MERCEDES-BENZ R320 · model year

2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R320

18 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2007MERCEDES-BENZR320 carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, 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 2007 R320 is engine with 3 filings, followed by electrical system (3) and suspension (2). 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 2007 R320. 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.

18
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

18 filings

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

ComponentCount
ENGINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
SUSPENSION2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL1
TIRES1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
POWER TRAIN1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1

Recent Complaints

20251119SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz R320. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed a diagnostic test prior to the recall repair. The contact declined to pay for the diagnostic test and advised the dealer to complete the recall repair. The dealer declined to honor the recall repair. The contact later discovered that the dealer had marked the recall repair as completed even though the recall repair had not been performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.

20230210ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz R320. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start in very cold weather. The contact stated that after changing the battery several times, the failure continued to occur. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the front and rear exterior lights failed to illuminate as needed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

20230210EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz R320. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start in very cold weather. The contact stated that after changing the battery several times, the failure continued to occur. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the front and rear exterior lights failed to illuminate as needed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

20180113STRUCTURE:BODY

PANORAMA SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN OUR GARAGE.

Mileage: 200,000

20171105STRUCTURE:BODY

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE.

Mileage: 203,350

20170213POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION MODEL 722.9 FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD LEAD TO FATAL ACCIDENTS. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DISENGAGES BRINGING CAR TO STAND STILL, OR IT DOWNSHIFTS WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS AT HIGH SPEED. FEELS LIKE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION IS DROPPING OFF THE CAR. MY CAR HAD ONLY 45K MILES ON IT WHEN IT FIRST EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM. NOW IT COST MORE THAN RETAIL VALUE OF THE CAR TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 45,000

20160204ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER IN WILSONVILLE OREGON, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE R320 CDI IS THE WORST CAR MERCEDES-BENZ EVER BUILT, AND THEY KEPT CHARGING FOR REPAIRS EACH TIME WITH A NEW PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE BRAKE LAMP IN THE REAR NEEDS A SOFTWARE UPDATE OTHER WISE MY LIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. DO YOU THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IF MY TAIL LAMP AND MY BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I UPDATE THE SOFTWARE FOR 150 DOLLARS?

20160204ENGINE

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER IN WILSONVILLE OREGON, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE R320 CDI IS THE WORST CAR MERCEDES-BENZ EVER BUILT, AND THEY KEPT CHARGING FOR REPAIRS EACH TIME WITH A NEW PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE BRAKE LAMP IN THE REAR NEEDS A SOFTWARE UPDATE OTHER WISE MY LIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. DO YOU THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IF MY TAIL LAMP AND MY BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I UPDATE THE SOFTWARE FOR 150 DOLLARS?

20150227SUSPENSION

WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS FAILURE OF REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR SPRING. *TR

Mileage: 109,000

20140924ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ESP INOPERATIVE MESSAGE APPEARS. WIPERS WENT ON (ALTHOUGH THEY WERE OFF AT THE TIME) TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERATIVE AND INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT WORKING.. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE PARK OR REVERSE. I SHUT THE IGNITION OFF AND NEUTRAL WAS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED BUT PARK STILL NOT WORKING. REMOVING THE KEY ENGAGED PARK. RESTARTING THE CAR THE ESP INOPERATIVE MESSAGE WAS STILL DISPLAYED AND DRIVE COULD NOT BE ENGAGED. AFTER LEAVING THE KEY REMOVED FOR 2-3 MINUTES ALL WAS CLEAR. NO RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM FOR 6 MONTHS THEN RECURRED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 AND AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2014. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. STABILITY CONTROL IS LOST ALONG WITH TURN SIGNALS AND EVEN IF YOU STOP THE CAR STAYS IN DRIVE AND REVERSE IS NOT AVAILABLE. PARK CAN ONLY BE ENGAGED BY REMOVING THE KEY. EACH RECURRENCE WAS THE SAME. HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL WORKING BUT I COULD NOT ESTABLISH IF TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING SINCE THE CAR STAYS IN DRIVE UNTIL YOU REMOVE THE KEY SO

Mileage: 103,000

20140904SUSPENSION

PREFACE: I OWN AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP IN CARROLLTON TEXAS. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON CARS SINCE 1968. I AM A THREE-TIME CERTIFIED MERCEDES-BENZ MASTER TECHNICIAN. IN DECEMBER, 2012 I REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT AIR SPRING ON A 2007 MERCEDES R-320. THE MANUFACTURER IS AREN'T INDUSTRIES. THEIR PART NUMBER IS A-2587. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER, THE AIR SPRING SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE SPRING MATERIAL, WHICH IS SIMILAR IN CONSTRUCTION TO A TIRE, RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE OWNER'S GARAGE WHEN THE "BLOW-OUT" OCCURRED. THE MILEAGE AT FAILURE WAS 49336. THE MILEAGE OF THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT WAS 49113. THE DISTRIBUTOR OF THE AIR SPRING OFFERED ME A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. I REPLACED THE SPRING WITH, AT THIS POINT, NO FURTHER ISSUES. ON SEPTEMBER 10,2013 I REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT AIR SPRING. THAT SPRING FAILED TODAY, SIX DAYS SHY OF ONE YEAR AND AFTER ONLY 4200 MILES. BOTH OF THE REPLACEMENT AIR SPRINGS SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC "BLOW-OUT" FAILURES. WHEN THE LEF

Mileage: 51,818

20140613VISIBILITY/WIPER

WITHOUT NOTICE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE ISSUE. *JS

Mileage: 138,000

20131101TIRES

PURCHASED FOUR (4) GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED ALL SEASON SIZE 235/65R17 DOT #PJ81KD1R4111 FROM A GOODYEAR CORPORATE STORE. WENT TO CORPORATE STORE TO REPAIR A "SLOW AIR LEAK ON PASSENGER REAR TIRE". STORE CALLED STATING THAT "PIECE OF METAL HAD DAMAGED" TIRE AND THE OTHER THREE TIRES "HAD A SIDEWALL BUBBLE FROM HITTING POTHOLES'. WE LIVE IN A SOUTHERN SUBURBAN AREA & HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR IMPACTS WITH THESE TIRES. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR DEALER WHO REMOVED THE TIRES, EXAMINED AND STATED SEPARATION IS CONSISTENT WITH A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND DID NOT SEE EVIDENCE OF IMPACT DAMAGE OR ABUSIVE DRIVING HABITS. CONTACTED GOODYEAR CORPORATE OFFICES AND SPOKE WITH CRYSTAL WHO INSISTED WARRANTY CREDIT WOULD ONLY BE GIVEN UNDER "ROAD HAZARD" AND WE COULD NOT "PROVE ANY DEFECTS". SHE ALSO INSISTED THAT WE HAD BEEN HITTING POT HOLES OR HAD A HARD IMPACT WITH THE TIRES. SHE ALSO STATED THAT IF WE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY GOODYEAR WOULD NOT GIVE US ANY WARRANTY CRE

Mileage: 165,000

20130729ENGINE

ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. UPON TAKEOFF VEHICLE WENT INTO "LOW POWER" MODE. VEHICLE THEN BECAME A HAZARD DUE TO SLOW ACCELERATION AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY IN A SAFE MANNER DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HAS HAD A NEW TURBO/WASTE GATE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BUT STILL GOES INTO LOW POWER MODE WITHOUT WARNING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IN MOST CASES IF THE VEHICLE CAN BE GOTTEN OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS MAY LAST FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VEHICLES WITH THE 3.0 TURBO DIESEL INCLUDING SPRINTER VANS. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20130729FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. UPON TAKEOFF VEHICLE WENT INTO "LOW POWER" MODE. VEHICLE THEN BECAME A HAZARD DUE TO SLOW ACCELERATION AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY IN A SAFE MANNER DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HAS HAD A NEW TURBO/WASTE GATE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BUT STILL GOES INTO LOW POWER MODE WITHOUT WARNING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IN MOST CASES IF THE VEHICLE CAN BE GOTTEN OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS MAY LAST FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VEHICLES WITH THE 3.0 TURBO DIESEL INCLUDING SPRINTER VANS. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20120808ENGINE

ENGINE 'DIED' (VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER) WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I HAD TO PULL VEHICLE OVER ON SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER ASSISTANCE STEERING OR BRAKING. BROUGH IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE 8/8/12, STALLED TWO MORE TIMES WHILE ENROUTE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A FAILED CAMSHAFT SENSOR. I LOOKED UP ALL SAFETY RECALLS ON VEHICLE, AND FOUND ONE FOR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IN 2008. I WAS TOLD THAT MY FAILED CAMSHAFT SENSOR IS DIFFERENT AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER, EVEN THOUGH IT PRODUCES THE SAME SYMPTOM/RESULT AS A FAILED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. BOTH ITEMS PERFORM SIMARLARLY IN THAT THEY ASSURE CORRECT ENGINE TIMING, DISABLING THE ENGINE IF A FAILURE IS DETECTED IN EITHER PART! I SUBMIT THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD AT LEAST BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER! *TR

Mileage: 75,200

20120808ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE 'DIED' (VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER) WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I HAD TO PULL VEHICLE OVER ON SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER ASSISTANCE STEERING OR BRAKING. BROUGH IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE 8/8/12, STALLED TWO MORE TIMES WHILE ENROUTE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A FAILED CAMSHAFT SENSOR. I LOOKED UP ALL SAFETY RECALLS ON VEHICLE, AND FOUND ONE FOR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IN 2008. I WAS TOLD THAT MY FAILED CAMSHAFT SENSOR IS DIFFERENT AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER, EVEN THOUGH IT PRODUCES THE SAME SYMPTOM/RESULT AS A FAILED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. BOTH ITEMS PERFORM SIMARLARLY IN THAT THEY ASSURE CORRECT ENGINE TIMING, DISABLING THE ENGINE IF A FAILURE IS DETECTED IN EITHER PART! I SUBMIT THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD AT LEAST BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER! *TR

Mileage: 75,200

20111202FireSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ R320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT, AND THE CONTACTS LEG WAS BURNED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 40,000

Compare 2007MERCEDES-BENZR320 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R320 have?
The 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R320 has 18 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R320?
The most-complained component for the 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R320 is ENGINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SUSPENSION.
Is the 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R320 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.