AI Damage2017 Mercedes-Benz B 250E: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz B 250E filed 20 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. The maker issued 36 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 20
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 36
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 55% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 50% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 40% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 25% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 11 complaints (55% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Powertrain: 10 complaints (50% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (40% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 5 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (5% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 20 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 10 | 0 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lane departure | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The dealership apparently added coolant without advising me that the B250-E has a 100% chance of failure to the Drive Unit / coolant intrusion unless a small part is replaced before coolant leaks into the inverter/entire engine.
I exited the freeway and as soon as I stopped at the light for the off ramp a warning light indicator appeared stating Coolant Low. I found this odd as I was unaware of Electric Vehicles using Coolant. I clicked the OK button on the steering wheel and the message was acknowledged and disappeared from the screen.
While driving a notice to park the car and call for maintenance came up then while I was trying to get to safe stopping point the car went on to neutral and shut down while I was at speed. I turned the car back on and moved it to safety and called for roadside assistance
The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle the lost automotive power and stalled. The message "Shut Off Immediately" was displayed. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission fluid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving at low speeds, the vehicle went into lock mode.
My car just stalled and was not able to move on the highway exit which caused a high risk for the safety of passengers and the safety of others. The car has been towed to a Mercedes Dealer in West Covina, California. and they indicate that the coolant leaked into the drive motor and caused the car to stop.
I checked the speed sensor on 1/16 and found lots of coolant leakage and evidence of motor abrasion (see attached picture). The car developed a whining/whirring sound a couple of months earlier that are indicative of the problem.
Mercedes dealer indicated a coolant leak resulted in an electrical failure and required that I pay $18,000 to replace the motor system. This is a known issue, however. When I mentioned that this is a manufacturing defect affecting numerous b250e I was referred to Mercedes Benz USA.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 8,261 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 23% most complained about).
On average one model year of the B 250E has 6 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 20, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and…
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE
Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration…
- Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection temporarily not available"
Potentially affected functionalities in NTG4.5, NTG5 1.Weather 2.Local Search 3.IP Radio 4.Send2Car 5.Speech Detection Service 6.Navigation 7.iHeartRadio 8.Traffic Cams Cause MB Apps is sundowned for all vehicles with…
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), the…
- Dear Mercedes-Benz USA Dealers, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed,…
Dear Mercedes-Benz USA Dealers, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed, and any existing stock must be returned to your facing PDC. The deadline for all dealer returns is no later than…
- Complaint After successful commissioning of the HERMES control unit (N112/9) with XENTRY Diagnosis DVD…
Complaint After successful commissioning of the HERMES control unit (N112/9) with XENTRY Diagnosis DVD 03/2026, the message "SOS - service not activated" appears on the instrument cluster. In addition, the following…
- Complaint The customer requests deactivation of the N112/9 HERMES communication module Note
Deactivation of the HERMES control unit (N112/9) is not supported for gray-market vehicles. Cause Before deactivating the HERMES control unit (N112/9), it must be clarified by the legal department of the respective MPC…
- Complaint There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance
A: Wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering B: The windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) C: During the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the A-pillar (Figure 1) D: After…
- Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in…
- Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon,…
Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the…
- Complaint Customer states the AC either does not cool/has poor performance or heat is insufficient
Cause Many possible root causes Remedy *Note - This Li does not apply if there are other Li's that apply to your concern OR you have a fault and/or guided test that leads to a root cause. AC Diagnosis (General) Initial…
- Complaint Customer states the AC either does not cool/has poor performance or heat is insufficient
Cause Many possible root causes Remedy AC Diagnosis (General) Initial Steps Verify Customer Concern • Confirm the issue reported by the customer. Compare to Like Vehicle • Determine if the behavior is normal by…
NHTSA lists 36 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Mercedes-Benz B 250E?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 20. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (40%), stalls while driving (10%), warning lights, check engine (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz B 250E?
NHTSA lists 36 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Mercedes-Benz B 250E from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.