There are 3 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The vehicle will flood after being exposed to rain which has caused all sorts of electrical issues. I have read online where several others have filed lawsuits regarding E class Mercedes for similar issues. The car’s interior will take on water and since there’s several electrical components running along the floor board of the car they will become damaged and cause the car’s computers and electrical system to go crazy. I picked up my car from having the oil changed at a local service shop a few days after it was repaired and I was driving back home after the service pick up and the car completely lost power. I got out of the car and opened the trunk in which I had to do so by using the key inside of the key fob. When I opened the trunk, I noticed that there was a little bit of water in the trunk which led me to open the back door and to my surprise there was standing water behind the driver seat. I checked the driver floor and it was soaked as well. I had the car towed back to the shop where I had the oil changed and the owner did not have the available equipment to test the car. I dried the car out over the next several days and drove to a local Mercedes dealership where they told me to do a full diagnostic on the car it would cost upwards of $19k. Are you kidding me? Now I know from reading others stories that this isn’t an unknown issue. So, what do I do now…file an insurance claim? I guess that would be the next step but they’ll turn around and get the money right back out of me by raising my policy rates. This is terrible. My car is a 2004 E320 with just under 65k miles on it.
WHILE D IRVING HOME FROM WORK, AFTER STOPPING FOR LIGHT, WHEN LIGHT CHANGED AND I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, I SUDDENLY COULDN'T HARDLY TURN. IT TOOK ALL I HAD TO MAKE TURNS, THEN AFTER ARRIVING HOME MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE SUSPENSION HAD DROPPED ON THE VEHICLES AND WAS RESTING ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. POWER STEERING RESOVIOUR WAS EMPTY AND WHEN HE PUT SOME IN. IT ALL RAN ON THE GROUND. V ECHO LIE WAS IN MOTION.
VIBRATION WHEN VEHICULE COLD, AFTER A FEW MILES PROBLEM GOES AWAY.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026