AI DamageMercedes-Benz E Class: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz E Class across 16 model years: 299 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 32% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 18% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 95 complaints (32% of all).
- Suspension: 55 complaints (18% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 35 complaints (12% of all).
- Service brakes: 31 complaints (10% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 20 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2017–2023
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl 2015–2020
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1994–2005
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2006–2016
- 4 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2018–2023
- 4.2 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1994–1997
- 4.3 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1999–2002
- 4.7 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2012–2017
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1994–2006
- 5.4 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1999–2002
- 5.4 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2003–2006
- 5.5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2000–2011
- 5.5 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2012–2016
- 6.2 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2007–2011
- 6.3 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2010
- 2 L · hybrid · turbo · 4 cyl 2024–2027
- 3 L · diesel · 6 cyl 1995–1997named in 7 complaints
- 3 L · diesel · turbo · 6 cyl 1998–2009named in 2 complaints
- 3 L · hybrid · 6 cyl 2019–2023
- 3 L · hybrid · turbo · 6 cyl 2021–2027
- 3 L · plug-in hybrid · turbo · 6 cyl 2025–2026
- 3.2 L · diesel · turbo · 6 cyl 2005–2006
- 3.5 L · hybrid · 6 cyl 2013–2015
- automatic, 4-speed 1994–1996
- automatic, 5-speed 1997–2009
- automatic, 7-speed 2004–2017
- automatic, 9-speed 2017–2027
Drive: RWD, 4WD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 299 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 95 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 55 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 31 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the stomach. The vehicle was destroyed. A police was report was filed. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and after inspecting images from the crash scene, ruled that the impact did not warrant air bag deployment.
There was a loss of steering control. The driver experienced difficulty in turning the steering wheel. Suddenly, pressure was applied to the brake pedal and the vehicle failed to slow down. The vehicle crashed into a utility pole. The police was called to the scene. The driver sustained minor injuries.
When I called the mercedes customer service 800 # and the mercedes dealer, both of them denied that there were any reports or recalls of brake failure. Therefore I was deemed to be at fault for the accident at that time.
Vehicle was in park a child entered the vehicle, moved the gear from park to neutral, and vehicle rolled back, going through a fence and striking a tree. The child sustained no injuries.
While applying the brake pedal vehicle failed to stop. This caused consumer's vehicle to collide with the vehicle in front. No one was injured, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic could not duplicate the problem.
Mercedes benz e320 2004 - vehicle lurched forward at high rate of speed without operator acceleration. Structural damage to home, great concern for the potential of injury if event occurs again. Vehicle sent to dealership ( mb bloomfield, mi ) for evaluation. Web search finds similar events with same model 2003.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other models of this make
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.