Mercedes-Benz E 300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
61 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
11,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 61 complaints (24.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 9.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 6.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.6% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 8 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Wheels | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
Unknown Or Other: 15; Engine: 12; Electrical System: 10; Seat Belts: 8; Power Train: 5; Steering: 5; Wheels: 4; Air Bags: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2018: 6; 2019: 11; 2020: 2; 2021: 7; 2022: 6; 2023: 9; 2024: 7; 2025: 10; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11132217 · 2018-09-29 (September 29, 2018)
I WAS IN AN AUTOMATED CAR WASH AND THE CAR WAS IN PARK. WHEN THE WASH WAS COMPLETE, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVED FORWARD. THE PROXIMITY SENSORS KEPT SOUNDING THOUGH THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE WAY. AFTER SHIFTING IT IN AND OUT OF GEAR, TURNING THE STEERING WHEN BACK AND FORTH AND PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CAR FINALLY SHOT FORWARD OUT OF THE WASH BAY. I LATER CALLED THE IN-CAR CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND THEY SAID THAT SOMETIME THE SENSORS GET COVERED WITH THE PRODUCTS USED IN THE CAR WASH.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,592 miles reported. Look up ODI 11132217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11206790 · 2019-05-10 (May 10, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MERCEDES BENZ E300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V850000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MERCEDES BENZ OF SARASOTA (4754 CLARK RD, SARASOTA, FL 34233) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11206790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11614515 · 2024-09-13 (September 13, 2024)
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while attempting to shift into drive, the transmission independently shifted to neutral. The contact attempted several times to shift into drive however, the transmission failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified on the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 154,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 154,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11614515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11415132 · 2021-05-04 (May 4, 2021)
MB 2018 E300 WOULD STOP WITH ME IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC THE STOP AND START SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIXED THE PROBLEM UNTIL I ALMOST GOT KILLED. CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AROUND (NOV 2020 OFF COMMERCIAL BLVD FORT LAUDERDALE FL BETWEEN 4 TO 6PM RAINY DAY RUSH HOUR ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN TO GET ON I95 AND CARE DIED ON ME AND I HAD TO WAIT 3 YOURS BECAUSE ONSTAR BUTTON WASN'T WORKING AND HAD TO CALL TOW USING MY PHONE ) I BEEN HAVING ISSUES STARTING BACK UP AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE PISTINES IN THE ENGINE AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11415132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11520095 · 2023-05-02 (May 2, 2023)
yellow check engine light came on and a few days later the car stalled on the road potentially causing an accident. took it to a shop and it has a p052e (crankcase valve issue), then took it to mercedes and theyve confirmed that oil has been leaking and it needs a new cvp ($3000) AND oil has leaked into the engine harness ($4000) but a few other indie shops have mentioned that id probably also have to replace the thermostat because thats usually damaged as well. You can google this issue and see that its insanely common, dangerous, and a huge …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11520095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11088487 · 2018-04-16 (April 16, 2018)
ELECTRICAL WIRING AND OTHER PLASTIC TUBING DAMAGE FROM RODENTS WHILE CAR IS STATIONARY ON CITY STREET
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11312130 · 2020-02-28 (February 28, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ E-300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE FAILURES. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SEATTLE LOCATED AT (2025 AIRPORT WAY S, SEATTLE, WA 98134) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CONTACT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11312130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11192423 · 2019-03-29 (March 29, 2019)
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING AT 35 MPH AND CONTROLLED BY ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 35 MPH. THE TIME WAS 12:40 PM ET ON 29 MARCH 2019. SEEMINGLY THE CAR WENT INTO CRASH PREVENTION MODE BY TIGHTENING THE SEAT BELT AND EXECUTING A MAXIMUM FORCE BRAKING STOP. THE TIRES SQUEALED. MY CHEST WAS SORE WHERE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED WITH FORCE. APPROXIMATE LOCATION: SOUTHBOUND ON LANDMARK DR. NEAR ASHCROFT CT. CLEARWATER, FL 33761. LANDMARK DR. IS A RESIDENTIAL TWO LANE ROAD RUNNING NORTH-SOUTH WITH DUAL YELLOW PAINTED CENTER MARKI…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,805 miles reported. Look up ODI 11192423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11205093 · 2019-05-01 (May 1, 2019)
THE CAR ACTIVATED ITS EMERGENCY BRAKING FUNCTION UNEXPECTEDLY. I WAS DRIVING ON A COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS STREET. NO CARS NO BAGS NO WIND NO ANYTHING AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH. ALL CLEAR AIR TEMP 83 DEGREES F. SUNSHINE. NO ADVERSE CONDITIONS. CAR SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON BRAKES WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR REASON WHATSOEVER. SEATBELT TIGHTENED PER PROCEDURE. FORTUNATELY THERE'S WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME TO REAR END ME. TOOK CAR STRAIGHT TO DEALER. SCANNED FOR CODES. NONE FOUND. CAR IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. NO. THERE ARE OTHER DOCUMENTED CASES…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11205093 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 8 |
2018: 7; 2019: 8