2017 Mercedes-Benz E300: complaints, problems and recalls

THE SUNROOF FOR MY 2017 MERCEDES E300 JUST SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AROUND 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY ON A RAINY DAY, WITH NO ONE IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I HEAR A LOUD NOISE THAT STARTLED ME. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL I HEARD WIND NOISE FROM OUTSIDE AND REALIZED THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER, I REALIZED THAT THE THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE IN MY SUNROOF AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE ORIGINATE FROM INSIDE, AS THE GLASS WAS PUSHED OUTWARD. WITH NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME, DRIV…

Owner-reported narrative. 879 miles reported. Look up ODI 10938962 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E300. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,600. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957617 at NHTSA ↗

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 71 MPH, THE BRAKES SCREECHED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THEN SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE ACTIVE BRAKE ASSIST AND "SEE OPERATOR'S MANUAL" INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK. THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10967270 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V114000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DELRAY MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11011004 at NHTSA ↗

THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE SPACE FOR MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IS ONLY ABOUT 1/4-INCH WIDER THAN MY FOOT. SO, IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, WHEN TRYING TO LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL TO APPLY THE BRAKES, MY FOOT BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. BY THE TIME I FINALLY GOT MY FOOT ON TOP OF THE GAS PEDAL, IT WAS ALMOST TOO LATE. I ALMOST CRASHED.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015947 at NHTSA ↗

RECALL 17V246 WAS PERFORMED AT AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP, COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THE SPOILER FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING, ALMOST STRIKING THE FOLLOWING CAR BEHIND ME AND GOING INTO ITS WINDSHIELD CAUSING POTENTIAL CRASH.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11016290 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V080000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF BROOKLYN DEALER (1800 SHORE PKWY, BROOKLYN, NY 11214; [phone removed]) AND THE HELMS BROS INC. DEALER (20824 NORTHERN BLVD, BAYSIDE, NY 11361; [phone removed]). BOTH DEALERS INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11022197 at NHTSA ↗

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E300W. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V076000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V114000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (MERCEDES-BENZ OF CLEAR LAKE, CLEAR LAKE, TX, [phone removed]) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11023687 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-10-19 (October 19, 2016)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2017 E300 Sedan and E300 Sedan 4Matic vehicles manufactured December 10, 2015, to June 30, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the rear bench seat frame may contact and damage the wiring harness for the fuel pump, fuel tank pressure sensor or fuel level gauge.

Consequence: Damage to the fuel pump wiring may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA has notified owners, and dealers will modify the routing of the affected wiring harness, repairing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 28, 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 E300, E300 4Matic, and E43 AMG vehicles. The front passenger occupant detection control unit may have been incorrectly installed. As a result, the front passenger seat occupant may be misclassified. For example, an adult may be misclassified as a child seat, causing the front passenger air bag to be deactivated in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the passenger front air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of a injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the pressure hose of the seat occupancy detection control unit and replace the pressure hose and seat occupancy detection mat if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 E300 and E300 4Matic vehicles. The affected vehicles may have a damaged steering column-mounted shift lever module. If the internal circuit board is damaged, moving the shift lever will not select a transmission gear.

Consequence: If the vehicle does not move forward or backward as selected by the driver with the shift lever, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column-mounted shift lever module, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E550 Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, E550 Cabriolet, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 Wagon, GLA250, and GLA250 4Matic vehicles. The pelvis air bag or the front passenger air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the pelvis airbag or the front passenger airbag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-02-23 (February 23, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 C300 4Matic, C300, CLA250, CLA250 4Matic and CLA45 AMG vehicles, 2017 C300 4Matic Cabrio, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C300 Coupe, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 4Matic Wagon, E43 AMG 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic and GLC300 4Matic Coupe vehicles and 2016 C350e and GLC300 vehicles and 2016-2017 C450 4Matic AMG Sport and GLC300 4Matic vehicles. In the event that the engine or transmission cannot turn over, the starting current limiter may overheat from the repeated attempts of the starter motor attempting to start the vehicle.

Consequence: If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2017080002.

Reported: 2017-03-14 (March 14, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA LLC, (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 E300 and E300 4Matic vehicles. The front passenger air bag may not deploy properly if a front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: In the event of a crash that necessitates air bag deployment, if the air bag does not deploy as intended, there would be an increased risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2017. Owner's can contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-04-11 (April 11, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, E400 4Matic Coupe, GL63 AMG, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic and GLE63S AMG Coupe 4Matic vehicles, 2017 E300 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic vehicles, and 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic BlueTec, GL450 4Matic, and GL550 4Matic vehicles. The affected vehicles have an electric power steering connector that may be insufficiently sealed, allowing water to enter the control unit.

Consequence: If water enters the power steering control unit, the power steering assist may be deactivated, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and inspect the electric power steering rack, replacing the rack as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 30, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-04-11 (April 11, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 E300 and E300 4MATIC vehicles. The software for the widescreen instrument cluster may cause the instrument cluster to not display anything on vehicle on startup, or the display may reset while driving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."

Consequence: Without the instrument cluster displaying important information such as the vehicle's speed, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster display software, free of charge. The recall began late May 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-04-11 (April 11, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 E300 and 2017 E300 4MATIC vehicles. The affected vehicles have a roof mounted spoiler that may not be properly attached and thus may detach while driving.

Consequence: If the roof-mounted spoiler detaches while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing a risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the roof spoilers, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 9, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-09-19 (September 19, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling one 2017 C43 AMG, one E300 4Matic sedan, one GLC300, and one E43 AMG 4Matic sedan. These vehicles have electrical power steering control units with improperly welded contact pins.

Consequence: The improperly welded pins may lose contact, deactivating the power steering assist and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Reported: 2017-11-14 (November 14, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 E300, S65 AMG Coupe, S550, S65 AMG Cabriolet, S550 Cabriolet, S550e, S65 AMG, and Mercedes-Maybach S600 vehicles. A transistor within the power steering control unit may overheat resulting in the power steering system being disabled.

Consequence: If the power steering assist is unexpectedly disabled, it may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering rack, replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Reported: 2018-03-06 (March 6, 2018)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 E300 4Matic, E300, and E43 AMG vehicles fitted with LED headlights. These vehicles may have misadjusted headlights, possibly resulting in the low beam headlights insufficiently illuminating the roadway. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: An insufficiently illuminated roadway may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlamp adjustment, adjusting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018030005.

Reported: 2018-04-27 (April 27, 2018)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 4Matic, E300, E43 AMG, and E400 vehicles. The headlight horizontal adjustment screws on these vehicles may not be properly sealed behind a non-removable sealing cap to keep headlights from being readjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the headlight's horizontal aim is altered, a misaimed headlight may lead to an insufficiently illuminated roadway, which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will retrofit the sealing caps for the headlights, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018050012.

Reported: 2020-07-31 (July 31, 2020)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300, C300 Coupe, CLS450, E450 Coupe and S450, 2017-2019 E300, 2018 E400 Coupe, E400 Stationwagon, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles that have previously had the instrument cluster replaced. The software in the replaced instrument cluster may cause the seat belt warning system to not operate properly, only displaying a solid warning light if either the driver or passenger seat belt is unfastened, instead of a blinking light with an audible tone.

Consequence: Without the audible tone and blinking warning light to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020080015.

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.

Consequence: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

Reported: 2021-02-12 (February 12, 2021)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the Emergency Call (eCall) function.

Consequence: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.