Model year record

1997 MERCEDES BENZ E Class

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 43 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V388000

Air bags: side/window

Component
Air bags: side/window
Manufacturer
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Vehicles affected
16,255
Reported to NHTSA
2000-11-28
Owners notified
2001-02-02

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN THE ABSENCE OF A CRASH.

Safety risk

INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer 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 THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs1480,000 mi
Structure: frame and members464,000 mi
Suspension: front4102,000 mi
Visibility: windshield3
Suspension296,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls249,000 mi
Air bags: frontal1
Air bags: side/window1
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator1
Electrical system: wiring1201,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine1
Exterior lighting: brake lights190,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery1
Seats: front assembly: power adjust1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum180,000 mi
Steering180,000 mi
Structure170,000 mi
Structure: body: door1

The 1996 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 1998 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.