1998 Mercedes-Benz 320 Problems
- Complaints
- 39filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 104,500miles, 6 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320. The part named most often is visibility, with 6 complaints (15% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (5) and fuel system (5). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 104,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Exterior lighting5 13%
- Fuel system5 13%
- Steering5 13%
- Brakes4 10%
- Engine cooling4 10%
- Seats3 7.7%
- Body and structure3 7.7%
- Suspension3 7.7%
Also reported: Air bags (2), Electrical system (1), Equipment (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Trnsmission failure. Also, repeated failure of windows and electric seats rear entry and brake lights, indicate serious problem with this car. Warranty covers the repairs, but the problems persist. I have never heard of a car having so many problems. What do you know about the 1998 320 clk? What can I do about this?”
NHTSA complaint #720630, filed 2000-03Exterior lighting: “Car started burning out light bulbs and horns, 25 incidents, from 02/15/1998 to 03/06/2002. Two dealers were unable to fix the problem. Lights included tail lights/ headlights/ fog lights/ side markers. I have seen other mb e320's in the dealers for same reason.”
NHTSA complaint #759770, filed 2002-03Fuel system: “While driving 30 MPH, vehicle lost all power, stopping all of a sudden, and failing in middle of road. Owner said she almost was struck in the rear. Dealership inspected vehicle, and found that fuel pump was the cause. This was her third replacement. Please describe details.”
NHTSA complaint #8017660, filed 2002-08Steering: “The vehicle was taken to the dealer for maintenance and the mechanic noticed that power steering needed to be replaced because an essential part was missing. There was low fluid. Further examination revealed that the power steering cylinder leaked into the boot.”
NHTSA complaint #10046094, filed 2004-02, 89,941 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 92,200 and 115,287 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz 320
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 11 | 47,631 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 17 | 52,737 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2000 | 17 | 92,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1999 | 30 | 51,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 39 | 104,500 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 19 | 190,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1996 | 14 | 108,921 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 29 | 85,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 49 | 136,202 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Mercedes-Benz 320 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320 have?
NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320 is reported most often?
Visibility is named most often, in 6 complaints (15% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 5.
Has the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320 reported?
Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 104,500 miles and the middle half falls between 92,200 and 115,287 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.