1997 Chevrolet Malibu vs 1997 Mercedes-Benz E320
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Chevrolet Malibu | 1997 Mercedes-Benz E320 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 443 | 63 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 119 | 31 |
| Investigations | 7 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 22 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 20 |
| Median reported mileage | 85,000 mi | 115,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Mercedes-Benz E320 |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 100 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 87 | 5 |
| Suspension | 55 | 32 |
| Steering | 80 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 60 | 4 |
| Visibility | 41 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 40 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 25 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 28 | 0 |
| Stalling | 18 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 12 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 7 | 0 |
| Overheating | 7 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 6 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 13 |
1997 Chevrolet Malibu
1997 Mercedes-Benz E320
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu 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.