1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Suspension, Wheels & Tires leads by volume: 38 of 131 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 78 in 1998 to 131 in 1999.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | vs. 1999 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,450–4,300 | 3,450–3,900 | 3,450–4,550 | 3,700–4,550 | 3,700–4,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–26 | 20–26 | 17–26 | 17–21 | 18–21 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–23 / 23–30 | 17–23 / 24–31 | 15–23 / 21–32 | 15–18 / 21–27 | 15–18 / 21–26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 392–494 | 392–444 | 392–523 | 423–523 | 423–494 | |
| Complaints filed | 114 | 78 | 131 | 97 | 74 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 9 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 5 | |
| Injuries reported | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 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 1999 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 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires: 38 of 131 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class get?
EPA rates it 17–26 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
EPA estimates $3,450–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| 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) | 32 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 | 27 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 4.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Station Wagons | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Station Wagons | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 5.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $4,550 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 38 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 24 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 5 | 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:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · Campaign 98V256000 · Oct 15, 1998
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A WRONG CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS.
Consequence: THE WINDOW AIR BAG MAY NOT FULLY DEPLOY IN A SIDE-IMPACT COLLISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS AND, IF THE WRONG OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED CLAMP IS FOUND, THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL BE REPLACED.