2004 Mercedes Benz E320 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (76) · Service Brakes (39) · Fuel System, Gasoline (34)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz E320 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
166 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2024-11-19 · campaign 24V874000 · 33,456 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2019-12-20 · campaign 19V918000 · 747,928 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
Service bulletins (84)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Visibility/Wiper 2026-05-19 · LI82.30-P-059239 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint there are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: a: wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering b: the windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) c: during the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the a-pillar
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Showing the 6 most recent of 84 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-03-11 · Visibility“the contact owns a 2004 mercedes-benz e320. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v918000 (visibility); however, the contact was informed by the dealer that the sunroof glass was manufactured in a year outside of the year stated in the recall. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time …”
2025-02-18 · Unknown Or Other“to whom it may concern, i took my 2004 mercedes-benz into the stevens creek location located in san jose, ca 95129 to have the sliding roof bonding recall fixed on december 24, 2024. i have attached the repair invoice to this complaint. it has now been almost two full months and i am still being blocked from updating my vehicle registration b…”
2025-02-13 · Service Brakes“sbc braking system stated as covered under 25 year/unlimited miles warranty. sbc system failed on 2/1/25. vehicle towed to local dealer service facility on 2/3/25. tow was authorized at no charge by mb roadside assistance at no charge plus $100.00 credit toward diagnostic. was told by phone on 2/3/25 that upon confirmation that sbc did in fact fail…”
2024-05-03 · Unknown Or Other“the sunroof has a recall due to the fact that it has a bad seal, which could fly off due to this issue. i know the seal is bad because the whole roof leaked a few years ago and fried all the electronic; e.g. lights, sunroof controls, trunk light controls, side door controls. i went to the dealership and they said they would not fix it because they …”
2024-04-22 · Visibility/Wiper“the driver's side mirror auto-dim function failed (as theorized by simple research where others have this issue) december 2023 and leaked a liquid behind the glass causing blurriness, double vision, and extremely dim reflection. this makes it difficult to safely judge other traffic using the mirror and seems very dangerous while driving. it also se…”
2024-01-07 · Seats“the glue around front windshield has deteriorated and has caused major damage to my interior lights, electrical essemblys , interior damage to seats , dash board and flooring. including the trunk seal is also deteriorated and causing the battery to stop working and has made my car non drivable. …”
2023-12-27 · Exterior Lighting“mercedes benz has a known safety problem with this model and has not put it under recall yet and it needs to be. the wire casing in the wiring harness for the headlights crumbles and leaves exposed wires that touch, short, and draw causing dim headlights. due to being cited for dim headlights the night before, i called mbusa on december 27 2023 a…”
2023-12-17 · Unknown Or Other“the trunk will not open. it is supposed to open by pressing the button on the key fob or taking the thin key out of the key fob and manually open the truck with the keyed lock. neither method works. there is absolutely no way to open the trunk otherwise (i.e. inside button or lever). when the key fob button and the thin key do not work there is ab…”
2023-12-08 · Visibility · 118,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 mercedes-benz e320. the contact stated that the headliner had detached from the sunroof causing rainwater to enter the interior of the vehicle. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v954000 (visibility). the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the recall repair was documented as completed. the vehic…”
2023-07-07 · Tires · 250,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 mercedes-benz e320 equipped with arroyo tires, tire line: grand sport zr a/s, tire size: 225/55/r16, dot number: (n/a). the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an unusual sound coming from the rear tires. the contact parked the vehicle and became aware that the rear tires tread had separated, and t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.