Engine
3.2L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 78 of 83 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 50 of 83 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Engine & cooling
19 complaint records1 fire report
"HARMONIC BALANCER (CRANKSHAFT PULLEY) IS SEPARATING, CREATING NOISE AND POTENTIALLY LOST OF POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING. *JB..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Air bags
17 complaint records2 fire reports8 crash reports
"CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. UPON IMPACT, SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse air bags parts in the directory →
Power train
11 complaint records1 fire report
"TRANSMISSION WILL LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING, AND WILL NOT ALLOW CONSUMER TO GO MORE THEN 40 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE07021 opened Apr 2007 | closed Aug 2007 | Suspension | FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING EJECTION ODI HAS FOCUSED THIS INVESTIGATION ON ASSESSING THE RISKS POSED BY A SEPARATED SPRING AS (1) A ROAD HAZARD AND (2) THE POTENTIAL FOR VEHICLE CONTROL TO BE COMPROMISED AFTER THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IN THE VEHICLE.BOTH... |
| PE03058 opened Dec 2003 | closed Apr 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE... |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI54.30-P-072145 Dec 2020 | Electrical System | NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock | |
| LI42.47-P-067502 Dec 2020 | Service Brakes | If 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 | |
| LI54.65-P-072065 Dec 2020 | Electrical System | Unmotivated 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) | |
| LI27.50-P-071658 Sep 2020 | Power Train | Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R | |
| LI27.50-P-049281 Sep 2020 | Power Train | Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D |
Show 27 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI32.22-P-071495 Jul 2020 | Electrical System | AIRMATIC Fault Message "Max 80 km/ h (50 mph) " In Instrument Cluster | |
| LI91 45-P-066075 Jul 2018 | Seat Belts | Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises | |
| LI54 30-P-068430 Jul 2018 | Electronic Stability Control | Display of suspension setting in head unit implausible | |
| LI72 20-P-068322 Jul 2018 | Structure | Liftgate intermittently does not open fully | |
| Reporting Apr 2016 | Equipment | Enclosed for your information and pursuant to part 579.5, please find our latest Service and Warranty Bulletins for March, 2016 | |
| LI07.08-P-060993 Mar 2015 | Engine | Engine diagnosis warning lamp lights up in instrument cluster, fault code U145400: "Implausible data were received from the ethanol sensor" | |
| LI82.70-P-060004 Oct 2014 | Equipment | iPhone mobile phone: Various complaints after software update to iOS8 | |
| LI91.10-P-059373 Jul 2014 | Seats | Possible 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. | |
| LI05.10-P-058758 Jun 2014 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine noises (rattling) after engine start | |
| LI82.85-P-058582 Mar 2014 | Equipment | Apple 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. | |
| LI46.10-P-057961 Feb 2014 | Steering | Surface damage on steering wheel trim | |
| GI88.40-P-057430 Feb 2014 | Equipment | Message in instrument cluster "DISTRONIC PLUSCurrently Unavailable - See Owner's Manual" | |
| LI47.20-P-054958 Jul 2013 | Fuel System | Combination message: "Clean fuel filter" is displayed. The fault code 162500 (water level message - Bosch) or P226997 (water level message - Delphi) or 171600 (filter load - Bosch) is stored in the engine control unit. | |
| 40-P-052794 Apr 2012 | Seat Belts | MERCEDES BENZ: FRONT OR REAR SEAT BELT DOES NOT ROLL UP CORRECTLY. DIRT DEPOSITS ON THE SEAT BELT GUIDE DUE TO SOILED SEAT BELT. ALSO INCLUDED MODELS 169, F CELL, 246, AND 231. NO MODEL YEARS GIVEN. *JS | |
| 20-P-053398 Mar 2012 | Steering | XENTRY: RATTLING/THUMPING NOISES FROM THE AREA OF THE STEERING ON ROUGH ROADS OR WHEN DRIVING OVER ROAD UNDULATIONS. NO MODEL YEARS GIVEN. ALSO INCLUDED MODELS 168 AND 172. *JS | |
| 22-P-052325 Aug 2011 | Suspension | XENTRY: 'AIRMATIC- SERVICE REQUIRED' OR 'ELC- SERVICE REQUIRED' IN DISPLAY- 'FC5151- B22/3 (REAR AXLE SENSOR): SIGNAL IMPLAUSIBLE' STORED. *JS | |
| LI-58-40 Dec 2009 | Engine And Engine Cooling | XENTRY (MERCEDES): ENGINE WARNING LAMP IS CURRENTLY ON OR WAS ON AND A DELAY FAULT OF THE CAMSHAFT ADJUST TO CURRENT OR STORED IN THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. MODELS 171, 203, 209, 211, 219, 221, 216, 230, 164, 251, AND 403. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE | |
| LI46-40-P-047549 Aug 2009 | Power Train | MERCEDES: CRACKING/CREAKING NOISES FROM FRONT AXLE WHEN VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TORSION OR WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THIS IS MAINLY HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING SLOWLY. | |
| PB-72-20-31D Jun 2009 | Structure | MERCEDES BENZ: TAILGATE DOES NOT OPEN FULLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE TAILGATE NOT OPENING FULLY IN COLD WEATHER, DO NOT REPLACE THE STRUTS. *PE | |
| SB-32-22-78 May 2009 | Electrical System | MERCEDES: AIR MATIC VISIT WORKSHOP DISPLAYED WITHIN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. MODELS 164, 211, 219, 221 AND 251. INCLUDED 4MATIC, AMG (COMPRESSOR) AMG, BLUETEC AND WAGON. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE UPDATED 9/18/09. *PE | |
| SB-07-16-80D Apr 2009 | Fuel System | MERCEDES BENZ: FUEL LOSS AT PRESSURE REGULATOR VALVE AND/OR POOR ENGINE RUNNING CHARACTERISTICS (SHAKES, KNOCKS, SURGES, CHANGES TO LIP HOME MODE, POOR OUTPUT, POOR FUEL ECONOMY, COMBUSTION NOISE, VEHICLE STALLS). | |
| PB-91-60-66B Jan 2009 | Air Bags | MERCEDES: SRS INDICATOR LAMP ON. THE SRS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC FAULT CODE(S) B9223 AND/OR B9243 ARE STORED IN THE SRS ECU. THE RESISTANCE OF THE IGNITION SQUIB CIRCUIT FOR THE SIDEBAG MAY BE TOO HIGH. MODEL 211. ALL MODEL YEARS. *PE | |
| 462046 Dec 2008 | Steering | PLAY IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. MODELS 203, 209, 210, 211, 215, 220, 230. MERCEDES BENZ. *KB UPDATED 5/13/09. *PE | |
| 8210196 Jun 2008 | Exterior 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. *PE | |
| SB-27-00-104 Apr 2008 | Power Train | SLOW ACCELERATION WITH GAS PEDAL HESITATION. MODELS 164.122/8SS (ML 320 AND GL320); 211.022 (E320); 251.122 (4320). YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE | |
| 461018A Feb 2008 | Steering | STEERING WHEEL HEATER NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY OR INOPERATIVE AT COLD TEMPERATURES. MERCEDES BENZ MODEL 211. MODEL YEAR UNKNOWN. *TT MODEL 211 (E SERIES). UPDATE 8/8/2008. *PE | |
| PB 63-20-15 Feb 2008 | Structure | WATER ENTRY AT A-PILLAR ON MODEL 211.026, 065, 070, 076, 082, 083, 265, 282, 283 (E320 CDI; E320; E500;E55AMG; E320 4MATIC; E500 4MATIC; E320 WAGON; 320 4MATIC). UNKNOWN YEARS. *PE |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Watch the airbag warning light through a full key cycle.It should light on start and go out within seconds. A light that stays on, or never lights at all, means the system needs attention. Run the VIN for inflator recalls specifically.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Mercedes-Benz E320 →