1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class, and owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Air bags: side/window
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles have experienced side air bag deployments in the absence of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and passenger door mounted side air bag modules. At the same time, dealers will also inspect the condition of the side air bag module wiring within the doors and replace that wiring if…
38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 100,873 miles. Complaints peaked in 2006 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I took my car into get the suspension fixed and was told that the spring perch that attached the spring to the car has rusted through and is about to break. Luckily i found it before i had a bad accid”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 18, 2013 · Suspension
“I was coming off west rt 46. I came to a stop sign,made a right and as i was driving heard a thump noise....then as i drove a squeaking noise and i pulled over,looked at the car ,around it and under i”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 27, 2012 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (E300 Diesel, E320, E420). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–26 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–23 / 23–30 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3/3.2/4.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
Compare Mercedes-Benz E Class model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz E Class model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 1 | 7 |
| 1994 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 1 | 38 |
| 1995 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 1 | 21 |
| 1996 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 1 | 16 |
| 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 1 | 38 |
| 1998 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 0 | 24 |
| 1999 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 1 | 13 |
| 2000 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 0 | 34 |
| 2001 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 0 | 15 |
| 2002 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 0 | 8 |
| 2003 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 4 | 45 |
| 2004 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 4 | 15 |
| 2005 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 3 | 9 |
| 2006 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 1 | 10 |
| 2008 Mercedes-Benz E Class | 0 | 5 |
Checking a specific 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class
How do I know if my 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V388000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
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Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.