Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ E Class vs Mercedes BENZ S Class
How the Mercedes BENZ E Class and Mercedes BENZ S Class compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mercedes BENZ E Class vs Mercedes BENZ S Class: The E-Class averages 40.7 complaints per year over 10 years, while the S-Class averages 17.4. The E-Class has 14 crash-related complaints and 27 injuries; the S-Class has 6 crash-related complaints and 1 death. Both have zero recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ E Class or Mercedes BENZ S Class more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ E Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a mid-size luxury car that has averaged about 41 owner complaints per year over the past decade, with no recalls on record. The most common trouble spots are the electrical system and engine, and owners describe issues like sudden power loss, warning lights, and a trunk lid that can close on its own. There are 14 crash-related complaints and 27 injuries reported, so while many complaints are not crashes, some failures can affect control or visibility. Overall, it's a complex vehicle that demands careful inspection of electronics and engine behavior before purchase.
Mercedes BENZ S Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a full-size flagship luxury sedan with about 17 complaints per year over 10 years, also with no recalls on record. Electrical and forward collision avoidance systems top the list, and owners report adaptive cruise control decelerating unexpectedly, misreading speed signs, and instrument clusters going blank. There are 6 crash-related complaints and 1 death reported, and engine misfires or power loss also appear. It's a high-tech car where software and sensor glitches are a recurring theme.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ E Class | Mercedes BENZ S Class |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 407 | 174 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 | 6 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 40.7 | 17.4 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 27 | 7 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mercedes BENZ E Class
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM86
- 02ENGINE85
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER69
- 04POWER TRAIN43
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM35
Owners report fault codes like P240200 for the EVAP system and instances where the car shuts off or loses power while stopped at a light. These glitches can leave you stranded or cause unexpected behavior in traffic, so a pre-purchase scan for stored codes is wise.
Complaints include violent shaking, loss of power, and oil/engine lights coming on, sometimes within the first few thousand miles. One owner also flagged premature cylinder head wear on 2.0L turbo engines (M260/M264) causing misfires and sudden power loss, which is a serious safety concern.
The trunk lid can close unexpectedly and with force, causing injuries to arms or head. This is a physical safety issue that's easy to overlook but can happen when loading or unloading.
Reports describe the car stalling or losing power while waiting to turn, and the same cylinder head issue can lead to misfires and unsafe driving conditions. These symptoms suggest the engine and transmission may not always respond predictably.
“My 2023 Mercedes 450E car was purchased on June 11, 2023 and has 1,750 miles. On 2 to 3 different occasions, I was stopped at a light waiting to make a left turn, fortunately my light was red and not a green permitting turning, which would have meant I would…”
“Vehicle: 2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 Sedan (W213) VIN: [XXX] While operating the vehicle, the diagnostic system displayed the fault code P240200 related to the Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP). The warning message indicated a “positive short circuit” in…”
Mercedes BENZ S Class
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE31
- 03ENGINE23
- 04SERVICE BRAKES23
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
Adaptive cruise control can decelerate without driver input and misread speed limit signs, causing sudden speed changes. Also, the digital instrument cluster may temporarily go blank due to control unit resets, which can distract or alarm the driver.
In eco mode, the vehicle may shut off at a stop light, jump, flash all warnings, and then take 20-30 seconds to restart. This can leave you vulnerable in traffic and suggests the auto start-stop and collision systems may not always work smoothly.
Owners report occasional misfires on acceleration, with power loss, shaking, and check engine lights. One owner described a 'walk home' condition where the throttle became unresponsive, indicating the engine can suddenly lose power.
Complaints include the brake pedal entangling with the driver's foot and unexpected vehicle behavior after tire recalibration. These issues can affect braking confidence and should be checked carefully.
“While driving on highways using cruise control and adaptive cruise control the vehicle decelerates without driver input. The system also misreads or fails to update speed limit signs causing incorrect cruise speeds and sudden speed changes. This behavior has…”
“The control unit in my 2024 Mercedes 2580e triggers an increased number of system resets as part of fallback behavior. The increased number of resets resulted in the digital instrument cluster's display temporarily cutting out, and I had an entirely blank clu…”
Buyer analysis
Mercedes BENZ E Class or Mercedes BENZ S Class: which should you buy?
The S-Class has fewer complaints per year (about 17 vs. 41 for the E-Class), but both have zero recalls and similar types of electronic and engine gremlins. In practice, the E-Class generates more owner reports, but the S-Class has a higher rate of crash-related complaints relative to its total (6 out of 174 vs. 14 out of 407). Neither is clearly trouble-free; the difference is mainly in volume and the specific systems that act up.
Key differences
- The E-Class averages about 41 complaints per year, while the S-Class averages about 17, so the E-Class has more than double the annual complaint rate.
- The E-Class's top issues are electrical and engine, with reports of stalling and trunk lid injuries; the S-Class's top issues are electrical and forward collision avoidance, with adaptive cruise control and blank instrument clusters.
- The S-Class has 6 crash-related complaints and 1 death out of 174 total, while the E-Class has 14 crash-related complaints and 27 injuries out of 407 total, meaning the E-Class has more crash reports in absolute terms.
- Both have zero recalls on record, so owner complaints are the main source of reliability information.
- Check for stored fault codes, especially P240200 for the EVAP system, and test the trunk lid to ensure it doesn't close unexpectedly.
- During a test drive, listen for engine misfires or shaking and watch for sudden power loss, especially in 2.0L turbo models (M260/M264).
- Test adaptive cruise control and forward collision avoidance at highway speeds to see if the car decelerates or misreads speed signs.
- Check the digital instrument cluster for any temporary blanking and ensure the auto start-stop system restarts promptly without long delays.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and ask for any records of electrical or engine repairs.
- Have a Mercedes-Benz specialist perform a pre-purchase inspection, including a scan for fault codes and a road test of driver-assist features.
- Test all electronic systems: infotainment, instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warnings.
- For the E-Class, specifically test the trunk lid for unexpected closing and check for engine misfires or power loss during acceleration.
- For the S-Class, verify that the auto start-stop and adaptive cruise control function smoothly and that the brake pedal does not interfere with foot movement.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mercedes BENZ E Class | Mercedes BENZ S Class |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 25 | 6 |
| 2023 | 24 | 12 |
| 2022 | 22 | 48 |
| 2021 | 20 | 34 |
| 2020 | 21 | 7 |
| 2019 | 54 | 16 |
| 2018 | 68 | 29 |
| 2017 | 167 | 22 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mercedes BENZ E Class or Mercedes BENZ S Class in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ E Class vs Mercedes BENZ S Class
- Mercedes BENZ E Class total complaints
- 407
- Mercedes BENZ S Class total complaints
- 174
- Mercedes BENZ E Class total recalls
- 0
- Mercedes BENZ S Class total recalls
- 0
- Mercedes BENZ E Class avg complaints/year
- 40.7
- Mercedes BENZ S Class avg complaints/year
- 17.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ S Class
- Mercedes BENZ E Class top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Mercedes BENZ S Class top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM