2013 Mercedes-Benz E350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
161 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
44,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 65 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 161 complaints (29.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 39 | 24.2% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
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 | 47 |
| Service Brakes | 29 |
| Engine | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Steering | 10 |
Air Bags: 47; Service Brakes: 29; Engine: 15; Unknown Or Other: 15; Structure:Body: 14; Suspension: 13; Electrical System: 12; Steering: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 96 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2013: 3; 2014: 6; 2015: 6; 2016: 3; 2017: 7; 2018: 13; 2019: 28; 2020: 17; 2021: 20; 2022: 14; 2023: 12; 2024: 17; 2025: 12; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 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 10503698 · 2013-03-20 (March 20, 2013)
THE CAR STOP INOPERATIVE AND STOP BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY CONTROL NO MATTER ON FREEWAY IN LOCAL,EVEN IN GARAGE. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITHIN A WEEK. AFTER CHECKING, DEALER THINK IT IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM, THEY ONLY UPDATE THE SOFTWARE OF CPU,AND TOLD ME IT WON'T HAPPENED AGAIN. AT THE SAME DAY OF PICKING UP THE CAR, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ON FREEWAY. THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED, AND I COULDN'T CONTROL ANYTHING. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A UPS COMMERCIAL TRUCK AND DEAD ON THAT DAY. THE CAR WAS TOWING TO DEALER FOR REPAIRING AGAIN. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE E…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,104 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503698 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514803 · 2013-06-03 (June 3, 2013)
THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD. WHEN IT OCCURRED THE SOUND WAS LIKE SOMEONE FIRED A SHOTGUN NEXT TO MY HEAD. I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON I-25 JUST SOUTH OF DENVER. HAD THE FABRIC SUNSHADE NOT BEEN EXTENDED FORWARD SO IT CONTAINED THE GLASS THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWERED WITH THE SHARP SHARDS, WHICH WERE SO SHARP THE PIECES THAT FLEW BACK ON THE BACK WINDOW AND TRUNK LID LEFT DEEP SCRATCHES ON THOSE SURFACES. NOT SURE HOW MUCH GLASS WAS THROWN UP INTO THE AIR AND IMPACTED TRAFFIC BEHIND THE CAR. THINK ABOUT A MOTORCYCL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532088 · 2013-07-26 (July 26, 2013)
GOOD DAY! I GOT MY CAR JUNE 2, 2013 WITH 12 MILES ON IT. IF I START MY CAR, THERE IS A 3-4 SECONDS OF KNOCKING SOUND. IT DOES HAPPEN RANDOMLY (WARM OR COLD ENGINE), NOT ALL THE TIME. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE INJECTORS. SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING THERE MY2012/13MERCEDES E350 ENGINE REBUILT (CONNECTING RODS, PISTONS, WRIST PINS), MY ENGINE IS THE NEW DIRECT INJECTION. LI03.10-P-054702 IS THE MERCEDES MEMO OR TSB? IT WOULD BE A LET DOWN KNOWING MY CAR WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE AN ENGINE REBUILD ALSO LOW RESALE VALUE. I THINK THIS IS DEFECT COMPLAINT THOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 46 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10573213 · 2014-03-18 (March 18, 2014)
CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY IN SPITE OF FOOT ON BRAKE. AT TIMES FOOT WAS PUT LIGHTLY ON THE GAS AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10582893 · 2014-04-15 (April 15, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION AND THEN JOLT FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 10,200. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA UPDATED 06/02/2014 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10582893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585675 · 2014-04-30 (April 30, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE "RISK OF ROLLING AWAY, NOT IN PARK" WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. ADDITIONALLY, THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY SCREEN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,500. UPDATED 6/18/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATIONS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/24/14
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10587844 · 2014-05-12 (May 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND AFTER DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FORWARD. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE SPORADICALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. THE BACKUP CAMERA HAD ALSO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10587944 · 2014-05-12 (May 12, 2014)
MY 2013 MERCEDES E350 W4 EXHIBITED VERY HIGH ENGINE REVVING FOLLOWED BY HIGH ACCELERATION WHICH COULD ONLY BE CONTROLLED BY ACTIVATING THE PARKING BRAKE. THIS IS THE SECOND DANGEROUS INCIDENT THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH THIS CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587944 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V088000 · Structure:Body:Hood
Reported: 2015-02-13 (February 13, 2015)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 E350 Sedan, E350 4Matic Sedan, E350 4Matic Station Wagon, E400 Hybrid Sedan, CLS 550 CGI, and CLS550 4Matic, 2013-2014 E550 4Matic Sedan, 2013 E63 Sedan, E63 Station Wagon and CLS63, 2014-2015 CLS63 4Matic, E63 4Matic Sedan, E63 4Matic Sedan "S", and E63 4Matic Station Wagon, 2015 CLS400, 2015 E400 Sedan, E400 4Matic Sedan and CLS400 4Matic and 2014 CLS63 "S". The affected vehicles have a rubber seal at the back of the engine bay that may temporarily stick to the hood when it is opened and then may fall into the engine bay when the hood is closed.
Consequence: If the rubber seal falls into the engine compartment, it may contact parts of the exhaust system, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will attach four additional retaining clips to the rubber seal, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-201-573-5339. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2015020001.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V177000 · Electrical System:Software | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Reported: 2017-03-14 (March 14, 2017)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V627000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2017-10-06 (October 6, 2017)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.
Consequence: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V043000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-01-10 (January 10, 2018)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013 C250, C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic, GLK350, SLS Coupe, SLS AMG GT Coupe, and SLS Roadster vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2010 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, E550 Coupe, GLK350, and GLK350 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2009 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V787000 · Communication
Reported: 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf
Consequence: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V638000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2021-08-13 (August 13, 2021)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.
Consequence: An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗