1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 80%of 5 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 133,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420, 80% of the 5 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 133,500 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The mercedes benz e-420 electrical wiring was manufactured from biodegradable materials. After several years the insulation on the wiring harness began to deteriorate and fail. This lead to a cycle of increasingly severe electrical problems also lead to the safety on freeway where the other driver can not see my brake lights when I am braking due to this wiring issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10463407, filed 2012-06, 132,000 miles“My 1997 mercedes benz E420 went in to limp mode with no warning while merging on to 65 MPH traffic, almost causing an accident. It failed to shift with no warning”
NHTSA complaint #10937153, filed 2016-12, 142,000 miles“The contact owns a 1997 mercedes benz E420. After stopping, the vehicle failed to shift out of low gear. In addition, when the vehicle was started, the radio failed to operate and the doors failed to lock. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 135,000. Updated 3/17/15 updated 8/18/2015”
NHTSA complaint #10671831, filed 2015-01, 135,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10186142Dec 9, 2020Unmotivated Reaction from Park Assist - model series 213 facelift / 238 facelift with option code 235 (active par- king assist) and option code 501 (surround view system)
- 10179951Jul 20, 2020AIRMATIC Fault Message "Max 80 km/ h (50 mph) " In Instrument Cluster
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4 | 80% |
Other parts of the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology