2006 Mercedes Benz E320 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (14) · Fuel/Propulsion System (4) · Fuel System, Gasoline (3)
🧭 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
33 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
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 2022-12-23 · campaign 22V954000 · 131,653 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may 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 February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2021-03-19 · campaign 21V196000 · 11,356 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.
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. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040012.
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 (106)
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 106 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-05-21 · Service Brakes“vehicle had a blow out on highway. pull onto right shoulder doing about 60mph. pressed the brakes and would not stop. kept pressing brake and pumping the brakes and would not stop. was going around 50mph on the shoulder. after 15 seconds of pressing the brakes, car decided to brake. checked brake lines, brake fluid and everything was correct and no…”
2020-07-01 · Visibility“tl* the contact owns a 2006 mercedes-benz e320. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v918000 (visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was made aw…”
2020-02-26 · Service Brakes · 65,000 mi“while driving, with short beeps , the sbc in my w211 gives a short warning and fails completely. it is very risky to drive after that. with such an expensive car the reliability has been compromised. if there is a recall it would help many owners.…”
2019-05-07 · Unknown Or Other · 200,000 mi“in january 2018, my car had developed sbc malfunction issues and i took it to the and they quoted me $ 2,700+/- to fix the issue. i then called mb usa and they told me that the sbc unit warranty was extended for 10yrs and that i had just crossed that limit. i then reached out to a private mechanic who agreed to replace the unit for $865 (please see…”
2018-10-10 · Service Brakes · 127,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 mercedes-benz e320. while operating the vehicle, the service brake indicator illuminated and the vehicle would not immediately stop when the brake pedal was depressed. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the brake pads and brake rotors, but the failures continued. the manufacturer and local deal…”
2017-09-06 · Seat Belts · 108,000 mi“my airbags self deployed while i was driving. i had just left work and driving northbound on the west sam houston tollway approaching the toll station at highway speeds. there was an incredibly loud explosion and and hard percussion as the airbags self deployed while i was driving. i thought i had been punched or shot in the gut. the passenger s…”
2017-08-03 · Service Brakes · 149,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 mercedes-benz e320. the contact stated that the brake warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was manufactured so that after the brake pedal was depressed over 300,000 times, the brakes would fail. the contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the sbc brake unit failed. the vehicle was not re…”
2017-01-11 · Service Brakes · 78,000 mi“car has "sensotronic braking system", sbc, that upon failure renders the car unsafe as only the front wheel brakes will have partial hydraulic power to stop the car. ref: mb bulletin "s142.46-p-0012a" failure occurs without prior warning or brake degradation. my car has had several transitory failures as i was driving. only turning off the key…”
2016-05-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 176,500 mi“persistent smell of diesel in cabin after filling tank. leak isolated to right side (passenger side) fuel sender cap under rear seats. same as gasoline versions, this really happens in the cdi or diesel versions as well. the warranty extension/recall should apply to these cars as well!…”
2016-04-12 · Air Bags · 125,000 mi · 💥 crash“i was involved in an accident sat. april 9, 2016. i struck another vehicle that was stopped dead still in the road. my air bags did not deploy . i was traveling at a speed over 30 miles an hour but less than 45 mph and the impact was dead on, no glancing blow. the accident happened on a state highway about 10 p.m.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.