218 of the
2,686 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz E350
are about the engine —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
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.
Issue with fuel injection for Benz E350 2014 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 fuel injection issues often stem from faulty injectors causing misfires, often on Cylinder 5, or a recalled fuel feed line. Symptoms include rough idling, reduced gas mileage, stalling, and check engine lights (P0300-P0306 codes).
NHTSA complaint #11723123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact heard an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine that lasted for approximately 3 seconds when first started. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the failure was a common issue, and that the vehicle operated as designed. The contact stated that the failure might be related to the timing chain or the lifters. The contact stated that there were no issues while driving the vehicle, only whenever the vehicle was first started. The contact stated that after the engine had warmed up to operating temperature, the sound was no longer heard. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #11693801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
The camshaft adjuster failure. Though I'm told safety is not in immediate danger, it's a very expensive fix that can cause other issues if left unpaired. It began subtly with strange noises, hesitation during start-up, inconsistent performance. I take meticulous care of this vehicle. Regular service. Genuine parts. Always handled with care. And yet, here I am, facing a repair bill that is not only shocking, but unjust. Especially for this to be a common problem. Not to mention the potential for severe engine damage if left unresolved. I’ve since learned that I am not alone. Many loyal Mercedes owners have faced the same issue; often at relatively low mileage, with little to no warning. This is not an isolated defect. It is a systemic issue with significant implications, not just for the vehicle, but for the trust your customers place in your brand. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I feel let down. Mercedes-Benz has always held a status. A great looking car. A great engineered car. And while this is a great looking car, it has a serious engineering flaw. German and Japanese engineered cars hold the standard and this must be fixed. A goodwill repair assistance, or a broader recall initiative would show some integrity.
NHTSA complaint #11685698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brake lines rust and corrode at the plastic support clips. Brake lines are not made from quality materials. Suffrage also corroded. Suffrage was changed by dealer though when vehicle was returned the Brake lines were broken. Car entered Suffrage service with brake lines intact, rusted i wouldn't doubt but intact. When returned after changing Suffrage, brake line was broken and leaking brake fluid. Extremely dangerous to return vehicle with broken brake lines and expected Owner to drive away with no brakes. Changing brake lines was offered at a cost of $4000 but the lines were not broken upon dropping off for service. Brake lines should be warrantied and changed to a less corrosive material. Engine mounts fail and cause vibration.
NHTSA complaint #11683488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
fast acceleration then slow down goes into limp mode . happens when passing a car or taking off fast like entering into traffic . very dangerous. will be calling mercedes benz tomorrow. bought car used approximately 4 months ago. thanks
NHTSA complaint #11676061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Smell gasoline on driver side. Can’t fill tank up or the smell is unbearable. Gas consumption is high. Engine light is on , suspension make a lot of noise, and ticking on driver side.
NHTSA complaint #11654400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Recall exists related to a potential issue with the high-pressure fuel pump, which could lead to engine stalling and increase crash risk. My 2012 Mercedes E350 stops the engine in the middle of the road couple of times and for some reason, its stops or shut off the engine completely. The last time I was pulling out on the main road and stop right there. I made a big traffic, and I was scared because I cannot start the car. The guy stops and help me to push out of the road, but we cannot push the vehicle unless someone is inside the car. If I go out, it will automatically go on "park" and cannot push the car. When you check the dashboard the check engine light is not on. 2nd incident I bring this car to Mercedes Benz Dealership, and I told them that there is something wrong in my car, I explain what was wrong but, the guy I talk to, told me that if the check engine light is not coming on, my car is fine. I repeated that the car stops ones in a while when the temperature light is on inside the dashboard and the engine shuts off. He told me if the check engine light turns on then I bring it back. I show the code reading but the same thing he said. I left and went back home and suddenly I get stranded again; I got stock in the middle of the road for 3 to 4 minutes. I start the car and suddenly the car starts and find the nearest place to pull over. I let it call down for couple of hours and start again, the car starts and try to go back home. When I was in the interstate hwy. My car engine shut off, so I quickly pull over, but I was having a hard time to turn the wheel. I believe that this is very unsafe and should have Mercedes Dealer has to repair this issue. I research on the website that 2012 Mercedes Benz E350 have recall to a potential issue with the high- pressure pump and other things like Battery fuse relay box positive terminal and low fuel circuit.
NHTSA complaint #11647787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low battery warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to a nearby parking lot. The contact parked the vehicle and opened the hood. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed pieces of the serpentine belt on the engine. The contact turned the vehicle off. The contact went to a nearby Auto Parts store and purchased a new serpentine belt. The contact replaced the serpentine belt, and the vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that upon checking the data on the instrument panel, the contact became aware of several error messages. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel had seized. The contact turned off the vehicle and the steering wheel functionality returned. The contact stated that the low coolant warning light illuminated; however, the coolant level was checked and was sufficient. Additionally, the contact stated that the drive assist warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics regarding the drive assist warning light; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 183,000.
NHTSA complaint #11644645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
[XXX].The engine intake manifold on our 2012 Mercedes E350 (64,000 miles) EXPLODED with enough force to bend the hood up 2 inches. It was a damp cold morning & the engine had not been started in 12 hours. The car was not locked & the key fob was nowhere close. The fuel level was under 3/4 full. This happened when wife went to get something out of the car and when she pulled the passenger door handle to open - B O O M !!!! If this happened 30 minutes later, I would have been under that hood checking the fluid levels for a trip to San Francisco. I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED!. It was towed to Mercedes-Benz of Carlsbad, Carlsbad California on [XXX] & they have not been able to identify the cause. They could replace the broken parts at the cost of $8,000 but that doesn’t fix the problem. And if it happens again & hurts or kills someone, they could be held liable. Similar intake explosions have occurred on these Mercedes engines but Mercedes is denying any knowledge even though it’s clearly a dangerous design flaw in this intake system. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11641800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
August 2024, while driving on a 4 lane highway at 65 mph, a warning appeared on gauge cluster saying that Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control inoperable. This caused the car to reduce power, requiring me to quickly pull over. The car continued running but I was limited on mph and gear selection (aka Limp Mode). I turned the car off, allowing the systems to reset. After driving approximately 1 miles, the same warnings appeared. Fortunately, I was within a mile from home at the time so I was able to "Limp" the car home. The next day, I checked the car again by driving in my neighborhood with the result. I had the car transported on roll back to Express Oil and Tire in Barboursville, WV as my "local" MB dealer is an hour away. They checked the car and the Engine Control Module was defective and needed replacement. The cost of the service including new MB parts and programming would be $2,495. I tried for 2 months to secure funding to fix the car to no avail. I had the car towed on roll back again but back to my house. The car has sat since then.
NHTSA complaint #11625902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Since May 2024, I had taken my car in for repairs at 3 different shops for same exact issue diagnosed as leak from air intake system. It has been repaired 7 times since it first occurred in May 2024, and unfortunately it is still not resolved. This is a potential danger to the driver because all of a sudden there will be loud noise from the engine, car will start misfiring and slow down the speed. The previous 3 attempts of repair were made at Mercedes Benz of West Covina. The car is non drivable at the moment.
NHTSA complaint #11620163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The engine in these cars are defective and can cause serious harm due to a part that was put inside the motor made of plastic. There was a lawsuit but if you didn’t get in on it you losses out for not knowing. I was recently at Mercedes dealership to fix recalls and they brushed me off. The car can catch fire and I’m already experiencing engine failure after only owning the car for a year. They don’t care because it’s an old car but it’s still being sold to unsuspecting buyers. I’m not the only one there are thousands of us who are at risk driving these cars because Mercedes won’t admit their off the showroom floor mistake.
NHTSA complaint #11611501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine camshaft position sensors are leaking oil which has "wicked" into the engine wiring harness and ECU. This is a common safety issue on this year and I would like to urge Mercedes to issue a recall as oil contamination within the electrical system can lead to a host of other safety concerns.
NHTSA complaint #11602721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My check engine light has been on for about a year, I have been told by both the dealerships here in Memphis/Collierville that as long as the light is an orange color there is nothing to worry about but it has been on consistently for about a year. I had a Diagnostic test done on [XXX] by Dr. Benz Affordable Mercedes Benz care and it was revealed that ME control module, oxygen sensor, engine wiring harness has oil intrusion all throughout. I would hate to attempt to drive my vehicle and all of a sudden it is severely damaged because of this. I feel this may be a very costly expense and would like some assistance in taking care of this matter. I love my car and have not had any problems, and hope to have it several years more. I only have 116,038 miles on this 2012 vehicle that I purchased in 2015 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11592524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dealership stated on 6/4/24 extensive rust and perforations on rear vehicle sub frame that can cause risk to driver of accident or injury. MBUSA is offering to replace sub frame part # 212 350 38 05. However dealership advised MBUSA is not offering to replace corroded brake lines or brake fluid exchange, and would need to come out of pocket. MBUSA failed to notify me of safety defect. Vehicle was purchased from MB of Arlington, VA in 4/2019 however dealership sold vehicle that is dangerous to drive. The vehicle also has additional safety defects such as a passenger tail light that does not work, and a license plate light not functioning. Dealership wants an additional $1500 to replace these (2) lights. Vehicle has low mileage at 60,000 and was purchased with 35,000 under MB CPO program. I am very disappointed in Mercedes Benz and have never had so many quality and safety issues with any of my prior E-Classes before. I contacted MBUSA and opened up a Executive Care Escalations Case [XXX}. There was no warning lights of the impending safety feature. The level of rust on the sub frame is horrifying, and this vehicle should never have been sold to me under MB CPO. In addition, the vehicle engine is leaking oil in multiple places and could catch fire in any moment. I have never seen so many issues on a vehicle with low mileage, especially with a Mercedes. Dealer is refusing to assist with cost, and wants 2K+ to replace engine gaskets. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11592509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2014 Mercedes started getting a fault light with multiple performance issues. Mercedes dealer where I can carry out my routine maintenance diagnosed the issue to the electrical harness being contaminated with engine oil and it needed to be replaced on the engine because of a known issue whereby oil from the upper camshaft sensors seep into the harness and makes its way to ECU and causes possible failure of the engine control, which could lead to shutting down or worse, incorrect engine timing which would lead to incorrect detonation at the compressors and subsequently engine failure at critical operational phase. This below link and attached document describes the issue well. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11584134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.