U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Mercedes Benz 420 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

22 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

131,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 12 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 22 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	2	9.1%
Fuel system concerns	2	9.1%
Electrical and battery issues	1	4.5%
Steering behavior	1	4.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs

Suspension:Front

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Suspension

Exterior Lighting

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs	5
Suspension:Front	3
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	2
Suspension	2
Exterior Lighting	1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	1
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock	1

Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 5; Suspension:Front: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Suspension: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 5

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1996

1997

1999

2000

2001

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2011

2012

2013

1996: 1; 1997: 2; 1999: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1

Pattern summary

Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 603600 · 1997-09-11 (September 11, 1997)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 603600 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 842832 · 1999-07-21 (July 21, 1999)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. IT WOULD GET STUCK IN THE GEARS AND MAY RESULT A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 842832 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10133880 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)

I RECENTLY HAD A GAS TANK PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 1997 E MODEL MERCEDES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE INTERIOR OF THE GAS TANK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RETURN LINES INSIDE THE TANK HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TANK PRESSURE, LEAKAGE, AND /OR IMPROPER EMISSION SYSTEM SENSOR READOUTS. THE TANK HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO MPACT SO THE DISCONNECTED LINE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN OR ENGINEERING DEFECT. IN ADDITION, THE IMPROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE RETURN LINE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAS A MAJOR IMPACT ON GAS MILEAGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133880 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 714366 · 1999-11-05 (November 5, 1999)

THE GAS TANK ON MY MERCEDES BENZ E420 COLLAPSED. IT LOOKED LIKE A GIANT STEPPED ON IT. PRIOR TO THE TANK COLLAPSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL EVAPORATION SYSTEM REPAIRED. I TOOK THE CAR TO BERBERIAN EUROPEAN MOTORS (A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER) IN STOCKTON CA. FOR REPAIR. THIS FAILURE IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED BY MY CALIFORINA EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY. THE MERCEDES BENZ FACTORY REP. SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER THE WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIRS MYSELF. MY POINT IN CON…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 714366 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10249623 · 2008-11-24 (November 24, 2008)

HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING, AND LOOKS IDENTICAL TO PICTURES SENT TO NHTSA BY OTHER OWNERS AND IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT IS UNDETECTABLE UNTIL SHORTS OR FIRES DEVELOP. THE INSULATION IS LITERALLY FALLING APART, AND THIS CREATES GREAT POTENTIAL FOR UNSAFE OPERATION, SHORTCIRCUITS, BREAKDOWN AND IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 111,111 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249623 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10080293 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING HARD. THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRAME WELL WAS BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB METAL ON FRAME WELL WAS REPLACED DUE TO FATIGUE. ALSO, FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BY CONSUMER IN AN AUCTION. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080293 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

22 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

54.5%Usable mileage12 / 22 records

95.5%Valid incident date21 / 22 records

100.0%Valid filing date22 / 22 records

95.5%Ordered incident and filing dates21 / 22 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1994	1995	1996	1997	1999
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	212.5% ODI 10225890 · 90,000 mi I OWN A 1994 S 420 MERCEDES-BENZ I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY CHILD'S SAFETY AND MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL. THE WIRING HARNESS IS SHORTING OUT EVERYWHERE... SHAME ON MERCEDES-BENZ OF AMERICA..THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS DANGER AND JUST IGNORE THE WHOLE THING.. I'VE RESEARCHED IT REALLY WELL AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS OVER AND OVER WITH ALL CARS OF THIS VINTAGE..I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION???THEY SHOULD STAND UP TO THE PLATE.. THE HARNESS IS 7-8 HUNDRED DOLLARS.. COME ON GUYS!!! HOW MUCH DO YO… Look up ODI 10225890 at NHTSA ↗	320.0% ODI 10235385 · 100,000 mi 1995 420S MERCEDES IS HAVING PROBLEMS FIRING. CONCERNED ABOUT WIRING HARNESS. WAS CHECK AND MAY BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS IF SO MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM? CAR IS HESITATING WHEN KEY IS TURNED TO RIGHT AND WILL NOT FIRE CORRECTLY. *TR Look up ODI 10235385 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	213.3% ODI 489836 VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY VIBRATES WHEN IN ANY GEAR OTHER THAN NEUTRAL, DUE TO POSSIBLE DRIVE TRAIN COMPLICATIONS. *SKD Look up ODI 489836 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	29.1% ODI 603600 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. Look up ODI 603600 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 705376 TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECT, AGAIN. *AK Look up ODI 705376 at NHTSA ↗
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	522.7% ODI 10061781 WHILE VEHICLE SAT IDLING, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM ITS WELDED POSITION. (NAR) PH CB Look up ODI 10061781 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 10220009 · 139,595 mi VEHICLE IS RUNNING ERRATICALLY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MODEL YEARS INCLUDING MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E420 HAVE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH DETERIORATING INSULATION. AS SOME FIRES AND CRASHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, I AM PAYING TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED. *TR Look up ODI 10220009 at NHTSA ↗	320.0% ODI 10033790 AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, FIRE CAME THROUGH THE FIREWALL. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. AK THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE WITH THE IGNITION OFF AND THE VEHICLE PARKED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. SCC *JB Look up ODI 10033790 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 963593 CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TRYING TO TURN A CURB THE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAIL LOST CONTROL WAS IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT CAR WAS TOTALED. TT Look up ODI 963593 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	212.5% ODI 761678 THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST AUGUST. IT OCCURRS ONLY OCCASIONALLY AND HAS NEVER BEEN DUPLICATED WHEN AT A DEALERSHIP OR REPAIR SHOP. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLY IT, THE CAR THEN STOPS. HOWEVER, ON APRIL 7TH WHEN THIS OCCURRED REAPPLYING THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE CAR AND I ROLLED INTO THE REAR END OF A TRATOR TRAILER TRUCK WHO WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. IN NOVEMBER 2001 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN HAVERHILL, MA SMITH MOTORS. … Look up ODI 761678 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 723734 STRANGE ELECTRONIC WHIRRING SOUND WHEN STARTING VEHICLE ON 6/7. SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SUDDENLY MOVED AND THEN CLOSED HALFWAY. NO RESPONSE FROM INTERIOR CONSOLE CONTROL. STEERING WHEEL ALSO BEGAN TO MOVE UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN. REAR BRAKES CONTINUED TO SQUEAK AND GRAB. WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY LAST NOVEMBER. Look up ODI 723734 at NHTSA ↗
Suspension:Front	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 966799 THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WILL NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER, ALSO EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. TT Look up ODI 966799 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	313.6% ODI 10152198 · 102,000 mi DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED TO 5 MPH AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE COIL SPRING ONTO THE FRAME HAD DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OFF. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER STATED THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR IF DONE BY THEIR BODY SHOP. THE REPAIR WAS $2600. THE CONTACT WANTED THE REPAIRS DONE LOCALLY AND OPTED FOR THE DEAL. THE CONTACT CLAIMED T… Look up ODI 10152198 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	116.7% ODI 969010 THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT Look up ODI 969010 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 731002 FRON PARKED POSITION, WHEN VEHICLE PUT IN GEAR, CAR LUNGED FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED WITHOUT ENGAGING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. BREAK WOULD NOT STOP CAR. *AK Look up ODI 731002 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 8012437 AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WILL TRY TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. HAS REPLACED SEVERAL BRAKE PARTS BUT FOUND NOTHING.AK. CONSUMER STATED INCIDENT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AN HOUR OR MORE, THERE IS USUALLY A SOUND, CONSUMER ALSO STATED ALL 4 ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.JB Look up ODI 8012437 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.5% ODI 506530 CRUISE CONTROL IS LOCATED ON A SMALL STALK NEXT TO LARGER STALK FOR TURN SIGNALS, UPON TURNING, BOTH STALKS ARE MOVED, CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO COME ON. Look up ODI 506530 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags:Frontal	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 10115576 THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN FRONT END COLLISION WITH HIS 1991 MERCEDES BENZ 420 SEL. NAR* NM SC *JB Look up ODI 10115576 at NHTSA ↗	16.3% ODI 973045 AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT 30 MPH. TT Look up ODI 973045 at NHTSA ↗	16.7% ODI 502724 NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIRBAG, CAUSING INJURY IN ACCIDENT. *SD Look up ODI 502724 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs	Too few reports for a range	107,000 mi	3 (sparse)	ODI 10160968 · 150,000 mi LEFT UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING SUPPORT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED A SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT FROM ON THE CAR. I REMOVED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE SPRING SUPPORT WAS JUST ABOUT READY TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME. I WAS HORRIFIED TO THINK OF WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED IF THIS WOULD HAVE FAILED DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MERCEDES BENZ OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR HOWEVER, THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE WHOLE REPAIR. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. JB Look up ODI 10160968 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10180740 · 107,000 mi TL - ON 1/16/07 THE LEFT UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING SUPPORT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ 420. ON 01/02/07 THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN MORRISTOWN, NJ FOR A SAFETY CHECK, AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS. ON 01/23/07 CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE LEFT PERCH WAS RUSTED ,AND THAT THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AK Look up ODI 10180740 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10201267 · 88,300 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ 420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS CRACKED. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RUST ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE THE COIL SPRING CRACKED. HE INSPECTED THE COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT TOO HAS RUST, BUT IT IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE AS THE DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING. THE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $666. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,300. Look up ODI 10201267 at NHTSA ↗
Suspension:Front	Too few reports for a range	172,000 mi	3 (sparse)	ODI 10152198 · 102,000 mi DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED TO 5 MPH AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE COIL SPRING ONTO THE FRAME HAD DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OFF. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER STATED THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR IF DONE BY THEIR BODY SHOP. THE REPAIR WAS $2600. THE CONTACT WANTED THE REPAIRS DONE LOCALLY AND OPTED FOR THE DEAL. THE CONTACT CLAIMED T… Look up ODI 10152198 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10257996 · 172,000 mi 1997 MERCEDES E420 DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING PERCH FAILURE. TR Look up ODI 10257996 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10413904 · 200,150 mi I AM A VICTIM OF A DANGEROUS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW IN MY 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. LAST WEEK, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON A LOCAL STREET NEAR OUR HOME, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FLEW OUT OF THE CAR, RESULTING IN HER COMPLETELY LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS - NO SOUNDS, RATTLES, ETC. LUCKILY, SHE WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED OF 35MPH AND THAT THE CARS AROUND HER STOPPED, ALLOWING HER TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, SHE AVOIDED ANY ACCIDENT AND WAS NOT HURT. T… Look up ODI 10413904 at NHTSA ↗
Suspension	Too few reports for a range	187,500 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10424746 · 163,000 mi I AM FILING A COMPLAINT REGARDING AFTER WARRANTY SUPPORT FOR THE ABOVE REFERENCED VEHICLE. THE SPRING SEAT DETACHED FROM THE BODY OF THE AUTOMOBILE CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO FAIL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 45 MPH ON A DOWNHILL GRADE. AS THE SUSPENSION DETACHED FROM THE CAR, THE LEFT FRONT SIDE DRAGGED ON THE ROAD CAUSING THE RIGHT REAR TO SLIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. IMPACT FROM AN APPROACHING VEHICLE WAS NARROWLY ADVERTED. FURTHER, LARGE PIECES OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE COIL SPRING WHERE LEFT IN THE ROAD CAUSING A HAZARD. … Look up ODI 10424746 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10546758 · 212,000 mi WELD BROKE AND DISLODGED THE SPRINGS.. *TR Look up ODI 10546758 at NHTSA ↗
Exterior Lighting	Too few reports for a range	111,111 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10249623 · 111,111 mi HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING, AND LOOKS IDENTICAL TO PICTURES SENT TO NHTSA BY OTHER OWNERS AND IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT IS UNDETECTABLE UNTIL SHORTS OR FIRES DEVELOP. THE INSULATION IS LITERALLY FALLING APART, AND THIS CREATES GREAT POTENTIAL FOR UNSAFE OPERATION, SHORTCIRCUITS, BREAKDOWN AND IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR Look up ODI 10249623 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	Too few reports for a range	123,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10133880 · 123,000 mi I RECENTLY HAD A GAS TANK PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 1997 E MODEL MERCEDES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE INTERIOR OF THE GAS TANK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RETURN LINES INSIDE THE TANK HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TANK PRESSURE, LEAKAGE, AND /OR IMPROPER EMISSION SYSTEM SENSOR READOUTS. THE TANK HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO MPACT SO THE DISCONNECTED LINE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN OR ENGINEERING DEFECT. IN ADDITION, THE IMPROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE RETURN LINE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAS A MAJOR IMPACT ON GAS MILEAGE… Look up ODI 10133880 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1997: 2 complaints · 1999: 5 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1997	1	1	2
1999	3	4	5

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1997	18	1	3
1999	5	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs	Suspension:Front	Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Suspension	Exterior Lighting	Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Suspension:Front	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Suspension	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Exterior Lighting	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 4.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 714366

Look up ODI 714366 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b