AI Damage2013 Mercedes-Benz E550: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 filed 16 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 16
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 50% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 19% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 19% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 6% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 6% of all complaints
- 7 Forward collision avoidance 6% of all complaints
- 8 Wheels 6% of all complaints
- Air bags: 8 complaints (50% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (19% of all).
- Structure: 3 complaints (19% of all).
- Suspension: 3 complaints (19% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (6% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 16 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 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 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.
During the failure, the "Forward Collision Avoidance" feature had malfunctioned. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two separate occasions. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failure.
Mercedes Benz diagnosed the problem as a rusted through subframe which theyâve said is a âknown issueâ and extended the warranty on the part. The part is unavailable and thereâs no ETA from Mercedes which means that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and cannot be repaired.
The dealer replaced the camshaft position sensors, the camshaft solenoid and the ECU. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
Rear frame and brake line damage due to rust and corrosion Problems identified by euro Motorcars Devon (car dealer) Car will not pass safety inspection Outside manufacturer warranty considerations Outside extended warranty considerations
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 mercedes-benz e550. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. A dealer was not contacted.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 mercedes- benz e550. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v043000 (air bags) however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 mercedes-benz e550. The contact stated that the recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 18v043000 (air bags) was received.
1- new complete brake jobs done by mercedes dealer but the shudder always there. Took them to mercedes dealer again for inspection and paid $90.00 plus. Nothing wrong but the shudder is still there. 2- rear suspension keep dropping overnight park in a garage.
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 9,040 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
On average one model year of the E550 has 20 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 16, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, service brakes, structure. Total complaints: 16. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: jerking, harsh shifts (13%), rust, corrosion (13%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 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 2013 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 2013 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.