Mercedes-Benz E350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,165 owner complaints analyzed
22 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,272 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 534 of 2,165 complaints (24.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 469 | 21.7% |
| Braking behavior | 283 | 13.1% |
| Steering behavior | 109 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 91 | 4.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 86 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 55 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 534 |
| Air Bags | 391 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 211 |
| Engine | 188 |
| Service Brakes | 184 |
| Electrical System | 151 |
| Unknown Or Other | 134 |
| Suspension | 110 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 534; Air Bags: 391; Fuel System, Gasoline: 211; Engine: 188; Service Brakes: 184; Electrical System: 151; Unknown Or Other: 134; Suspension: 110
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 158 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 221 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 268 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 254 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 277 |
| 150,000 and above | 94 |
Under 25,000: 158; 25,000 to 49,999: 221; 50,000 to 74,999: 268; 75,000 to 99,999: 254; 100,000 to 149,999: 277; 150,000 and above: 94
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (277). 893 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 37 |
| 2011 | 44 |
| 2012 | 80 |
| 2013 | 173 |
| 2014 | 196 |
| 2015 | 156 |
| 2016 | 119 |
| 2017 | 211 |
| 2018 | 155 |
| 2019 | 181 |
| 2020 | 180 |
| 2021 | 117 |
| 2022 | 141 |
| 2023 | 110 |
| 2024 | 104 |
| 2025 | 90 |
| 2026 | 35 |
2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 9; 2008: 6; 2009: 15; 2010: 37; 2011: 44; 2012: 80; 2013: 173; 2014: 196; 2015: 156; 2016: 119; 2017: 211; 2018: 155; 2019: 181; 2020: 180; 2021: 117; 2022: 141; 2023: 110; 2024: 104; 2025: 90; 2026: 35
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 469 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 283 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 109 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 11322779 · 2020-04-29 (April 29, 2020)
WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL, I CAN SMELL GAS FROM THE DRIVERS PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE GAS TANK IS 3/4TH TANK, THE SMELL DISAPPEARED. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM IN THE RUBBER SEAL IN THE TANK. IT IS A FIRE ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10531574 · 2013-07-24 (July 24, 2013)
VEHICLE EXHIBITED STRONG ODOR OF GAS WITHIN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. LEFT GAS TANK PORT AND FUEL SENDER UNIT FOUND TO BE LEAKY THROUGH CRACKS IN PLASTIC. LEAK STOPPED VIA REPAIR. VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITS STRONG ODOR OF GAS OUTSIDE CAR ESPECIALLY AFTER A FILLUP (WITHOUT "TOPPING OFF"). ODOR HAS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED OR FIXED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10531574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319861 · 2020-03-31 (March 31, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING DRY OR INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE CBC ELECTRONIC BRAKE WAS EXTENDED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WALNUT CREEK LOCATED AT (1301 PARKSIDE DR, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596), HOWEVER, THE DEALER DECLINED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220333 · 2008-03-06 (March 6, 2008)
2005 MERCEDES 350 CDI - BRAKE FAILURE! IN FACT, CAR ACCELERATED WITH PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. BRAKE PROBLEMS ON THIS MODEL HAVE BEEN SUBJECT OF PREVIOUS NHTSA RECALL ADVISORY (PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.MOTORTREND.COM/CARS/2005/MERCEDES_BENZ/E_CLASS/E320_CDI_SEDAN/616/RECALLS/). THIS CAR SERVICED WAS REGULARLY AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP - BEFORE AND AFTER INCIDENTS. THERE IS NO DOCUMENTATION OF FIXING THIS PROBLEM BEFORE OR AFTER RECENT EVENT WHICH LED TO AN MVC. CORPORATE MERCEDES HAS BEEN RUDE AND RECOMMENDED WE TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT IF WE…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560805 · 2014-01-21 (January 21, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT FORCE BEING APPLIED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN 2006 UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFA…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,559 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11384079 · 2020-12-18 (December 18, 2020)
THE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT DOESN'T GO UP. IT DOESN'T WORK STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 183,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11308122 · 2020-02-10 (February 10, 2020)
MY 2003 E320 SEDAN BATTERIES IS CONSTANTLY DRAINING AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR 6 OR MORE HOURS. I HAVE INCURRED COSTLY EXPENSES IN REPLACING BOTH THE REAR LOAD & FRONT SMALL AUXILIARY BATTERIES TO INCLUDE LABOR COST AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP. OCTOBER 2019 I TRIED TO ACCESS THE CAR USING THE KEY KNOB, HOWEVER NO POWER TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE NOR ACCESS THE TRUNK. NOVEMBER 2019 THE VEHICLE FOG, INTERIOR & REAR TAIL LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH ON & OFF AND THE SECURITY ALARM BEGIN TO SOUND WITH A WEAK LIKE BATTERY SOUND WITHOUT THE USE OF THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 205 miles reported. Look up ODI 11308122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134348 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 07-26-2005 LEFT ME STRANDED ON STREET IN HILLSIDE NJ CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM MALFUNCTION AND REPLACED COMPUTER. TRANSMISSION STILL HAVING SLIPPING OCCASIONALLY SVC DEPT SAID THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG. MB IGNORING MY REQUEST FOR A NEW CAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 662 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253280 · 2008-12-30 (December 30, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE JERKING WOULD INTENSIFY WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE TACHOMETER GAUGE DISPLAYED BETWEEN 50-70 IN THE RED ZONE WHENEVER SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES,THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND DROVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253280 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 0 |
2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 7; 2013: 6; 2014: 8; 2015: 6; 2016: 5; 2017: 0