2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
68 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 68 complaints (44.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 7.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.5% |
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 | 30 |
| Suspension | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
Air Bags: 30; Suspension: 27; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Steering: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 33 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2012: 2; 2015: 7; 2016: 4; 2017: 17; 2018: 15; 2019: 8; 2020: 2; 2021: 4; 2022: 5; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10367205 · 2010-11-22 (November 22, 2010)
2010 MERCEDES BENZ 350 E4MATIC ROLLED AWAY AFTER PARKED ON HILL , PARKING BRAKE SET, AND ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE SHIFT SELECTOR WILL NOT MOVE TO PARK UNLESS KEY IS OUT OF IGNITION OR SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459541 · 2012-05-24 (May 24, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE, (BELOW POSTED SAFE SPEED LIMIT), THE FRONT BRAKES APPLIED JERKING THE CAR FIRST ONE DIRECTION AND THEN THE OTHER. THE DASH TRACTION CONTROL LITE CAME ON MOMENTARILY AS THE EVENT TOOK PLACE. THIS EVENT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR AND CHAFFING ON THE OUTER TREAD OF EACH FRONT TIRE. MERCEDES TECHNICIANS RULED THE CAR WAS REACTING ACCORDING TO DESIGN AND THE CAUSE WAS WORN TIRES (EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES STILL HAD 5/32 INCH OF TREAD LEFT. THE TIRES ARE THE ORIGINA…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10677002 · 2015-01-21 (January 21, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ E550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10677002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11089991 · 2018-04-24 (April 24, 2018)
MY CAR WAS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AND NEEDED THE AIRBAGS REPLACE I CAN BE DRIVING MY CAR IN MY AIR BAGS TO GIVE OUT THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS I WAS AT LEAST GOING 75 MILES PER HOUR SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME. AND THERE'S A RECALL FOR THE STEERING WHEEL OF THIS VEHICLE
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11482579 · 2022-09-02 (September 2, 2022)
My car has this issue that when I am slowing down it will automatically shift to park and will not let me shift to drive until I turn the car off and on. When rolling to a stop, I've had a few instances where the car shifts to park and the car behind me almost hits me due to the car shifting on its own and not allowing me to proceed with the flow of traffic. This puts not only me, but the person behind me at risk. I took the car to a mechanic and he stated that there was no recall for this issue but that I should contact you (NHTSA). The mechan…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11482579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11362961 · 2020-10-06 (October 6, 2020)
AT 80MPH, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT U-JOINT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER AND A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND. VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE ON ITS OWN POWER. TEARDOWN SHOWED A COMPLETELY DESTROYED FRONT DRIVESHAFT U-JOINT, DAMAGE TO HEAT SHIELDING, DAMAGE TO OXYGEN SENSORS, DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, ALONG WITH SUPERFICIAL DAMAGE TO THE BELLHOUSING AND MISSING BRACKETS. FAILURE IS SUSPECTED TO THE GEOMETRY OF THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT, WHICH CONNECTS AT AN ANGLE FROM THE TRANSFER CASE TO THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ON 4MATIC-EQUIPPED VEHICLES. THIS INTROD…
Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11362961 at NHTSA ↗