AI Damage2011 Mercedes-Benz E550: common problems
Owners of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 filed 61 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and suspension. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 61
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 52% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 33% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 3% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 3% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 3% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 2% of all complaints
- 7 Lane departure 2% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 2% of all complaints
- Air bags: 32 complaints (52% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 20 complaints (33% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 2 complaints (3% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (3% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (3% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 61 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 32 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 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 contact stated that while her son was driving 5 mph, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the vehicle and the air bag failed to deploy. The driver sustained injuries to the head but did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop.
However, about a month later, or so, the car lowered and red warning light came on with a warning to to "pull over and stop driving immediately". I was driving normally, but I had the accident in late june.
The vehicle was inspected by a sun roof technician who diagnosed that the windshield was detached. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the local dealer. The manufacturer also stated that there was a recall for a different model vehicle.
Took it to a mechanic and the rear subframe had become weakened with premature rust. The mounting point for one of the rear suspension arms had broken off of the subframe and was making contact with my gas tank. I called the dealer to see if there were any recalls.
The issue with the vehicle's electrical causing power to the starter to stay on even after the vehicle is in the park and turned off, the starter's Solenoid and other electrical parts burn, its a serious fire hazard and needs to be addressed immediately.
When I parked my car there was a loud hissing sound near left front end but no smoke or anything from under the hood. When I drove it again I received a warning of (MALFUNCTION) when I was turning left the front left tire was grinding on the actual car and barely made it home.
The passenger door will not open from the inside. The vehicle has not been inspected by any parties yet. No warning messages are currently displayed.
Transmission cooler which i manufactured inside the radiator failed causing transmission fluid to mix with anti-freeze/coolant, now the transmission slips and per recommendation from a mercedes dealership the vehicle needs a new transmission, torque converter, radiator, radiator cap, new upper and lower radiator…
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 4,801 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the E550 has 20 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 61, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, suspension, engine. Total complaints: 61. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (3%), smoke, burning smell, fire (3%), warning lights, check engine (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550?
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 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 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 2011 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.