2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350: common problems

Owners of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 filed 217 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 217
involving a crash: 6

What fails most often

1 Air bags 39% of all complaints
2 Fuel/propulsion system 12% of all complaints
3 Engine 9% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
5 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
6 Suspension 6% of all complaints
7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
8 Fuel system 4% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Air bags: 84 complaints (39% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Fuel/propulsion system: 27 complaints (12% of all).
Engine: 20 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Service brakes: 20 complaints (9% of all).
Electrical system: 19 complaints (9% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 217 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

rust, corrosion30 · 14%
warning lights, check engine21 · 10%
fuel system, fuel smell19 · 9%
smoke, burning smell, fire9 · 4%
knocking, grinding or other noise8 · 4%
steering or power steering problems6 · 3%
oil leak or consumption4 · 2%
loss of power / limp mode4 · 2%
infotainment or screen glitches4 · 2%
seat belts4 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Air bags	84	3
Fuel/propulsion system	27	0
Engine	20	2
Service brakes	20	0
Electrical system	19	0
Suspension	14	0
Powertrain	10	3
Fuel system	9	0
Steering	9	0
Seats	8	0
Structure	8	0
Seat belts	4	0
Tires	4	0
Wheels	4	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

While the vehicle was parked and the key was removed from the ignition, the vehicle jerked and rolled backwards before stopping independently. In addition, the contact heard an abnormal noise and the vehicle veered to the left when reversing.
Engine · crash · 2014-10-03 · NHTSA complaint #10641320
The contact stated that the vehicle was secured with the engine turned off when the vehicle rolled away in reverse independently and as the contact was exiting the front driver's side door.
Powertrain · crash · 2014-09-30 · NHTSA complaint #10640109
My mercedes pre activated a skid mode and there was approximately a 70% cut back in engine power .a yellow engine light came on and skid mode came on operator screen but there was no skidding taking place.
Engine · crash · 2014-04-26 · NHTSA complaint #10585027
The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed crankshaft sensor. The contact stated that the crankshaft sensor was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred.
Engine and cooling · 2026-08-31 · NHTSA complaint #11761001
No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a fuel leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V557000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall.
Fuel system · 2026-06-22 · NHTSA complaint #11745590
Brake failure due to leaking brake fluid after dealership conducted rear sub frame extended warranty coverage replacement and recent brake fluid services and after two (2) multi point inspections including video and reported âno items failedâ and âno items cautioned.â Vehicle was released to me both times…
Service brakes · 2026-06-01 · NHTSA complaint #11741227
The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Also, the contact indicated that the front driver seat heat element had overheated and cause melting to the seat cushion.
Electrical system · 2026-05-15 · NHTSA complaint #11738080
The failed component is a fuel pump, and it is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk due to the following: 1) Sudden engine stalling 2) Dangerous power loss while accelerating 3) Potential fire risks; a damaged fuel pump assembley can cause fuel leaks and overheating…
Fuel/propulsion system · 2026-05-04 · NHTSA complaint #11735613

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20111
20122
20133
20145
20154
20164
201738
201819
201936
202016
202116
202221
202310
202418
202516
20268

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 1,863 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).

On average one model year of the E 350 has 96 complaints (23 years in the data). This year has 217, above average.

What to check before buying

Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, fuel/propulsion system, engine. Total complaints: 217. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (14%), warning lights, check engine (10%), fuel system, fuel smell (9%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350?

NHTSA lists 0 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 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 2012 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 2026-11-05.