1998 Chevrolet Malibu vs 1998 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 | 1998 Chevrolet Malibu | 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 976 | 37 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 115 | 29 |
| Investigations | 6 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–24 | 20–21 |
| Median reported mileage | 80,731 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Mercedes-Benz E320 |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 347 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 144 | 8 |
| Electrical System | 130 | 1 |
| Suspension | 108 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 79 | 3 |
| Steering | 74 | 1 |
| Visibility | 63 | 4 |
| Tires | 58 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 87 | 0 |
| Stalling | 37 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 22 | 0 |
| Overheating | 21 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 15 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 15 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 14 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 0 |
1998 Chevrolet Malibu
1998 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.