Total Complaints
8 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ · model year
1999 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ
8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999MERCEDES-BENZMERCEDES BENZ carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 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 1999 MERCEDES BENZ is exterior lighting:headlights with 1 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (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 2 investigation files overlapping the 1999 MERCEDES BENZ. 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.
8
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031218SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT SEAT BELTS IN 1999 CL500 WILL NOT RETRACT. MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED IT WOULD COST OVER $900.00 TO REPLACE AS THEY CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. THIS SEEMS EXCESSTIVE FOR A CAR A LITTLE OVER 4 YEARS OLD AND I BELIEVE REPRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CAR OF EVEN AFTER WARRENTY.*AK
Mileage: 40,000
20030304TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE TREAD ON THE INSIDE WALL OF BOTH FRONT TIRES TIRE HAS WORN UNEVENLY. *NLM
20010725EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
FAILURE DURING RAIN THE UNAIR-CONDITIONED AIR IS WARMER THAN WINSHIELD PRODUCING EXCESS FOGGING. *AK
20000906AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DURING SIDE IMPACT. NLM
19990730CrashFireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SHORTLY AFTER BEING HIT ON THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AT 35 TO 40MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO ONE HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
19990721SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
A SENSOR WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN OVER A STICK (1/2 " APPROX IN DIAMETER) . *AK
19990708ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAN REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WITHOUT SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO PARK. VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED EVEN IF VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTOFIED. MERCEDES BENZ E430 1999. *AK
19990218EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
(OWNER SAID MODEL IS CURRENT) THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE MERCEDES ARE VERY PAINFUL TO THE EYE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR USE. I WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING THE SPECS ON THESE HEADLIGHTS. I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE LEGAL AS THEY ARE BRIGHTER THAN NORMAL HIGH BEAMS ON OTHER CARS. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE AND THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. THANK YOU.
Compare 1999MERCEDES-BENZMERCEDES BENZ to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ have?▼
The 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ has 8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ 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.