2005 Mercedes-Benz E350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 15 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 33.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 13.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Service Brakes: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank: 1; Seats: 1; Steering: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 4
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 5; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10342127 · 2010-07-09 (July 9, 2010)
MERCEDES BENZ E350 (2005). THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ALWAYS MALFUNCTION, IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN A WEEK, MY CAR WAS TOOK LONGER DISTANCE TO COMPLETED STOP, AND ALSO DISPLAY A MESSAGE OF ' REDUCED BRAKING POWER DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL FULLY'. SO THAT I TOOK MY CAR TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALER TO CHECK, THE SERVICE ADVISOR GAVE ME THE ANSWER WAS NEED TO REPLACE THE PART NUMBER OF 005-431-81-12, AFTER THAT I WENT HOME AND CHECK ON INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAVE A RECALL (RECALL NUMBER 2004050014 & 2005070007) FOR THIS KIND OF BRAKE ISSUES…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,824 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395745 · 2011-04-13 (April 13, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING ALONG WITH A LEAK UNDERNEATH HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL WAS LOW AND SHE ADDED FUEL OUTSIDE AIR WAS ENTERING THE TANK CAUSING THE LEAK. THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE AND TANK WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505839 · 2013-04-10 (April 10, 2013)
SINCE I GOT THE CAR, STRONG ODOR OF GAS AFTER FILL UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MANY TIMES UPON INSPECTION , MECHANIC FOUND LEAK ON TOP OF FUEL TANK LOCATED UNDER BACK SEAT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 51,017 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10587807 · 2014-05-12 (May 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,959. UPDATED 07/16/14 MA UPDATED 8/23/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 82,959 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10587817 · 2014-05-12 (May 12, 2014)
WE OWN A 2005 E350 MERCEDES WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE HAVE OWNED IT. A MONTH AGO WE NOTICED A SMELL IN THE GARAGE AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AFTER FILLING THE TANK SO WE TOOK THE CAR INTO MERCEDES OF CINTI ON MONTGOMERY ROAD ON APRIL 2, 2014. (THIS IS WHERE OUR CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE WE BOUGHT IT) THEY FLIPPED UP THE BACK SEAT AND PULLED UP THE BLACK LINER AND WE COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS SC…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,958 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10788728 · 2015-11-05 (November 5, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING MELTED THAT HELD THE WINDSHIELD IN PLACE. THE MOLDING THAT HELD THE SIDE WINDOWS TOGETHER ALSO MELTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING HACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10788728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11139670 · 2018-10-11 (October 11, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E250. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE COASTED UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARLTON MOTORCARS INC. (2446 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED, WHICH WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL MERCEDES-BENZ PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT R…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11139670 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.