2008 Mercedes-Benz E350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
173 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
86,688 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 134 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 65 of 173 complaints (37.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 60 | 34.7% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 65 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 20 |
| Seats | 17 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Wheels | 10 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 65; Fuel System, Gasoline: 20; Seats: 17; Electrical System: 16; Engine: 13; Wheels: 10; Air Bags: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 33 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 39 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 39; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 39 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2009: 2; 2010: 6; 2011: 3; 2012: 5; 2013: 17; 2014: 23; 2015: 20; 2016: 14; 2017: 8; 2018: 12; 2019: 12; 2020: 17; 2021: 8; 2022: 4; 2023: 10; 2024: 5; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 60 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 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 10278002 · 2009-07-22 (July 22, 2009)
MERCEDES BENZ 2008 E350. AIRBAG ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN MANHATTAN, NY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289019 · 2009-10-19 (October 19, 2009)
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A FIRE. VEHICLE WAS A 2008 MERCEDES E350. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 32,314 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326576 · 2010-04-20 (April 20, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350 WITH CONTINENTAL, CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE TIRES WOULD FORM A BLISTER OR BUBBLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED SEVERAL BLOWOUTS WITH THE TIRES. SHE WOULD HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WHENEVER SHE WOULD EXPERIENCE A BLOWOUT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE TIRES WOULD BLOWOUT EASILY BECAUSE THEY WERE LOW COMPOSING TIRES. THE MANUFACTUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,786 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328271 · 2010-04-30 (April 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT FAILED AND OVERHEATED. THE SEAT BURNED THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHE NEEDED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE PERFORMED. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE HEATER CIRCUIT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY HOW THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353478 · 2010-09-02 (September 2, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OVER A POTHOLE THE TIRE EXPLODED. THE TIRE WAS A CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO CONTACT SIZE 245/40R18.93V. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DEVELOPED A BLISTER AND THE RIM WAS NO LONGER ALIGNED. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE LED TO A FATALITY DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN. THE WHEEL RIM ON THE TIRES WAS 18 INCHES AND THE TIRE WAS TWO TO THREE INCHES OFF THE GROUND. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL TIRE AND RIMS THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353568 · 2010-09-02 (September 2, 2010)
MB E-350 2008 IS EQUIPPED WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES CONTIPRO CONTACT 245/40 R 18 THE TIRES CONTACT DISTANCE FROM ROAD SURFACE TO BOTTOM OF RIM IS APP.2 INCH. THE RIM DIAMETER IS APP.19+ INCHES. THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE FURTHER REDUCES THE CONTACT DISTANCE. THE MOMENTUM OF THE CAR AT NORMAL SPEED WHEN COMES ACROSS A SMALL POT WHOLE OR AN OBJECT THE RIM OF THE CAR ITSELF BURST THE TIRE RESULTING INTO TIRE EXPLOSION AND BENDING OF THE RIM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IF NOT CORRECTED IN A TIMELY MANNER MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS INCLUD…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10361186 · 2010-10-19 (October 19, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THREE OF THE FOUR WHEELS WAS BENT AND CRACKED. THEY REPAIRED THE WHEELS PER THE WARRANTY. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IT CONTINUED TO MAKE NOISE BECAUSE THE BENT WHEELS CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS TO OCCUR ON THE AXLE AND TIRES. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM TO CHANGE THE TIRES BUT HE FELLS IT IS THE DEALER RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE THE TIRES AND REPAIR THE AXLE WHICH WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10361324 · 2010-10-20 (October 20, 2010)
I OWN A 2008 MERCEDES E350 4MATIC. AFTER A TRIP, WITH THE CAR SITTING AT THE AIRPORT FOR A WEEK IN WARM WEATHER, I ENTERED THE CAR AND NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. I VENTED THE CAR AND DROVE HOME. THE ODOR REMAINED. SUBSEQUENTLY I HAD THE CAR PUT ON A LIFT AND THERE WAS A STAIN COMING DOWN AROUND THE SIDES OF THE GAS TANK. I ALSO REMOVED THE REAR SEAT AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAT FOAM WAS SATURATED WITH A GASOLINE SMELL DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ACCESS PANEL FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. I UNDERSTAND FROM LOCAL MECHANICS THAT THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361324 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V264000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2012-06-12 (June 12, 2012)
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 E350 4MATIC WAGON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2006, THROUGH APRIL 30, 2009. A CONNECTING ROD FOR THE LOAD LEVELING REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM MAY FAIL.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE DRIVER MAY HAVE REDUCED VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: MERCEDES-BENZ WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL THE CONNECTING RODS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V918000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2019-12-20 (December 20, 2019)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V954000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2022-12-23 (December 23, 2022)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V874000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2024-11-19 (November 19, 2024)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
NHTSA campaign record ↗