2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 34 complaints (64.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 14.7% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.8% |
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 | 22 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Air Bags: 22; Steering: 4; Engine: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Back Over Prevention: 1; Electrical System: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 7; 2020: 8; 2021: 5; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 11057043 · 2017-12-28 (December 28, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL - I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT MY AIRBAG OPERATION IS POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE. A SOLUTION HAS APPARENTLY BEEN IDENTIFIED (GROUNDING THE STEERING WHEEL?) BUT IT IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. TO BE CLEAR, I HAVE NOT HAD MY AIRBAG DEPLOY, I JUST HAVE NOT HAD THE ISSUE ADDRESSED.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11057043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319853 · 2020-03-31 (March 31, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES BENZ E400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES BENZ OF HUNT VALLEY 9800 YORK ROAD COCKEYSVILLE, MD 21030, [phone removed] TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V241000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FREE REPAIR FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE STATED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SOUND DISAPPEARED WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,763 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11208304 · 2019-05-17 (May 17, 2019)
THE BRAKES ON MY 2016 MERCEDES BENZ E 400 APPEAR TO BE DEFECTIVE, AND MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT MADE SUFFICIENT ATTEMPTS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. MY VEHICLE HAS REQUIRED NUMEROUS SERVICE ATTEMPTS, SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE SUCH AS, BRAKES FAILURE, AND BRAKES MAKING ABNORMAL NOISES HOWEVER, SAID CONCERNS HAVE CONTINUED TO BE DISREGARDED. FURTHERMORE, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11405089 · 2021-03-26 (March 26, 2021)
RIGHT PASSENGER AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. PARKING BRAKE FAIL TO ENGAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11405089 at NHTSA ↗