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Mercedes-Benz E320Model year report

1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 Problems

Complaints
45filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
110,000miles, 29 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.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.2L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 45 consumer complaints for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320. The part named most often is suspension, with 19 complaints (42% of the total), followed by electrical system (12) and air bags (5). 29 of the complaints include a mileage, and 10% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 110,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 30 technical service bulletins for this model year. Suspension complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins 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.

Also reported: Tires (1).

Example complaints

Suspension: “I was driving down a back road in my 1996 mercedes E320 when I heard a bang and the passenger front side dropped. The front coil spring had popped out. If I had been going any faster I would have lost control of the car. I have heard that the front coil spring mounts in this model corrode due to improper undercoating.”

NHTSA complaint #10454818, filed 2012-04, 131,000 miles

Electrical system: “I have a 1996 E320 and the first thing to go was the condenser fan, when you turn the AC on its the fans that help keep your car cool, but then that went out and my car would run hot if I constantly ran AC. Then my AC blower just went out one day. Then I took it to a mercedes specialist and he noticed that the wiring harness was frail and worn. He called my car a time bomb and said it would be a matter of time before it died on me. But I thought that mercedes last a long time. …”

NHTSA complaint #10162824, filed 2006-07, 138,000 miles

Air bags: “I lost control of the car at the end of a freeway off ramp on a rainy day and went off the road into an embankment and after one spin bounced into a utility pole, hitting the car on the driver side. The driver side door was pushed into the steering wheel. The car is a total loss. None of the air bags front or side deployed, which in view of the nature and magnitude of the impact is unbelievable.”

NHTSA complaint #10104354, filed 2004-12, 85,753 miles

Body and structure: “Front spring perches must have been rusted at the welding seam. When I was driving at 35 MPH I heard a big snap and the front of the car hit the ground at which point I lost steering control. The front perches must have dislodged and almost caused accident while I was driving. This is a vital part of the suspension/steering system and should be recalled. The dealership would not help out replacing this part. This is clearly a manufacturing issue and should be recalled. …”

NHTSA complaint #10265591, filed 2009-04, 134,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

10% of the 29 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 70,000 and 135,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2510%25–5017%50–7514%75–10041%100–15017%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (29 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 110,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’02’04’066’08’10’13’18
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
E320 RWD3.2L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172419$4,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 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.

NHTSA investigations

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. 30 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 30 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz E320

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2009862,2093—26—Not enough data
200810120,0003—26—Not enough data
20071785,5514—26—Falling
20064191,4684—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200523185,5003—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200420396,5002—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200321499,8502—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20022385,9920—21—Falling
20013889,5000—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200044155,0000—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19998385,0000—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19983799,9000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199763115,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Rising
199645110,0000—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199596107,5000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199411146,7540—19—Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz E320 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 have?

NHTSA recorded 45 consumer complaints for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 19 complaints (42% of the total), followed by electrical system with 12.

Has the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 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.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 get?

The EPA rates the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 (E320, 3.2L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 reported?

Among the 29 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 110,000 miles and the middle half falls between 70,000 and 135,000 miles; 10% 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. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.