2003 Mercedes Benz E320: brake failure

Filed Jul 15, 2022 · Brakes · CA

Brakes failed

Filed Sep 6, 2019 · Brakes · 91,000 miles · CA

Brake failure occurred with no prior warning. Brakes are electronically controlled and complete loss of braking occurred while vehicle was in motion. Red "brake" and "ABS" lights in dash started flashing along with continuous beeping. Was able to bring vehicle to a stop within parking lot by using parking brake. Upon shutting off and restarting engine, vehicle regained braking. Car will not be driven until issue is addressed.

Filed Dec 7, 2017 · Brakes, Engine · 140,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz e320. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard without stopping or slowing the vehicle. The vehicle made a beeping sound and the stop engine and brake failure warning indicators illuminated. The dealer was called (mercedes-benz of brooklyn, ny, 718‑258‑5100) and the technician stated that the ABS was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer stated that there was no recall and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Filed Oct 23, 2016 · PA

My husband was driving the car with my 10 year old son on i276 at 55mph when the brakes failed. Luckily enough there was no car in front of them and since they were on a highway he had time to stop without causing an accident or crushing. We towed the car to the mercedes dealership and we were told that sbc failed and we have to pay $2000. Had the car towed to mercedes benz of fort washington in fort washington, pa. The dealer examined the vehicle and said the sbc unit has to be replaced and the cost is $2000. I did some research and it appears that I was not the only customer with this major safety problem. This unit failed on many customers and apparently there was an extended warranty offered up to 10 years. I have to say that I was very disappointed that mercedes never notified its customers of this situation. The dealer never notified me of this potential problem and they expect me to pay the repair cost for a safety issue that should have been addressed?? To make matters worse, after I reached out to mercedes-benz USA, I was told that the part would have been covered under the 10 year term only if it failed which is an appalling statement. So I would have to crash before the part is replaced?? This is the absolutely most ridiculous thing I have ever heard from a car manufacturer. I have asked the representative for his manager's contact information and he refused to provide it. The sbc unit should be covered at no expense to the consumer because it was known faulty safety issue.

Filed Feb 29, 2016 · Brakes · 144,000 miles · AL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz e320. While driving at various speeds and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the hydraulic pump failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000.

Filed Nov 17, 2015 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · FL · crash

Brakes just when out on it and they have a recall but is good for just 10 they need to be respons for this problem making cars with no brakes is a deith wish I hope you guys do something about it is not safe at all

Filed Sep 18, 2015 · Brakes, Steering · MD

I was driving on route 5, branch ave., near clinton, md, about 30 MPH, down slight decline of a hill, approaching a place in the road where cars can enter the highway from both the left and the right. As we normally do, I pressed on the breaks to slow down, in case one of the cars sitting on both the left and right, decided to enter on to branch ave. My brakes failed - the foot peddle went completely to the floor when I was trying to slow down, there was little to no control in the steering wheel and I looked at the dashboard and it was lit up in red warning lights , first saying brake need maintenance (or something) at first. I manage to get the car to steer towards the right to get on the side of the road, hoping the rough terrain would help to slow the car to a stop. By this time the red warning lighted up dash board said stop, brake failure or something. The car finally stopped and I turned if off. I am 59 year old woman and was absolutely petrified - my whole body was shaking from the fear that I was going to wreck on this busy highway. Luckily for me the cars waiting to enter the road, did not and cars on the highway slowed down and went around me while the car was coasting towards the side of the road. There was no warning light telling me to get the brakes services - they just failed while I was driving on the freeway. I called mercedes roadside service for them to pick up the car. After an hour and they had not arrived, I turned the car on, there was no red light. I pressed the brake and it didn't go to the floor but it was soft and went nearly to the floor. I kept pumping the breaks - something I used to see my father do - thinking that would bring the breaks back up so that I could at least drive back home to await service truck. I let mercedes service know, then I slowly drove back, side roads, pulling over to allow cars to pass until got home.

Filed Sep 15, 2015 · Brakes · 60,000 miles · NY

I was traveling on a secondary road at a speed of 30mph when the mfd turned red, started beeping and stated brake failure, stop driving. When I attempted to stop, the brake pedal went to the floor and the transmission automatically down shifted. After pulling the car to the side of the road, I put the transmission in park where it locked in place. After fifteen minutes the sbc reset itself and the transmission unlocked. The vehicle was removed to the mercedes dealer where I purchased it. The mercedes tech stated that the sbc needs to be replaced. I was told there was a 10 year warranty on the sbc unit, but it expired in june 2013. I am the original owner and mercedes benz USA stated that they did not notify the owners of the warranty extension or of the problems with the sbc. The cost to replace the sbc is $2,000.

Filed Jun 15, 2015 · Brakes · CA

Vehicle presented with red light indicating to take vehicle to workshop in red. Braking was extremely difficult, SRS system stalled the vehicle, emergency mode was activited,we were unable, at first to turn on the ignition switch. The vehicle operated as if it was paralyzed. We finally got the vehicle to run and reset the code by turning the steering wheel. The vehicle is very dangerous to drive if you are not prepared for longer stopping distances, thankfully my husband was able to get the vehicle to the dealership. I found myself not strong enough to press on the brake pedal for adequate braking distance. This car left me with no brakes at all driving with children in the car. This I'd not safe!

Filed Feb 1, 2015 · Brakes · 93,580 miles · NH

I was driving down a side road by a college in lowell ma and my dash board lite up and starting beeping. Said brake failure sort stopping distance, visit work shop asap. I tried to stop the car but it was very hard stopping it, I honked the horn because I was coming up on a school crossing( thank god) they all moved out of the way because I would have ran over them all. I got the car stopped and shut it off, police over saw the whole thing and pulled up behind me and I explained what happened, we went to go start the car up and all the light where off and the car seemed fine, there was no way I was taking that chance again so I called a tow truck and had it towed to my garage, mechanic just called me and said nothing was stored in the computer system and the brakes are working fine now. He checked on line to see if there where any other complaint about this issue and informed there a lot of problem from mercedes benz owners on this issue. I will not drive this car again, I could have killed all those people in the walk way because of this problem that mercedes is aware of. Please help ! I just looked up the same information on google and there are hundred of complaint about the same issue, my brakes are new. It is a electrical problem that they are aware of.

Filed Jan 4, 2015 · Brakes · 132,500 miles · TX

My wife and I were traveling northbound on texas hwy 281 just north on marble falls texas. I noticed a train coming and started to slow down and made the decision to stop for the train! Well at that time my brake dash warning came on and it was all red and my brakes failed. Their I was not able to stop going 75 miles per hour (legally) and I could not stop and it was way to late for the train to stop also so I floored it to get over the tracks then I finally came to a safe stop. I searched the internet for a fix and to my surprise mercedes had known of this for many years and stopped all help with the issue when the car reached 10 years old. This car should be fixed by the company that knowingly put it on the road with an experimental new type of braking system then tells owners down the road to kiss their butt. And its now the owners problem. What a deal my car is in great shape but has a defective experimental braking system that mercedes will not even discuss fixing. I should have bought a corvair or maybe a pinto at least you can stop them! Wow why have you not jumped all over this manufacture about this deadly problem even you have known for years! But no one has told me??? The title should be marked deadly in bold letters.

Filed Sep 10, 2014 · Brakes, Fuel system · 140,000 miles · VA

I'm lucky to be alive! I purchased this car in 2005 and ever since I purchased my 2003 merc. Benz e320, it's been a crazy ride! Here's a list of different issues that happened to me over the course of me owning this vehicle, which unfortunately I still do. I was driving with my little girl in tow and my brakes went out on me several times, my battery dies constantly, I had an issue when after I pumped gas you could smell fuel both inside my car & outside of my car, I literally one time had fuel pouring from the back of my car that ended on my garage floor. (thank god I don't smoke!) my suspension is constantly rattling, I have water that leaks on my feet when I drive occasionally and sometimes I have heat in the winter and sometimes I don't. I always have a check engine light on and as soon as I fix one, another one comes on. I currently had issues with code po134, po135 and had the o2 sensor changed, then my check engine light came back on and now I have codes po171 & po174 that I have no idea how to get fixed because it could be a number of issues. My battery drains when my electric seats are plugged in and so I have to have them unplugged to save my battery. Did I mention my back tire blew out on interstate 95 and I almost lost control of my car. It's devastating to pay the amount of money you do for this particular model, it's pretty on the outside and is a mess under the hood! Is it normal when you have the AC on for it to sound like an airplane ready for take off? I'm tired of investing all kinds of money into this car, I just can't take it anymore! I can't even pass my va. State emissions test because of all these error codes (check engine light and malfunctions) and the state doesn't even find my car worthy of being on the roads.