Mercedes BENZ E Class Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Mercedes BENZ E Class options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mercedes BENZ E Class has 398 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE.
- Make
- Mercedes BENZ
- Model
- E Class
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 398
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Crash-related complaints
- 14
- Fire-related complaints
- 10
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS has 398 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. 14 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 398 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 0 federal recall campaigns
- 14 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
0 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 398 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
398 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
While traveling at highway speeds with adaptive cruise control safety systems engaged, the vehicle failed to detect a hazard immediately ahead in its lane. The Forward Collision Warning failed to alert the driver, and the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) failed to initiate automated emergency deceleration. Manual emergency braking was attempted by the driver in the final milliseconds, but the vehicle's braking system failed to sufficiently decelerate the vehicle, resulting in a high-energy frontal collision. Despite severe structural deformation concentrated entirely on the front fascia and crumple zones, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) completely failed and no airbags deployed. The driver sustained injuries to the neck, back, and ribs. The vehicle has been declared a total loss by insurance and is available for inspection at a salvage facility. The manufacturer was notified over a month ago (Case #21986205) but has failed to pull the Event Data Recorder (EDR) telemetry or provide an engineering review timeline. No prior warning lamps or system malfunction messages were present before the incident.
Backgroud: Recall #26V216 recalls classes of Mercedes vehicles for U-Joint failures. My vehicle - 2019 E460 4Matic Wagon is included in this class under the notice (Vehicle #6 [XXX] ) Issue: I took my vehicle to the dealer on Monday, 5/11 because of a hard knocking sound when I de/accelerate. Dealer inspected and noted that my Ujoint has failed. The estimate is $8100 for repairs. MB and dealer have both indicated that my VIN is not covered by the recall but have not explained why. My car is currently unsafe to drive and therefore non-operational. I have not approved repairs because of the substantial cost and resolution of whether covered by Recall warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
As I was entering the vehicle and getting into my seat, my right ring finger became caught in the passenger-side window as it was closing. The window failed to stop or reverse upon encountering my finger, which is a critical safety function designed to prevent exactly this type of injury. Instead, the window continued to close with full force, crushing my finger and holding it trapped. The pressure was so severe that it ripped my nail and nail bed out and caused a displaced fracture.
I parked the vehicle in a parking lot. I walked away and it immediately started smoking. Shortly after that, flames appeared coming from the hood. Shortly after that, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames.
I brought my car in for routine service and was told I needed a rear main seal. I had the car inspected when I purchased it appx 13k miles ago because I saw online there was a lot of people having this issue with their vehicles. It’s a known manufacturer defect. At that time there was no issue. Now at 40k miles it began to leak. This is round about the mileage most people have experienced this issue. A car with 40k miles shouldn’t have a defect like this that could cause the vehicles oil to leak out the seal and destroy the motor. I believe MBUSA should be replacing all of these seals on all of the affected vehicles. A consumer shouldnt be charged $6500 at 40k miles to repair a seal that is failing on so many vehicles.
Report of Unresolved Recall Issue Dear NHTSA Team, I am writing to report an issue concerning an open safety recall on my 2019 Mercedes-Benz E300. I have received official notification that there is an active recall on this vehicle. However, when I brought the car to the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Harlingen, Texas, the dealership refused to perform the recall repair and instead attempted to charge me for it. As this is a safety matter, I wanted to bring it to your attention so that you can take any necessary steps on your end. I appreciate your assistance in ensuring that all safety recalls are properly addressed. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Read 14 more owner reports
High pressure fuel line is weeping gas and making the cabin smell like fuel when heat is on. Smell is strong and is a safety concern.
I have a 2019 Mercedes E300. My backup camera is cutting out while still in reverse. There is an open saftey recall for that specific year, make and model. Campaign #2022060007. Mercedes has told me there is no open recall for my vin even though I am experiencing the same saftey issue. The Issue has been diagnosed by an independent shop. It is a software update not a part that needs to be replaced. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or others. There has never been a warning light on for this issue.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. In addition, the screen occasionally turned off, compromising the back over prevention system. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V232000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
I was driving about 30 mph and getting on to the highway. Once I got on a beep came on from the car and every single warning light came on the car. Check engine all warnings including emergency brake collision warning the list goes on and on. I immediately got off the highway and once I got to a complete stop the car was barely accelerating. I wasn’t able to shift gears from drive I was stuck in drive. Couldn’t park the car reverse or anything. I had to turn the car off. The car didn’t turn on and then after 5 minutes it turned back on. This is 1 week after me receiving the car back for the same issue. This was the 2nd occurrence of this and when I dropped it off at the dealer they had it for 2 weeks and they “fixed” the issue. There is obviously something wrong with the car and has several problems.
The primary failure involved the electrical system and speed control, which posed a significant safety risk to myself and other drivers. The issue first presented itself when I noticed intermittent warning lights and error messages flashing on the dashboard, including indicators for the electronic stability program (ESP), steering assist, and lane tracking features. These malfunctions created erratic driving conditions, including unexpected acceleration delays and inconsistent cruise control behavior. Approximately one week before the vehicle was repossessed, I reported the issue to the dealership and requested inspection. However, I was not provided a definitive diagnosis or service record confirming evaluation or remediation. The vehicle was subsequently remotely disabled without proper notice or opportunity to repair, placing me at risk by stranding me in an unsafe location without functional transportation. This vehicle may have also been equipped with over-the-air control features or aftermarket immobilizers unknown to me at the time of financing. To date, I have not been able to inspect the system because the vehicle was taken from my possession under a disputed contract. I believe the problem has not been properly addressed or documented by Mercedes-Benz, and the vehicle is not currently available for inspection as it remains in the control of the finance company. Prior to this incident, no physical warning lamps were persistent, though the vehicle intermittently displayed electronic system errors, especially during startup or inclement weather. This complaint is being submitted due to serious concerns about vehicle safety, electronic control vulnerabilities, and potential manufacturer negligence. I request that NHTSA initiate a review of the E-Class E450A systems involved in driver assistance, electrical integration, and potential remote immobilization tied to finance enforcement.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz E450. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera failed to display an image of the rear of the vehicle, compromising the back over prevention system. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rearview camera display. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V232000 (Back Over Prevention), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 10,300.
Rear camera door doesn't open to allow camera to work
AI am getting this "P052E" code on a 2019 Mercedes E300 - malfunction with Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve.
The rear backup camera failed. There are recalls on my vehicle year make and model but not my VIN number. I have the same issue as the recall.
Transmission wireharness
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V445000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
My tempered glass sunroof exploded while driving at 70 MPH on a clear, sunny, 86 degree afternoon sending the glass shards throughout the interior of the car. No warning or damage to the vehicle roof preceded the explosion. There was a very loud noise followed by the safety glass raining down on myself and my wife. It occurred while driving on the expressway and no other vehicles were involved. There are only glass fragments for inspection and I will take it to the dealer in the morning. I have pictures of the aftermath if requested.
transmission harness is broken its safety issue. I went to Mercedes dealership multiple times and they do not repair it. I don't feel safe with this car and I do not use it so I always walk or take a bike or uber work so I lost money and time.
The driver and passenger seat belts do not retract at all.
Showing 20 of 398 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
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Before you buy, check the exact Mercedes BENZ E Class
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Mercedes BENZ E Class, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mercedes BENZ E Class has 398 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mercedes BENZ E Class has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 14 of the Mercedes BENZ E Class's 398 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mercedes BENZ E Class vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Mercedes BENZ E Class vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mercedes BENZ E Class has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Mercedes BENZ E Class reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes BENZ E Class reliable?
Poor. The Mercedes BENZ E Class has 398 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mercedes BENZ E Class years to avoid?
Check individual year pages for complaint breakdowns.
What are the most common Mercedes BENZ E Class problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (84 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (83 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (67 complaints).
Does the Mercedes BENZ E Class have recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Mercedes BENZ E Class. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.