1998 Mercedes-Benz E Class Problems
- Complaints
- 24filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 98,000miles, 15 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 E Class (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E Class. The part named most often is suspension, with 7 complaints (29% of the total), followed by electrical system (4) and engine cooling (4). 15 of the complaints include a mileage, and 7% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 98,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 3 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
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.
- Suspension7 29%
- Electrical system4 17%
- Engine cooling4 17%
- Air bags1 4.2%
- Brakes1 4.2%
- Equipment1 4.2%
- Exterior lighting1 4.2%
- Fuel system1 4.2%
Also reported: Steering (1), Body and structure (1), Tires (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).
Example complaints
Suspension: “I am writing regarding an investigation into mercedes benz e300 (w210 chassis) failures. While driving on the massachusetts turnpike, route 90 on monday, my spring perch failed, broke away from the vehicle and was lost on the highway. The perch let go with a very loud bang, then a pronounced bump (presumably as the rear tire drove over the spring assembly.) the car suddenly dropped hard on the front right bump stops. Lots of warning lights - bas, asr, etc. I thought I blew a tire or hit some road damage. …”
NHTSA complaint #10247135, filed 2008-10, 201,500 milesElectrical system: “Approximately 10 minutes after first starting the car for the day and driving 5 or 6 miles on rural roads, I stopped at a traffic light for 20 or 30 seconds and then attempted to pull out on to the main highway. At first the car would not move until I had the accelerator pedal half way to the floor, and then it slowly responded with a very low level of power. Once out on the highway, I had to hold the accelerator pedal almost all the way to the floor in order to maintain 50 miles per hour. …”
NHTSA complaint #10018552, filed 2003-05, 55,500 milesEngine cooling: “Driving car at 55 miles per hour when harmonic balancer failed, lost power steering, was able to direct car to side of road. Had car towed to shop who diagnosed problem, suggesting it go to a mb dealer. Had car towed to dealer where”
NHTSA complaint #10121674, filed 2005-05, 70,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “Automatic transmission failure, stays on 1st. Gear (rough run). Took to authorized mbz repair station, they reset the computer and run approximately 450 miles ok and again the same problem. Went back and they flushed the transmission and reset again computer faults , run again for 75 miles and same problem, and so on.....”
NHTSA complaint #10145133, filed 2005-12, 139,500 milesMileage when problems were reported
7% of the 15 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 70,000 and 140,000 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 E Class 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
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. 3 on record; the latest 3 are shown.
- 10136029Jun 20, 2014Equipment. SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink
- 10015377Jun 4, 2008Exterior lighting. Revised repair procedure and additional applicable models. Model 170, 202, 208 and 210 models. Front fog lamp(s) inoperative. Mercedes-benz. *tt model years: 1994-2004. Updated 09/09/08.
- 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 1998 Mercedes-Benz E Class have?
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E Class as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E Class is reported most often?
Suspension is named most often, in 7 complaints (29% of the total), followed by electrical system with 4.
Has the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E Class 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 E Class reported?
Among the 15 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 98,000 miles and the middle half falls between 70,000 and 140,000 miles; 7% 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.