2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
183 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
62,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 78 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 68 of 183 complaints (37.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 6.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 5.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 68 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 18 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Engine | 15 |
| Suspension | 15 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
Air Bags: 68; Unknown Or Other: 19; Fuel/Propulsion System: 18; Electrical System: 15; Engine: 15; Suspension: 15; Power Train: 13; Service Brakes: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 105 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2009: 3; 2010: 9; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 7; 2015: 5; 2016: 11; 2017: 46; 2018: 27; 2019: 13; 2020: 8; 2021: 6; 2022: 12; 2023: 14; 2024: 3; 2025: 12; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 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 10432291 · 2011-10-21 (October 21, 2011)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AS HE APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, BUT THEY FAILED TO RESPOND. FINALLY, AFTER GOING THROUGH THE RED LIGHT, HE CAME TO A FULL STOP. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439321 · 2011-12-11 (December 11, 2011)
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT MY HEALTH CLUB. AS I WAS ABOUT TO STOP, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED GOING INTO THE CURB, UP A DIRT BERM AND OVER SOME VERY LARGE BOULDERS. I NEVER MADE IT OVER THE BERM BECAUSE THE CAR GOT LODGED ONTO OF A LARGE ROCK. WHEN IT WAS OVER, IT TOOK A COUPLE OF SECONDS, I KNOW THAT MY FOOT WAS PUSHING HARD ON MY BRAKE. HOWEVER, I DOUBT THAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE CAR. I WILL REPORT THIS TO MERCEDES BENZ, HAVE IT CHECKED, BUT I AM NOT OPTIMISTIC THEY WILL FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550105 · 2013-10-30 (October 30, 2013)
I BACKED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AT MY CONDOMINIUM BUILDING IN SARASOTA AND PLACED THE CAR IN PARK TO REMOVE SOMETHING FROM THE WINDSHIELD (I BELIEVED THE CAR WAS IN PARK -- BUT IT COULD HAVE FAILED TO ENGAGE IT OR I POSSIBLY NICKED IT ON MY WAY OUT OF THE CAR). I STARTED TO MOVE OUT OF THE CAR, WHILE MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE -- ABOUT 90% OF MY BODY WEIGHT WAS OUT OF THE CAR AND THEN I TOOK MY RIGHT FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS AND I WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE LEFT FRONT DOOR OF THE CAR AND THE CAR ITSELF -- I…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10907039 · 2016-09-15 (September 15, 2016)
WE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM 3RD PARTY. TRANSMISSION GEAR SOUND IS COMING SO HARD. I HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE ONLY 48K. I WEN TO DELAR, HE TOLD ME TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION OR CONTACT HEAD OFFICE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME FOR NEXT STEP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10907039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10290089 · 2009-10-28 (October 28, 2009)
THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2010 BMW 535I XDRIVE. I WENT INTO THE GARAGE TO START MY CAR THIS MORNING WEDNESDAY, 10/28/09 AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING. I MOVED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO SEE IF IT WOULD RESET, I STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE CAR CONTINUED SHAKING, I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 50FT TO SEE IF IT WOULD STOP SHAKING AND LIGHT WOULD GO OUT BUT IT DID NOT. I DROVE THE CAR BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND WAITED ABOUT A 1/2 HOUR TO TRY IT AGAIN IT W…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,694 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10596477 · 2014-06-05 (June 5, 2014)
THE ENGINE CEASED TO HAVE POWER AND STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY IN COMMUTE TRAFFIC. THE GAS TANK HAD MORE THAN HALF A TANK OF FUEL. THE FUEL TANK IN THIS MODEL IS UNDER THE REAR SEAT. BECAUSE THE DRIVE SHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL ARE IN THIS AREA THE GAS TANK IS IN TWO SECTIONS BUT CONNECTED. THERE IS A PUMP IN ONE SECTION WHICH TRANSFERS FUEL TO THE OTHER SECTION WHEN THAT SECTION GETS LOW. THE PUMP FAILED AND STOPPED TRANSFERRING FUEL. THE MECHANIC HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. A NEW FUEL PUMP WAS ORDERED FROM MERCEDES IN LOS ANGELES AS THE CAR WAS TOO …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286111 · 2009-10-02 (October 2, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ 350E. HE STATED THAT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THERE ARE 2 OPTIONS, ONE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ONE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL; HOWEVER, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE TURN SIGNALS, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE TURN SIGNAL AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS AND THAT ALL OF THE 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY. THE INCORRECT OPTION WAS ACTIVATED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CU…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10759902 · 2015-08-28 (August 28, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO STEERING FLUID, THE CONTACT REFILLED THE VEHICLE WITH STEERING FLUID, BUT THE FLUID DEPLETED AT A FASTER RATE THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL AND THE POWER ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10759902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10485275 · 2012-11-20 (November 20, 2012)
A PINT OF ORANGE JUICE SPILLED ON THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT. IT WAS CLEANED UP, BUT APPARENTLY SOME OF THE JUICE WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE UNPROTECTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT FLOOR WELL. THIS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ACTUAL BURN MARKS IN THE WIRING NEAR THE HARNESS CONNECTOR ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO FIRE, AND THE ONLY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THAT THE AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT EVENTUALLY CAME ON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485275 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10598222 · 2014-06-18 (June 18, 2014)
2010 MERCEDES BENZ E350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE DEALER TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS GOOD, BUT FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE EVAP BLOWER AND INSTALLED A NEW ENGINE FAN AFTER TWO DAYS OF ANALYSIS. ON MAY 19, 2014, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, FOR A SECOND TIME, AND AGAIN THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE CABIN LIGHT WAS LEFT ON CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. ON MAY 20, 2014, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START RIGHT AWAY, SO HE TOOK THE VE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10598222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10855487 · 2016-04-14 (April 14, 2016)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THAN OFF FOR A FEW DAY AT A TIME. IT COST $10,000.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACE. DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING OR STALLING. CAR WORKS GREAT. WHY IS THEIR NO RECALL FOR THIS? THOUSAND OF PEOPLE WHO PAY GOOD MORNING FOR A GREAT CAR, LIKE MERCEDES. WE NEED A RECALL FOR THIS> HELLO!!!! PLUS, THE WOOD TRIM ARE FADING, I TRADE TO GET THE DEALER TO REPLACE IT AND THEY WONT $3,500.00 TO DO SO.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10855487 at NHTSA ↗