Owners have filed 215 complaints
about the 2013 Mercedes Benz E350 with NHTSA between 2013 and 2026.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 15 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 60
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz E350. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
26.5% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 57
33% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2013 compares with every other Mercedes Benz E350
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Body
1450.0%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
414.3%
Frame AND Members
310.7%
Adaptive Cruise Control
27.1%
Warnings
27.1%
Automatic Emergency Braking
13.6%
Pressure Monitoring AND Regulating Systems
13.6%
Delivery
13.6%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
33.2%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
1111.8%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
77.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
3032.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
1111.8%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
77.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
1819.4%
150,000+ miles
66.5%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2013peak 11Apr 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2013 Mercedes Benz E350
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
DP20004Opened 24 Apr 2020Closed 9 Oct 2020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Rear brake line failure
On April 10, 2020, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Surjit Singh alleging premature corrosion of the rear brake lines in his 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan. The petitioner states that he was recently informed by a Mercedes dealer service department that his car had severely rusted brake lines that need[ed] to be replaced immediately at a cost of about $3300. He further stated that the dealer service advisor informed him that he had seen the issue on many cars like his. The petitioner requested ?that NHTSA launch an investigation into this serious...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cathedral City, CACrash2 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1: The accelerator was sticking and i could not get the car to stop even when i was pressing on the brakes . Unfortunately, due to this scary event i hit the car in front of me injuring the the gentleman. the vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance as it was a total loss withn damages more than 14k
NHTSA complaint #11718391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cathedral City, CACrash2 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1: The accelerator was sticking and i could not get the car to stop even when i was pressing on the brakes . Unfortunately, due to this scary event i hit the car in front of me injuring the the gentleman. the vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance as it was a total loss withn damages more than 14k
NHTSA complaint #11718391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cathedral City, CACrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
1: The accelerator was sticking and i could not get the car to stop even when i was pressing on the brakes . Unfortunately, due to this scary event i hit the car in front of me injuring the the gentleman. the vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance as it was a total loss withn damages more than 14k
NHTSA complaint #11718391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pawcatuck, CTCrash
POWER TRAIN
My vehicle was pulling in the rear when braking. My mechanic informed me that it was a rotted undercarriage. When I called Mercedes they informed me that there is a problem with many models of Mercedes with this. They told me there is a warranty to cover it. This is a very dangerous condition. There should be a recall on all impacted vehicles. This safety failure and lack of transparency by the company (reportedly known for years) puts owners and motorists at risk. Please investigate. To make matters worse, the Dealers are unresponsive and slow to provide service and help. One dealership, Mercedes in New London CT has ignored my repeated phone calls and emails trying to clarify and schedule service. I went to another dealership Mercedes in Warwick RI. They have been more responsive with confirming the issue--but there are delays in getting the vehicle fixed--and no provision of loaner vehicles requiring the renting of vehicles during this time frame. Please investigate and require a recall.
NHTSA complaint #11561703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pawcatuck, CTCrash
SUSPENSION
My vehicle was pulling in the rear when braking. My mechanic informed me that it was a rotted undercarriage. When I called Mercedes they informed me that there is a problem with many models of Mercedes with this. They told me there is a warranty to cover it. This is a very dangerous condition. There should be a recall on all impacted vehicles. This safety failure and lack of transparency by the company (reportedly known for years) puts owners and motorists at risk. Please investigate. To make matters worse, the Dealers are unresponsive and slow to provide service and help. One dealership, Mercedes in New London CT has ignored my repeated phone calls and emails trying to clarify and schedule service. I went to another dealership Mercedes in Warwick RI. They have been more responsive with confirming the issue--but there are delays in getting the vehicle fixed--and no provision of loaner vehicles requiring the renting of vehicles during this time frame. Please investigate and require a recall.
NHTSA complaint #11561703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Margate City, NJCrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving, car suddenly goes to park, and stops , I was rear ended because of the sudden stop. When approaching red light, as soon as I start slowing down, it would without warning change gear to Park and would stop. In a heavy traffic, as soon as I started slowing down would go straight to Park and stop on the middle of highway. Mercedes Benz is aware of this problem, since they issued a bulletin for EIS ( Electronic ignition switch)
NHTSA complaint #11501610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Tracy City, TN
ENGINE
Last April, during our routine oil change our mechanic pointed out that our Cam sensors were wicking oil into the harness and making its way to the ECM. This is the first we had ever heard of this issue and the repair was $2400 or so. After researching the problem we wrote to MB USA and never got any response until we filed a lawsuit in sessions court. Turns out we cant do that locally. Mercedes has never contacted us since we registered the car in 2016 and never even acknowledged us until after we filed the attempt to collect the cost of repair. THE problem is endemic and well known. MB put a poorly designed part on their 270 engines and it could have had a worse outcome had the ECM failed while my wife was driving on the interstate Please let me know what has already been done about this problem and if they are required to notify owners. MB is silent on the issue to the point I feel as though they are hiding something.
NHTSA complaint #11729841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cathedral City, CACrash2 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1: The accelerator was sticking and i could not get the car to stop even when i was pressing on the brakes . Unfortunately, due to this scary event i hit the car in front of me injuring the the gentleman. the vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance as it was a total loss withn damages more than 14k
NHTSA complaint #11718391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cathedral City, CACrash2 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1: The accelerator was sticking and i could not get the car to stop even when i was pressing on the brakes . Unfortunately, due to this scary event i hit the car in front of me injuring the the gentleman. the vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance as it was a total loss withn damages more than 14k
NHTSA complaint #11718391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cathedral City, CACrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
1: The accelerator was sticking and i could not get the car to stop even when i was pressing on the brakes . Unfortunately, due to this scary event i hit the car in front of me injuring the the gentleman. the vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance as it was a total loss withn damages more than 14k
NHTSA complaint #11718391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 91,000 milesDenver, CO
VISIBILITY
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle through a car wash, water started leaking into the vehicle from around the sunroof frame. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V874000 (Visibility); however, neither the VIN nor the model year was included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
NHTSA complaint #11714458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suffolk, VA
WHEELS
The rear subframe needs fixing. And they are putting my car on hold for 3 weeks, denied a loaner car, and I have to get back to work.
NHTSA complaint #11693224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suffolk, VA
SERVICE BRAKES
The rear subframe needs fixing. And they are putting my car on hold for 3 weeks, denied a loaner car, and I have to get back to work.
NHTSA complaint #11693224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
New Albany, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
I took car to dealer to have subframe repaired due to rust and the brake lines are rusted as well due to this issue and i am being charged for the brake lines.
NHTSA complaint #11689488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
New Albany, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
I took car to dealer to have subframe repaired due to rust and the brake lines are rusted as well due to this issue and i am being charged for the brake lines.
NHTSA complaint #11689488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beverly, MA
STEERING
Car difficult to control found to have corroded sub frame and rear break lines. Very unsafe to drive brought to independent dealer who had car towed back to Mercedes. No warning lamps, or other symptoms prior to failure. Scary situation.
NHTSA complaint #11688243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beverly, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car difficult to control found to have corroded sub frame and rear break lines. Very unsafe to drive brought to independent dealer who had car towed back to Mercedes. No warning lamps, or other symptoms prior to failure. Scary situation.
NHTSA complaint #11688243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beverly, MA
ENGINE
Car difficult to control found to have corroded sub frame and rear break lines. Very unsafe to drive brought to independent dealer who had car towed back to Mercedes. No warning lamps, or other symptoms prior to failure. Scary situation.
NHTSA complaint #11688243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waxhaw, NC
SERVICE BRAKES
rear brake lines corroded and leaking, making the car disabled
NHTSA complaint #11679144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Patterson, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am the owner of a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 and am writing to formally express my concern regarding a persistent fuel leak issue I have experienced with my vehicle. Over the past months, I have spent more than $4,000 attempting to address this problem. Repairs have included the replacement of the fuel canister and the fuel pump. Despite these efforts, the vehicle continues to leak fuel from the area near the rear right tire, both when the vehicle is in motion and when it is parked. This issue presents a significant safety risk, not only to myself but to others on the road. I am aware that there is an existing recall for the 2014 E350 model related to similar fuel leakage problems. Given the similarities in design and the nature of the defect, I strongly urge Mercedes-Benz to investigate this matter and consider extending the recall to include the 2013 E350 models as well. I believe this is a critical safety matter that warrants immediate attention to prevent any potential accidents or hazards. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response and to a resolution that prioritizes customer safety.
NHTSA complaint #11674131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesOpelousas, LA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal fuel odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel line needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11673272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 134,000 milesReisterstown, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken for a routine inspection, the dealer diagnosed that the rear brake lines were rusted through. The contact was informed that the rear brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
NHTSA complaint #11663952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burr Ridge, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
Excessive corrosion on rear brake lines. I've never had to replace brake lines on car before. The cost is almost $5,000 out of pocket and I believe this due to low quality products used to manufacture the original brake lines. I believe there should be an investigation into the brake lines as there could be serious injury if they fail.
NHTSA complaint #11651111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
SERVICE BRAKES
Rear subframe recall and brake lines. I am very disappointed and frustrated right now. 2013 e350 has completely corroded brake lines on an otherwise relatively rust free car. The vehicle is due to get the rear subframe replaced as part of the warranty extension. The brake lines are not covered and are 4,000 dollar additional fee to replace. I can’t get the work done anywhere else for cheaper because the rear subframe needs to be dropped in order to do the brake lines, making it cost prohibitive to have the subframe and brake lines done at different shops. Something is wrong with the brake lines they used when building this car. I’ve owned cars with 10x more rust and perfectly in tact brake lines. Frames rot away before I see brake lines this bad. They should have extended the warranty to the brake lines and I hope they do so I can get reimbursed in the future.
NHTSA complaint #11649321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
my car has always had an issue with the extension of the steering column. On [XXX] I had the experience of my entire steering wheel locking up totally. once I reached the repair center of Mercedes Benz I was informed that the anti theft system was no longer working. I was also informed there were several cars in the dealership with the identical same problem.. this was a very dangerous experience and has and will cost me a lot of money, as well as a safety issue as I was traveling from Atlanta to tx, 4 hrs out managed to pull off the hwy and that's where my car was towed from, leaving me in the middle of no where for 10 hrs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11647784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, GA
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
my car has always had an issue with the extension of the steering column. On [XXX] I had the experience of my entire steering wheel locking up totally. once I reached the repair center of Mercedes Benz I was informed that the anti theft system was no longer working. I was also informed there were several cars in the dealership with the identical same problem.. this was a very dangerous experience and has and will cost me a lot of money, as well as a safety issue as I was traveling from Atlanta to tx, 4 hrs out managed to pull off the hwy and that's where my car was towed from, leaving me in the middle of no where for 10 hrs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11647784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Central Islip, NY
SUSPENSION
There was already a recall for my rear subframe that I am now getting done due to rust corroding the metal structure. However, upon the dealers inspection the corrosion is also present on the rear brake lines which cause a safety concern and are charging $4000 to replace the brake lines aside from the warranty repair. It poses a safety hazard if the lines were to fail and have heard of others having the same issue along with rotted rear subframes.
NHTSA complaint #11644847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Central Islip, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
There was already a recall for my rear subframe that I am now getting done due to rust corroding the metal structure. However, upon the dealers inspection the corrosion is also present on the rear brake lines which cause a safety concern and are charging $4000 to replace the brake lines aside from the warranty repair. It poses a safety hazard if the lines were to fail and have heard of others having the same issue along with rotted rear subframes.
NHTSA complaint #11644847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mountain Grove, MO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Was informed about the extended warranty for the rusting rear sub-frame issues on this make and year. Upon speaking with the dealership and further research online the rear hard brake lines are rusted as well and not covered by Mercedes. Upon further research this a common issue and danager to my safety and others as well. Upon work required to fix rear sub-frame would make it easier job to also replace rusted brakes lines. But Mercedes does not cover that and wants to charge customers a extra 3500$ to fix something that should not be happen as well. With the sub-frame out for replacement would make sense to replace other rusted parts with the extended warranty. It's a major safety issues already with rusted sub-frame and also added rusted brakes lines. This should be investigated further into to keep everyone safe. There are lot of owners unaware of this issues that could lead to brake failure. We use our brakes to stop and most new cars should not be having this issue so early.
NHTSA complaint #11640861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mountain Grove, MO
SERVICE BRAKES
Was informed about the extended warranty for the rusting rear sub-frame issues on this make and year. Upon speaking with the dealership and further research online the rear hard brake lines are rusted as well and not covered by Mercedes. Upon further research this a common issue and danager to my safety and others as well. Upon work required to fix rear sub-frame would make it easier job to also replace rusted brakes lines. But Mercedes does not cover that and wants to charge customers a extra 3500$ to fix something that should not be happen as well. With the sub-frame out for replacement would make sense to replace other rusted parts with the extended warranty. It's a major safety issues already with rusted sub-frame and also added rusted brakes lines. This should be investigated further into to keep everyone safe. There are lot of owners unaware of this issues that could lead to brake failure. We use our brakes to stop and most new cars should not be having this issue so early.
NHTSA complaint #11640861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesMadison, AL
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the front end of the panoramic sunroof allowed water to leak into the vehicle during inclement weather. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further research, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V918000 (Visibility) and 21V197000 (Structure); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11633084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.