1996 Ford Contour vs 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford Contour | 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 563 | 45 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 223 | 31 |
| Investigations | 5 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 35 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 24 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 91,500 mi | 110,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Contour | Mercedes-Benz E320 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 119 | 12 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 123 | 4 |
| Power Train | 77 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 64 | 0 |
| Suspension | 38 | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 44 | 0 |
| Equipment | 41 | 2 |
| Visibility | 41 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 44 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 35 | 8 |
| Overheating | 24 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 10 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 10 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 8 | 12 |
1996 Ford Contour
1996 Mercedes-Benz E320
Compare all Ford Contour vs Mercedes-Benz E320 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.