MERCEDES-BENZ E320 · model year

2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320

287 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005MERCEDES-BENZE320 carries 287 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 8 fires, 19 injuries, and 4 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 E320 is fuel/propulsion system with 81 filings, followed by service brakes (43) and fuel system, gasoline (39). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2005 E320. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

287
Complaints
10
Crashes
8
Fires
19
Injuries
4
Deaths

Total Complaints

287 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM81
SERVICE BRAKES43
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE39
AIR BAGS17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16
ENGINE9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC7
POWER TRAIN7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
SUSPENSION6
STEERING5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
VISIBILITY3

Recent Complaints

20250219SERVICE BRAKES

There has not been an incident report, however, my brakes failed while driving and I pulled over. This is the fault the SBC System which has an Extended 25 year warranty. I brought it into Mercedes prior to complete failure, but they only replace the Pressure Reservoir. It must be returned to Mercedes for the SBC UNIT replacement.

20240126VISIBILITY

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V954000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated she had trapped her finger in the sunroof. The contact stated that the sunroof was loose. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

20231115CrashSERVICE BRAKES

A warning in Red came up on the dashboard which said something like "catastrophic break failure" ..I was going slow about to stop at the Red light and the brakes did not work and I hit a mini van

20230829SERVICE BRAKES

car break looses 70% of its pressure and only left with 30% break. It happened 3-4 times already. break booster malfunction sign comes up. When i restart the car, malfunction sign goes away and it run ok for few days till it happen again. I am not driving it right now. it can cause serious accident at high speed

20230820SERVICE BRAKES

Break booster malfunction sign popped up 3-4 time while driving and I lost 70% of the break. Luckily it happened on local road at speed under 30mph. It is very dangerous and can result in an accident

20230509SERVICE BRAKES

While driving in highway, SBC brake failure warning and failure. Fortunate to be able to come to a stop without crashing into a car ahead since had plenty of time and distance to slowly come to a stop even with reduced braking power. If traveling in rush hour would likely have rear ended a stopped car in front and potentially causing serious injury and damage! This is a known issue with Mercedes, and there is an extended 25 year warranty on the vehicle but for some reason, my vehicle was not included in the recall: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 04V296000 2005 Mercedes e320 automatic sedan. I had the dealer replace parts of the the SBA brake unit once, but it has since reappeared on an intermittent basis usually during cold start and then it goes away in a few seconds while pulling out of a driveway, but this time it occurred after having driven for awhile on a freeway Please investigate to include additionally affected vehicles!!!

20230218SERVICE BRAKES

Brake warning lights flashed and brakes failed

20221215SERVICE BRAKES

Please see this discussion... 2005 Mercedes E320 SBC brake system should be recalled. Thanks for considering!

20220307EXTERIOR LIGHTING

INSTRUMENT PANEL NOT WORKING FOR LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS OR LONGER DID NOT DRIVE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE

20210910VISIBILITY

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V918000 (Visibility) however, the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

20210818FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The passenger compartment smells like gasoline. This is due to an issue that was already investigated by nhtsa however the warranty that was extended is expired by two years. I just purchased this vehicle used and it is unsafe to drive. It did not smell like gas a few weeks ago when it was purchased. The odor is very strong in the passenger compartment.

20210129FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FILLED UP GAS TANK AND HAD FUEL ODOR INSIDE CAR AND FUEL LEAKING OUTSIDE THE CAR UNTIL FUEL LEVEL WAS AROUND 3/4 OF A TANK. I BELIEVE THAT MINE FALLS UNDER ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS LISTED FOR FUEL LEAKS FOR OTHER W211 MERCEDES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS WAS ONLY ALLOWED FOR ORIGINAL OWNERS AND NOT FOR ANYONE THAT PURCHASED USED.

20200828VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20200714AIR BAGS

SRS WARNING LIGHT ON. REPLACED SEAT CONTROL A 211 870 05 26. NO HELP. SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SERVICE DECIDED TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT FRAME AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $2,800 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. SRS CODE WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND JUST STARTED IN ENCLOSED PARKING SPACE WITH DOOR OPEN.

Mileage: 126,240

20200714SEATS

SRS WARNING LIGHT ON. REPLACED SEAT CONTROL A 211 870 05 26. NO HELP. SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SERVICE DECIDED TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT FRAME AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $2,800 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. SRS CODE WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND JUST STARTED IN ENCLOSED PARKING SPACE WITH DOOR OPEN.

Mileage: 126,240

20200714UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SRS WARNING LIGHT ON. REPLACED SEAT CONTROL A 211 870 05 26. NO HELP. SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SERVICE DECIDED TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT FRAME AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $2,800 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. SRS CODE WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND JUST STARTED IN ENCLOSED PARKING SPACE WITH DOOR OPEN.

Mileage: 126,240

20200520VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER SEAL AROUND THE SUNROOF SHIFTED OUT OF PLACE AND ALLOWED RAIN WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER ALSO ENTERED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CAUSED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. THE CARPET WAS ALSO SOAKED FROM THE WATER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE CONTACT PLACED TAPE AROUND THE SUNROOF TO PREVENT FURTHER WATER INTRUSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

20200305SERVICE BRAKES

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND RED WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND NO BRAKES

Mileage: 153,000

20200109UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MERCEDES OF LITTLE ROCK AND REFERENCED MFG RECALL # 2019120012 AND NHTSA RECALL # 19V918. WHEN I SHOWED UP THIS MORNING AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TO SHOW THEM THE WEBPAGE INFORMATION WITH MY PHONE AND THEY SAID IF IT DOESN'T SHOW UNDER THEIR VIN LOOKUP, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IS THERE A WAY TO APPEAL OR OTHER RECOURSE? THANK YOU

Mileage: 125,000

20200102SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT (LUCKILY) AND MY CAR STARTED ROLLING FORWARD. I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARDER AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR CONTINUED ROLLING FORWARD. I THREW THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNED ON MY HAZARDS. THE POLICE SHOWED UP. HE TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD BUT IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. MY HUSBAND SHOWED UP, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED TO A CLOSE PARKING LOT. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND CODES (C233D, C22BC, C23BD, C223C, C26DE, C25D5) FOR PRESSURE SYSTEM FAILURE AND PRESSURE FAILURE TO ALL FOUR TIRES AT THE SAME TIME. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED BEFORE ANY SENSOTRONIC WARRANTY WORK WOULD BE REIMBURSED. SO WE PAID $465.99 TO HAVE THEM FLUSHED AND WERE TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WAS RETESTED AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. I WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, BRAKE EARLY AND PRESS THE BRAKES REALLY HARD. IF WE GET A DIFFERENT CODE

Mileage: 89,000

Compare 2005MERCEDES-BENZE320 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 have?
The 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 has 287 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 8 fires, 19 injuries, and 4 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320?
The most-complained component for the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 81 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.