2005 Mercedes Benz E320: brake failure

Filed Feb 19, 2025 · Brakes · TX

There has not been an incident report, however, my brakes failed while driving and I pulled over. This is the fault the SBC System which has an Extended 25 year warranty. I brought it into Mercedes prior to complete failure, but they only replace the Pressure Reservoir. It must be returned to Mercedes for the SBC UNIT replacement.

Filed Nov 15, 2023 · Brakes · CA · crash

A warning in Red came up on the dashboard which said something like "catastrophic break failure" ..I was going slow about to stop at the Red light and the brakes did not work and I hit a mini van

Filed May 9, 2023 · Brakes · CA

While driving in highway, SBC brake failure warning and failure. Fortunate to be able to come to a stop without crashing into a car ahead since had plenty of time and distance to slowly come to a stop even with reduced braking power. If traveling in rush hour would likely have rear ended a stopped car in front and potentially causing serious injury and damage! This is a known issue with Mercedes, and there is an extended 25 year warranty on the vehicle but for some reason, my vehicle was not included in the recall: the federal safety agency CAMPAIGN ID: 04V296000 2005 Mercedes e320 automatic sedan. I had the dealer replace parts of the the SBA brake unit once, but it has since reappeared on an intermittent basis usually during cold start and then it goes away in a few seconds while pulling out of a driveway, but this time it occurred after having driven for awhile on a freeway Please investigate to include additionally affected vehicles!!!

Filed Feb 18, 2023 · Brakes · CA

Brake warning lights flashed and brakes failed

Filed Mar 5, 2020 · Brakes · 153,000 miles · UT

Driving down the road at highway speed and red warning lights come on and no brakes

Filed Nov 2, 2018 · Brakes · 135,000 miles · MO

Complete brake failure while driving. Pulled out of the parking lot (brake working at this time) on to a city street. This was a divided multiple lane road, with the car traveling in the center lane. A few minutes later the car could not be slowed or stopped. An intersection with traffic light was ahead, with multiple cars in front. Switched off the ignitiom of the car to slow it down. Took a turn off at the intersection. The car ran over the curb and came to rest next to a gas station.

Filed Oct 11, 2018 · Brakes · 130,000 miles · SC

I was driving and my brakes failed causing me to almost crash. I was on a busy interstate and had to immediately get to edge of road and turn my car off and the restart.. Took to a aoto shop. Found out that it was the sbc ABS brake system. Was notified of a recall

Filed Jul 12, 2018 · Brakes · 210,000 miles · TX · crash · 1 injury

The sbc braking system totally failed while driving. Dong road at 35 MPH only way to avoid running into someone or cars was to drive this into tree. I could have killed someone or me. The problem is the same with all these models. Their needs to be a recall on theses models before to many people die. This model is know to have complete brake failure especially on the mercedes forums. Someone can inspect the vehicle because I can wait to fix to make sure this can never happen to anyone again or cause a death.

Filed Apr 26, 2018 · Brakes · 196,000 miles · NE · crash · 1 injury

I was driving 40mph on a city street, when the car dash flashed in red, "brake malfunction, see workshop soon". A red light was coming up, so I went to press brakes & absolutely no brakes! I swerved in a church/school parking lot to my right so I wouldn't go further ahead & be in a major intersection. Because of the quick turn, I hit a tree in an island, which stopped the car, but totaled my car. I had my car for 12 yrs & always serviced it & had it in excellent condition & no recall, etc was ever on this car for this deal. My husband looked on line after & saw others had the same thing happen, with same make./model & older miles.

Filed Feb 20, 2018 · Brakes · 3 miles · CA

Was driving in my 2005 e320 w211, last week 500 am in the morning southbound towards freeway about 45 MPH had perfect brakes then red warning on dash no brakes had complete brake failure went through the red light rolled to a stop!good thing it was early in the morning.. 2nd complaint I called mercedes dealer where I bought the car just got brush off as usual. Well another w211 with sbc pump failure!how many does this make! Good thing not doing 80 on freeway with kids in the car!!!!!!! Anyway my startech mechanic warned me about this when I called my dealer in 2013 still under exteded goodwill warranty that nobody knew about. I called and asked about recall, I was told: "nothing wrong with that model car no recal"l and now!!!never got a letter explaining the brakes could go out anytime without warning or phone call, about this defective brake pump driving around in potential death machine!!!! Just really dissapointed in my dealership. I called them again telling them sbc pump went no goodwill goodheart change of defective pump and now cost me 2000.00 to fix a defective sbc pump that should had been changed before I bought the car, or corrected me when I called they should have told me there is a extended warranty I would have brought it in then! Very frustrated with mercedes benz dealer where I bought my car hope this becomes a national recall before something really bad happens, most people 2nd owners are probably have no idea.

Filed Jan 12, 2018 · Brakes · 65,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz e320. While decelerating from 60 MPH, the brakes failed to engage. The brake warning indicator illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the sensotronic brake control (sbc) was faulty. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The dealer information was unknown. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 65,000. *tt

Filed Sep 14, 2017 · Brakes · 111,000 miles · GA · crash

While driving 2 days ago (2005 e320) I suddenly got a brake warning, bright red "stop" 'reduced braking power depress brake fully' and the brake pedal goes to the floor with little or no stopping action, it was very scary. I was only going with 15-20mph but there was a red light in front of me when this happened. I couldn't stop in time and had to hit the barrier to stop the car. Luckily no one is injured, but my car was a serious threat to me and others. I contacted the mb service and it is related with sbc unit and it is out of warranty. They want $2700 to fix this issue. I think mb needs to realize this isn't like the glycol contamination or something not that serious, this is a major problem in the actual braking system of the car!!! Very scary and imagine those people driving these 03-06 e's, or 06's cls, or sl's that don't know about the chances of the system failing and what to do.