2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
223 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
59,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 108 of 223 complaints (48.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 10.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 18 | 8.1% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.9% |
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 | 108 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 28 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Suspension | 16 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 13 |
| Steering | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
Air Bags: 108; Fuel/Propulsion System: 28; Unknown Or Other: 18; Suspension: 16; Engine: 13; Service Brakes: 13; Steering: 11; Structure:Body: 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 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 147 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 48 |
| 2018 | 35 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 3; 2015: 10; 2016: 13; 2017: 48; 2018: 35; 2019: 27; 2020: 9; 2021: 14; 2022: 17; 2023: 20; 2024: 9; 2025: 9; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 18 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10522362 · 2013-06-24 (June 24, 2013)
I WAS COMING OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. I PROCEEDED TO THE ENTRANCE TO GARAGE. THE STREET WAS NARROW FOR TWO CARS TO PASS BY. I MADE A RIGHT TURN FROM THE GARAGE EXIT TO THE NARROW STREET WITH 5 MPH SPEED. THERE WERE TWO CARS ABOUT 25 FEET AWAY ALREADY ON THAT STREET. THOSE TWO CARS WERE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN ON MAIN STREET AT THE T JUNCTION. SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED TO 45 MPH APPROXIMATELY. I APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKE DID NOT EVEN SLOW DOWN THE CAR. WITH THE BRAKE NOT WORKING AND THE CAR ACCELERATING VERY FAST, T…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,145 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627403 · 2014-08-22 (August 22, 2014)
EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING FROM 50-40MPH. TOLD BY A DEALER THAT ALL BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE (ESTIMATED $1200). CREATES UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT, KNOWN PROBLEM ON 2010-2012 E350/E550, YET MB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10897482 · 2016-08-21 (August 21, 2016)
ALL OF A SUDDEN, ONE DAY AFTER FILLING MY TANK, THERE'S NOW AN OVERWHELMING GAS SMELL PRESENT BOTH ~20 FEET AWAY FROM VEHICLE, AND INSIDE THE CAR. IT IS SO BAD, I HAVE TO LEAVE WINDOWS DOWN FOR 20-30 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENT BECOMES TOLERABLE WITH THE WINDOWS UP. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER SIMILAR E350 MODELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT MY NEWER (2011) YEAR MODEL DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIR LIST. I BELIEVE I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED BECAUSE THE SMELL OF GAS IS VERY STRONG AFTER A TOP-…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916328 · 2016-10-16 (October 16, 2016)
AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNIT/PUMP TOP COVER.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,374 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464808 · 2012-07-09 (July 9, 2012)
THIS VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ, IN PARTICULAR 2011 E350 4MATIC WITH 18IN WHEELS DOES NOT MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS OF QUALITY AND DURABILITY AND POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. MY VEHICLE HAS ALL 4 WHEELS DENTED AND CRACKED FROM ROADS WITH NORMAL TO MINOR ROAD SURFACE ABNORMALITIES. THE WHEELS ON THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AND DOES NOT MEET THE QUALITY STANDARDS EXPECTED, THEY CANNOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THESE WHEELS EASILY DENT AND CRACK AND CAN LEAD TO A DRIVER LOSING CONTROL OF THERE VEHICLE. I HAVE SO F…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10783123 · 2015-10-18 (October 18, 2015)
VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, A LOUD THUMP WAS HEARD STOPPING THE CAR. VEHICLE WAS PUT BACK INTO DRIVE WITH LOSS OF POWER ULTIMATELY LEADING TO NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. DIAGNOSTIC WORK LEAD TO SEVERAL CODES RELATING TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10783123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10807091 · 2015-11-26 (November 26, 2015)
ON TWO OCCASIONS (ONCE FROM A STOP AND ONCE WHILE MOVING AT 30 MPH) I HAVE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY AND THE CAR HAS MALFUNCTIONED. BOTH TIMES THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL IMMEDIATELY BECAME DISABLED, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RESPONDING TO MY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN FORWARD MOVEMENT BUT I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I COULD PRESS THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT THE RPM GAUGE NEEDLE MOVING. THERE WAS A REAL DANGER OF BEING HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN THIS H…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10807091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142617 · 2018-10-25 (October 25, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF JACKSON (455 STEED RD, RIDGELAND, MS 39157, [phone removed]). IT WAS UP TO THE DEALER AND WARRANTY COMPANY TO DECIDE WHO WOULD REPAIR THE POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V459000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644764 · 2014-10-15 (October 15, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E350A. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DEER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT WAS DAMAGED DURING THE CRASH CAUSED THE AIR BAG WIRING TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11208923 · 2019-05-21 (May 21, 2019)
TAKATA RECALL. BOTH AIRBAGS REPLACED JANUARY 2019. TOXIC SMELL IN VEHICLE SINCE REPLACEMENT. NO IMPROVEMENT FROM AIR FRESHENERS, ODOR ABSORBERS, OR WIRING OF VEHICLE. SO FAR NO REMEDY OR EXPLANATION FROM INSTALLING DEALER, BUT WAITING FOR MEETING WITH MERCEDES REPRESENTATIVE AFTER MEMORIAL DAY. WIFE CAN'T DRIVE OR RIDE IN VEHICLE WITHOUT AADVERSE REACTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208923 at NHTSA ↗