1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class Problems
- Complaints
- 38filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles, 25 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns 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 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 38 consumer complaints for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class. The part named most often is suspension, with 20 complaints (53% of the total), followed by body and structure (6) and brakes (3). 25 of the complaints include a mileage, and 4% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 2 technical service bulletins for this model year. Body and structure complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.
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.
- Suspension20 53%
- Body and structure6 16%
- Brakes3 7.9%
- Air bags2 5.3%
- Electrical system2 5.3%
- Engine cooling1 2.6%
- Exterior lighting1 2.6%
- Fuel system1 2.6%
- Seats1 2.6%
Also reported: Steering (1).
Example complaints
Suspension: “I took my car into get the suspension fixed and was told that the spring perch that attached the spring to the car has rusted through and is about to break. Luckily I found it before I had a bad accident. I am in the process of checking with mercedes to see if they will stand by a poor design issue and repair it. I am amazed that someone has not contacted owners of older cars as this could be a very dangerous issue for those not fortunate to get things checked out. I am not driving the car until some decision is made.”
NHTSA complaint #10556553, filed 2013-12, 96,000 milesBody and structure: “I have a 1997 e420 mercedes that my wife and our one month old baby drive daily. Well she told me she heard some strange noises coming from the wheel area of the front left tire. I told her that she better let us have it checked out before driving the car anymore. I took the car to my mechanic and he found that the spring perch was hanging on the frame by a thread of metal. Fortunately no one was hurt and no accident occurred. As it turns out this has happened to a number of cars like mine, it should be something that is recalled with out a doubt. …”
NHTSA complaint #10224905, filed 2008-04, 144,000 milesBrakes: “The contact owns a 2003 mercedes benz e420. The contact was driving approximately 35 MPH in lightly drizzled weather conditions. There was a loss of steering control. The driver experienced difficulty in turning the steering wheel. Suddenly, pressure was applied to the brake pedal and the vehicle failed to slow down. The vehicle crashed into a utility pole. The police was called to the scene. The driver sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated the failure was related to the anti-lock brake vacuum booster system. …”
NHTSA complaint #10313837, filed 2010-02, 80,000 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “I have had to replace the rear window regulator assemblies 4 times. Twice on the passenger rear & twice on the drivers side rear window. Key pieces like pulleys and the actual parts that support the weight of the glass, in these assemblies are made with cheap plastic components that break under normal use. Also the motors do not automatically shut off or stop when the window is all the way up or down, and can cause stress that is sufficient to break the plastic components and damage the device. The regulators are sold as one with the motor and can cost $165.00- $300.00.. …”
NHTSA complaint #10064034, filed 2004-03, 49,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
4% of the 25 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 78,000 and 115,200 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
- 00V388000Nov 28, 2000Air bags › Side/windowCovers: Mercedes-Benz E Class 1997
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles have experienced side air bag deployments in the absence of a crash.
Recall details for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- RQ00013Inadvertent side impact airbag deploymenClosed · Jun 2, 2000
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 2 on record; the latest 2 are shown.
- 10136029Jun 20, 2014Equipment. SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink
- 10015071Apr 5, 2005Body and structure. Trunk lid opens or closes too quickly while operating with remote trunk lid control button.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz E Class
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 | 38,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 10 | 65,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 9 | 64,410 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 15 | 5,450 | 4 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2003 | 45 | 9,718 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 8 | 44,716 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 15 | 69,300 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2000 | 34 | 78,800 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 13 | 99,059 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 24 | 98,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1997 | 38 | 90,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 16 | 125,250 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1995 | 21 | 170,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1994 | 38 | 111,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 7 | 72,500 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Mercedes-Benz E Class model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class have?
NHTSA recorded 38 consumer complaints for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class is reported most often?
Suspension is named most often, in 20 complaints (53% of the total), followed by body and structure with 6.
Has the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class reported?
Among the 25 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 78,000 and 115,200 miles; 4% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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.