1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Suspension, Wheels & Tires leads by volume: 54 of 114 complaints (47%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (5) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 62 in 1996 to 114 in 1997.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | vs. 1997 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,600–4,300 | 3,300–4,100 | 3,450–4,300 | 3,450–3,900 | 3,450–4,550 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–25 | 19–27 | 18–26 | 20–26 | 17–26 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–23 / 21–29 | 17–24 / 24–32 | 16–23 / 23–30 | 17–23 / 24–31 | 15–23 / 21–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 407–494 | 377–468 | 392–494 | 392–444 | 392–523 | |
| Complaints filed | 123 | 62 | 114 | 78 | 131 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 14 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 7 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires: 54 of 114 NHTSA complaints (47%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class get?
EPA rates it 18–26 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
EPA estimates $3,450–$4,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Midsize Cars | 23 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | $3,450 (low) | 392 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 4.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $4,300 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 14 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 54 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 17 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · Campaign 00V388000 · Nov 29, 2000
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN THE ABSENCE OF A CRASH.
Consequence: INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
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.