARE REPAIRED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113000.

NHTSA ODI #10291167

110,800 miles · Aug 28, 2009

Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT BRACE SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110800.

NHTSA ODI #10282090

90,000 miles · Jun 25, 2009

Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS ONE INJURY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES…

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NHTSA ODI #10274987

171,000 miles · Dec 22, 2008

Seat Belts

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E 320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS INSTANTLY LOCKED AND SECURED THE OCCUPANTS. THIS CAUSED EXTREME DISCOMFORT FOR THE OCCUPANTS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE SEAT BELTS. THE SEAT BELT RETRACT MECHANISM FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE EMERGENCY LOCK RETRACTORS (ELR). THE EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR ONLY ACTIVATES DURING A CRASH OR SUDDEN STOP, NOT NORMAL DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 171,000.

NHTSA ODI #10252563

112,000 miles · Mar 27, 2008

Suspension

DRIVING MY 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320 AT 30 MPH ALONG A SEMI-ROUGH ROAD WHEN A LOUD CLANKING BEGAN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AFTER A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SPRING PERCH HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE CHASSIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222482

190,000 miles · Nov 8, 2007

Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E 320. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MACPHERSON STRUT FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 190,000.

NHTSA ODI #10208444

132,000 miles · Oct 11, 2007

Suspension

FRONT SPRING PERCH ARE RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES OF CAR. FRONT LEFT SPRING PERCH IS ABOUT 50% RUSTED THRU. MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP FELT CAR SHOULD BE DRIVEN CAREFULLY. SAID HITTING A BIG POT HOLE COULD BREAK SPRING PERCH. REPAIR REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205456

103,000 miles · May 27, 2007

Suspension

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MY HUSBAND & I WERE OUTSIDE AND HEARD A LOUD CRASH. MY MERCEDES FELL TO THE GROUND ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. IT TOOK 2 JACKS TO LIFT IT UP. WITH THE TIRE OFF HE FOUND THE SPRING PERCH COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF, THE SPRING AND HOLDER ON THE GROUND. OUR FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD WITH MY SON WHEN IT HAPPENED. WE DID A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE MORE COMMON THAT WE COULD IMAGINE. THE DEFECT EVEN PROMPTED A RECALL IN CANADA. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR WITH 103K+ MILES. ORIGINALLY IT WAS PURCHASED IN NC BUT I HAVE LIVED IN MN FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW & DRIVE AN SUV IN THE WINTER. I CALLED MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN I FOUND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CLOSED. THEY SAID THEY COULD TOW IT TUESDAY & HAVE IT ASSESSED BUT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY IT WOULD BE UP TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE WHAT TO DO AND HOW MUCH TO CHARGE. THE DEFECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED IN THE US. MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THE ISSUES & DEALERS ARE PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK. I BOUGHT THIS CAR B/C THE 1997 CONSUMER REPORTS RATED IT THE BEST CAR MONEY COULD BUY AND SAFETY WAS THE ONLY REASON I WAS WILLING TO PAY SO MUCH. I WAS ALMOST KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT AND WANTED THE BEST FOR MY UNBORN CHILD. THE BEST COULD HAVE KILLED US TODAY. I WOULD LIKE OTHERS TO BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE & I WOULD LIKE IT DOCUMENTED SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WILL BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG, AS I WAS TODAY WHEN THE LADY PUT ME ON HOLD & NEVER CAME BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10191832

81,000 miles · Mar 4, 2007

Suspension

WHEN I CHANGED TIRES TODAY (MARCH 4, 2007), I FOUND SEVERE CORROSION/RUST ON THE FRONT SPRING PERCHES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE PERCH WAS ALREADY RUSTED THROUGH ON ONE SIDE. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. IT IS IN MY GARAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES WITH MERCEDES W210 BODY ST…

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NHTSA ODI #10184179

154,000 miles · Jan 19, 2007

Suspension

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TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E320. ON 12/30/06 WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE COIL SPRING FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH NO FRONT END SUSPENSION AND NO ABILITY TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT, HE WAS DRIVING ON A WIDE ROAD, AND NO ACCIDENT ENSUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED, BUT THAT THE CONTACT NEVER REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPRING PERCH NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE HAS NO SPRING PUSHING IT DOWN ANYMORE. NEITHER THE WEATHER NOR THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE A FACTOR IN THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154000. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10179134

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE07021 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Ejection

Opened Apr 19, 2007 · Closed Aug 9, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

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 SALT BELT STATES SINCE CORROSION IS A PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FAILURE MODE.SINCE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, ODI IS SKEPTICAL THAT OWNERS CAN ALWAYS DETECT THE SUBTLE SIDE TO SIDE DIFFERENCE IN RIDE HEIGHT AND/OR INSPECT OR NOTICE THAT THE UPPER SUSPENSION BRACKET HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY CORROSION.(1) ROAD HAZARD - ALTHOUGH THE (APPROX. 7 LB.) FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING THAT MAY BE EJECTED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD POSE A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD TO PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES, THE OCCURRENCE RATE HAS BEEN LOW (.03% BASED ON 51 REPORTED INCIDENTS OCCURRING AND AN INITIAL POPULATION OF 172,781 VEHICLES AFTER 9 - 12 YEARS OF USE / EXPOSURE) AND THERE ARE NO KNOWN INJURIES, FATALITIES, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE REPORTS DUE TO AN EJECTED SPRING.ALSO, MANY OF THE 51 INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OR PARKED.(2) VEHICLE CONTROL - VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL COULD BE AFFECTED BY THE FRACTURE OF THE UPPER SUSPENSION MOUNT AND/OR THE ASSOCIATED SPRING EJECTION.ODI FIRST IDENTIFIED ITS CONCERN ABOUT CORROSION IN THE UPPER SUSPENSION BRACKET OF SUBJECT VEHICLES IN 2002, AT WHICH TIME MERCEDES PROVIDED A VIDEO THAT SHOWED THAT A VEHICLE COULD BE STEERED, STOPPED, AND CONTROLLED THROUGH VARIOUS MANEUVERS AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH A FRONT COIL SPRING COMPLETELY MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. DURING PE07-021, IN ADDITION TO REVIEWING THE 2002 VIDEO-TAPE, ODI ENGINEERS DROVE AN EXEMPLAR VEHICLE WITH THE SPRING REMOVED AND SIMULATED VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF STEERING ANGLES TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE WERE ANY POSSIBLE CONDITIONS / DISPLACEMENTS IN WHICH THE SEPARATED SPRING MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE WHEELS. IN A VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT SPRING REMOVED, THE TOP OF THE WHEEL CAN LIGHTLY CONTACT THE BOTTOM AREA OF THE WHEEL FENDER DURING HIGH ANGLE TURNS TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SLOWER SPEED MANEUVERS SUCH AS CITY DRIVING. THE LIGHT TIRE CONTACT GENERATED AN OBVIOUS GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD LIKELY ABRADE OR BEND THE EDGE OF THE FENDER WITH CONTINUED USE.HOWEVER, THE EXTENT OF THE INTERFERENCE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO AFFECT VEHICLE STEERING AND DOES NOT OCCUR AT SMALLER TURNING ANGLES ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHWAY DRIVING.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING THAT A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.