2001 Mercedes Benz E300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Side/Window is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 50.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 50.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 1 |
Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Side/Window leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10104456 · 2004-12-24 (December 24, 2004)
I HAVE A 2001 325I BMW. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS GET SO HOT THAT THEY MELT THE TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER AND WIRING. THIS CAUSES A BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE.*AK ON THE NEXT PAGES OF THIS FORM IT ASK FOR A VEHICLE MANUF - I COULD NOT FIND BMW TO CLICK ON SO I CLICKED ON THE MERCEDES . IT WOULD NOT LET ME GO ON UNTIL I CLICKED ON A MAKERS NAME.
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 745804 · 2001-05-23 (May 23, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIWAY MY PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND REAR SIDE DOOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AT ALL. THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THEY DEPLOYED BUT THE SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME AND NEARLY CAUSE ME TO CRASH THE CAR INTO OTHER VEHICALS. THIS IS A REAL HAZARD THAT MUST BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED. PLEASE HELP!!!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745804 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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.
| Component | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2001 | 2002 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 583.3%ODI 10639598WIRE INSULATION COVERING HAS DETERIORATED DUE TO HEAT AND AGE LEAVING POWDER OF INSULATION AND BARE WIRES CAUSING MALFUNCTION. MBNA WAS CONTACTED BUT NEVER ANSWERED EXCEPT TO GET MY COUNTRY. SECOND ATTEMPT AT COMMUNICATING WITH THEM GOT NO RESPONSE. *TR | 1100.0%ODI 10884495 · 170,023 miMAIN WIRE HARNESS DEFECTIVE. INSULATION LEADING TO ALL SENSORS AND GLOW PLUGS HAS DEGRADED OR DISAPPEARED. BARE METAL WIRE IS EXPOSED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DRIVEABILITY, STALLING AND FIRE HAZARD AND SMOKE HAS BEEN DETECTED. | 112.5%ODI 10876659THE WIRE HARNESS IS BRITTLE AND THE INSULATION IS DISINTEGRATING, RESULTING IN SHORTS AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.7%ODI 10671712THE WIRING INSULATION INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HAS DEGRADED AND CRUMBLED LEAVING ONLY THE BARE COPPER WIRE SHOWING. THESE WIRES HAVE SHORTED GOING OVER BUMPS CAUSING A LOSS OF LIGHT TO OCCUR. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10452566 · 40,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ E300. WHILE PARKED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS OVERHEATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, CAUSING THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND WIRES TO MELT. THE DRIVER SIDE HAD A BLACK HOLE DEVELOPING IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND CIRCUIT BOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE AP… |
| Suspension | 116.7%ODI 10892918 · 171,872 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E300 DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED AND A SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME HOLDING THE SUSPENSION SHOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED WELDING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,8… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2%ODI 10513726 · 200,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE TOP FRONT SPRING MOUNT FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *TR | 323.1%ODI 105971791999 MERCEDES BENZ E-300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUSPENSION COLLAPSE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. HE AND HIS WIFE HEARD A FEW LOUD THUDS, A FEW SECONDS APART AS SOME THINGS STRUCK THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE TIRE AND EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HE COULD SEE THE LEFT FRONT SPRING PERCH WAS RIPPED LOOSE WHERE THE SPOT WELDING WAS WEAKENED BY RUST. HE COULD ALSO SEE THAT THE SPRING, TOGETHER WITH ANY RELATED HARDWARE, WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER BELIE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10376126 · 194,560 miHAD A SPRING PERCH FAILURE ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE WHILE I WAS REVERSING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING. THE SPRING FELL ON THE GROUND AND THE BODY OF THE CAR RESTED ON THE WHEEL. MY LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE ROOT CAUSE AS RUST WHERE THE PERCH ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 10040616PROBLEMS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ E300 DIESEL.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE HESITATING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND HAS SPENT APPROX $3800.00 IN REPAIRS FOR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *CB | 222.2%ODI 10060517 · 106,223 miUNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN CRASH, RESULTING FROM OIL INTO INTAKE FROM SEAL ON TURBO CHARGER. CAR HAD BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED 5 DAYS PRIOR, WITH ERROR MESSAGE ON AIR MASS SENSOR. PART WAS REPLACED. THIS ERROR MESSAGE ALSO OCCURRED 15 MONTHS BEFORE, AND WAS ALSO REPLACED THEN. CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING NORMAL PRIOR TO BOTH SERVICING. NO ENGINE INDICATOR WARNINGS EVER CAME ON PRIOR TO CRASH. SEAT BELT APPARATUS ALSO BROKE UPON IMPACT ON DRIVERS SIDE WHEN MY HEAD STRUCK IT. *JB | 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. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 8000665WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, GEARS SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN TWO GEARS; ACCELERATION AT 25-50 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AT 40 MPH AND VEHICLE IS BUCKING, DEALER REPLACED RESONANCE FLAP, AND FUEL INJECTION PUMP, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS OF POOR FUEL EFFICIENCY. *TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 215.4%ODI 10232188 · 115,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. SHE PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE; HOWEVER, THE GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE MECHANIC AND THEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF SHAVINGS AND TO INSTALL A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT FLUID CHECKS AND CHANGES FOR TRANSMISSIO… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10081309 · 65,000 miI WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE EASTBOUND INTERSTATE 10 IN GULFPORT, MS IN A LIGHT RAIN ( IT HAD BEEN HEAVY 2 HOURS BEFORE ) WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 65 MPH. I HAD JUST COME OVER THE LORRAINE COWEN (SPELLING?) EXIT AND A LITTLE AFTER THE CAR WAS ON THE FLAT ROAD, THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING SPUN 180 DEGREES AND WE WERE BACKWARD ON THE INTERSTATE. SEEING THE TRACKS ON THE SHOULDER THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR CAME OFF THE INTERSTATE BACKWARDS AT ABOUT A 15 TO 20 DEGREE ANGLE, SPUN ANOTHER 270 DEGREES AT THE LOWER EXTENT OF THE CLEARED EMBANK… | 17.7%ODI 10198500 · 109,315 miENGINE FAILURE DURING NORMAL DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IN MY 1999 MERCEDES E300 TURBO DIESEL. BOTH IN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND DEALER IN FT. MYERS CAN NOT FIND AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND TRAFFIC HAZARD. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 10181780 · 89,000 miTL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES E300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. RECALL#05V505000 RELATED TO THE 1999 SLK MERCEDES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10104456 · 85,000 miI HAVE A 2001 325I BMW. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS GET SO HOT THAT THEY MELT THE TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER AND WIRING. THIS CAUSES A BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE.*AK ON THE NEXT PAGES OF THIS FORM IT ASK FOR A VEHICLE MANUF - I COULD NOT FIND BMW TO CLICK ON SO I CLICKED ON THE MERCEDES . IT WOULD NOT LET ME GO ON UNTIL I CLICKED ON A MAKERS NAME. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2%ODI 528916CERTAIN NEW MERCEDES HAVE HEADLIGHTS WITH A BLUE TINT WHICH CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE OF THE BRIGHTNESS AND GLARE. | 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. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 8014435ROTORS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEY WERE MAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT ROTORS WERE ONLY SUPPOSE TO LAST 20000 MILES.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.7%ODI 745838EXITING THE FREEWAY, VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE WITH BRAKES APPLIED, ABS SYSTEM WAS LOCKING & UNLOCKING, AND TIRES WERE SPINNING ON WET PAVEMENT. CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT BEEN ENGAGED. WITH COLLISION IMMINENT, DRIVER MOVED GEAR SELECTOR TO NEUTRAL, ENGINE THEN RACED TO TACHOMETER RED-LINE, AND STAYED THERE. DRIVER TURNED ENGINE OFF, WAITED SEVERAL SECONDS AND RESTARTED ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS PERFORMED NORMALLY SINCE.*AK | 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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | Too few reports for a range | 85,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10104456 · 85,000 miI HAVE A 2001 325I BMW. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS GET SO HOT THAT THEY MELT THE TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER AND WIRING. THIS CAUSES A BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE.*AK ON THE NEXT PAGES OF THIS FORM IT ASK FOR A VEHICLE MANUF - I COULD NOT FIND BMW TO CLICK ON SO I CLICKED ON THE MERCEDES . IT WOULD NOT LET ME GO ON UNTIL I CLICKED ON A MAKERS NAME. |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | 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.
2002: 1 complaints · 2009: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 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 | Air Bags:Side/Window | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Side/Window | — | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.