Total Complaints
10 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ E420 · model year
1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E420
10 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997MERCEDES-BENZE420 carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 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 1997 E420 is electrical system with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (1) and electrical system:wiring (1). 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 1997 E420. 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.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20180323SEAT 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
20180323SEAT BELTS
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
20161222ELECTRICAL 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
Mileage: 142,000
20161222FUEL/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
Mileage: 142,000
20150112POWER 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
Mileage: 135,000
20150112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Mileage: 135,000
20120628ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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
Mileage: 132,000
20120628EXTERIOR 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
Mileage: 132,000
20111223FireENGINE 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
Mileage: 125,000
20111223FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Mileage: 125,000
Compare 1997MERCEDES-BENZE420 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E420 have?▼
The 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E420 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E420?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E420 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING.
Is the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E420 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.