1997 Mercedes Benz E420

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Electrical system4
2. Seat belts2
3. Engine and engine cooling1
4. Exterior lighting1
5. Fuel/propulsion system1
6. Power train1

Latest complaints

• Mar 23, 2018CT
  Seat belts · Seat belts › Pretensioner

  1997 mercedes benz E-420. consumer writes in regards to vehicle seat belt malfunction. *smd the consumer stated the seat belt inadvertently tightened causing the consumers' head to hit the back of the seat. The consumer had a throbbing head pain. The air bag light illuminated after the incident occurred. *Js

• Dec 22, 2016WV142,000 mi
  Electrical system · Fuel/propulsion system

  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

• Jan 12, 2015TN135,000 mi
  Electrical system · Power train

  TL* 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*cn updated 8/18/2015 *js

• Jun 28, 2012VA132,000 mi
  Electrical system › Wiring · Exterior lighting

  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. *tr

• Dec 23, 2011RI125,000 miFire
  Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling

  Cockpit smelt like smoke, became hard to see. pulled over and turned the engine off. very scary. IS there a recall on this issues? *tr

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 10186142Unmotivated 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)
• 10186135If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit
• 10181124Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R
• 10181123Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D
• 10179951AIRMATIC Fault Message "Max 80 km/ h (50 mph) " In Instrument Cluster
• 10167525Apple products (iPhone or iPod) are not charged via the serial USB interface of the COMAND Online control unit (A40/3) in the stowage compartment of the center console.
• 10167000Surface damage on steering wheel trim
• 10166976Message in instrument cluster "DISTRONIC PLUSCurrently Unavailable - See Owner's Manual"
• 10166090Possible complaints: 1. Memory function of electric seat fore/aft adjustment not functioning. 2. Seat fore/aft adjustment with easy entry/exit feature not functioning. 3. Head restraint presetting not functioning. 4. Seat fore/aft adjustment can only be adjusted for 2 sec with the seat adjustment switch (seat can only be adjusted in longitudinal direction in fits and starts). 5. Function "Collision avoidance when folding down the rear seat backrest" not functioning (seat fails to move forward when the rear seat backrest is folded down).
• 10151959Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises
• 10151948Display of suspension setting in head unit implausible
• 10151924Liftgate intermittently does not open fully
• 10135628iPhone mobile phone: Various complaints after software update to iOS8
• 10135598Engine diagnosis warning lamp lights up in instrument cluster, fault code U145400: "Implausible data were received from the ethanol sensor"

Every Mercedes Benz E420 model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.